About This Lesson
What is a community? We use the word often, but how often do we pause to consider what the word means? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a community is a unified body of individuals. Communities can be formed around physical spaces like schools and churches, or virtual spaces like internet groups and online gaming squads. Communities can also be built around mutual interests, from sports to music to TV shows; they can be built around identities, like race and sexuality; or they can be built around beliefs. And, of course, communities can be built between family, friends, and neighbors. But whatever way communities are built, they thrive in the diversity of individuals within them. Communities give us the opportunity to learn new things and think in new perspectives.
In this lesson, students will consider the many kinds of communities that exist, and reflect on the types of communities they are involved in After watching the video for “Sunday Candy,” hearing the poetry of Chicago-based Gwendolyn Brooks, and viewing the work of artist Faith Ringgold, students will create visual artworks representing their own communities.
Materials Required for this Lesson:
- Bronzeville Boys and Girls (HarperCollins) by Gwendolyn Brooks
- Art supplies (Paper, crayons or markers, etc.)
