6 CHAPTER 1 Begin with the name of their community, and help them build a sense of identity and belonging. Discussions to identify people who live near them may take place either individually or in small groups. Allow time for questions and discussion so children can share information regarding the variety of living spaces, homes, neighborhoods, and communities they can identify in their area or that they are learning about. In this way children help other children see a wider range of possibilities for community structure. VOCABULARY address globe neighborhood subdivision apartment habitat parks suburbs city house residence town community houseboat road townhouse country map shelter county mobile home state duplex neighbor street CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT Post photographs and materials that represent the communities children live in. Allow children to use materials that help identify addresses, such as phone books, mailing envelopes or labels, street address signs, and street maps. Invite family members in community-helping roles to come into the class- room and describe their contributions. Ask them to give the children tours of where they work, such as schools, churches, civic buildings and courthouses, parks, banks, and health clinics. Invite family members who have lived in other communities, towns, states, or countries to visit the classroom to talk about similarities and differences in housing, family environments, school environments, and community environments. Ask community resources, such as the chamber of commerce and tourist information bureaus, for materials to add to interest areas. Go for walks and take photographs or video of the community and special events to infuse the classroom with a community atmosphere. Check local policies and consider the specific circumstances of families en- rolled before posting addresses or photographs of the living quarters for any child, since doing so may endanger children who are in foster care, involved in legal custody disputes, or have family members with restraining orders. You may need to modify activities to protect children, and you may need to keep materials with addresses out of the view of visitors.