Cities, Towns, and the Country

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Each of the pictures shown above displays a different neighborhood.

A neighborhood is a place where families live, work, and play. Everyone lives in a neighborhood but, like the pictures shown at the beginning of the lesson, all neighborhoods look different.

Neighborhoods can typically be grouped into one of three categories: cities, towns, and the country.

• A city is a place where you can find lots of buildings and people packed together. Cities often feature many tall buildings and skyscrapers built close together. If the homes, stores, restaurants, and offices in a city were not built on top of and next to each other, there would not be enough space for everything. Typically, you will not see a lot of grass or plant life throughout cities, but most cities do have parks where people can walk, exercise, and play. Millions of people live in cities. For example, the largest city in the United States, New York City, is home to more than 8.5 million people. Look at the image below. What do you notice when you look at the city?

• People also live in towns. Towns are slightly smaller than cities. In a town, you will find many of the same things you would find in a city: homes, offices, stores, and restaurants. Unlike cities, these structures are often built in stand-alone buildings or plazas and are more spread out. They do not need to be built as close together because there are not as many people living in towns. Towns are usually occupied by a few thousand people. Towns also offer more green spaces and plant life. Homes often have yards, and businesses are surrounded by trees and plants. The image below shows a town. How does this image compare to the image of the city? Tell your teacher or parent.

• Finally, people can also be found living in the country. Think of someplace that is the exact opposite of the city. Describe that place to your teacher or parent. You likely just described what the country looks like. In the country, you will find few buildings, mountains, forests, and lots of farm land. Homes and farms can be spaced miles apart. There are lots of green spaces and plant life in the country. Grass and farms that grow plants and vegetables often grow as far as the eye can see. Also, very few people live in the country compared to cities and towns. Look at the image of the country. How does this compare to the other neighborhoods you have seen?

You have just studied three different types of neighborhoods. Think about where you live. Which category does your neighborhood belong in? How do you know? What characteristics does it have that tells you it belongs in that category? Discuss your response with your teacher or parent.

Then, move onto the Got It? section to hear a story that compares city life to country life.