Informed & Inspired
Community!
A community is a group of people who live near each other or work together toward a shared goal. Are you a member of these communities? Let’s Talk About
A family is a small community that lives together and works together to maintain a safe space where they can live.
Parents teach and care for kids, and kids might help with housework to keep the household running smoothly
A neighborhood is a community where people live near each other. Neighbors might help each other with things like shoveling snow, or they might just enjoy saying hello when they go on walks!
In a school community, the shared goal is for kids to learn. The principal, teachers, counselors, nurses, and janitors work together to teach kids and provide a safe space The kids learn, build friendships and help each other
A city is a community that shares resources, like library books and playgrounds Everyone who lives in the city and uses these resources makes sure to keep them clean and in good shape for everyone else.
Keep reading to learn more about what it means to be a part of a community!
Learn more about communities!
Neighborhood Heroes and Helpers
Listen to this song about everyday heroes in your neighborhood with Jon Batiste and Elmo!
Community helpers have jobs that help community members be healthier and happier. Learn more in this song from PBS Kids!
You Can Help Too!
Learn about some ways you can help your community and the environment in this Sesame Street clip!
The United Way website has a list of places in Des Moines where kids can volunteer
Watch this video to learn about community service and find out some ways you can help others in your community!
This local blog also has a list of local organizations that allow kids to volunteer
Adults and kids 12 and older can volunteer at the library! Click the link to learn more
Talk about it!
Whether the community is small like a family or big like a city, community members help each other! When community members help others, the whole community becomes happier and stronger. Everyone benefits! How do people in your communities help you?
Check out the pictures below. How are the people in the pictures helping? Have you ever seen anyone helping a neighbor, family member, or friend with one of these things?
Read about it!
There are plenty of books in the library about communities. Here are just a few. Click on the picture to see the book in our online catalog. If it sounds interesting, you can put it on hold and check it out!
City of Neighbors
Andrea Curtis, Katy Dockrill
I Am We: A Book of Community
Susan
Verde, Peter Reynolds
Heroes Too: A Celebration of Community
Pat Brisson, Anait Semirdzhyan
Lindsay Ward A Kids Book About Community
Just Help! How to Build a Better World Sonia Sotomayor
Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community
How Can People Help Communities?
I Help Joe Cepeda
The Helping Sweater
Rachel Más Davidson
They’re
Secret Gardeners: Growing a Community and Healing the Earth
Maija Hurme, Lina Laurent
Our World Is a Family Miry Whitehill
Sunnyside School: A Community Helpers Book
Shane Feldman
Susan Verde, John Parra
Martha E.H. Rustad