Comparing Urban and Rural Communities

Rural

Urban

COMPARING 

URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

This activity uses Aesop's fable "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse" as a springboard for learning about urban and rural communities. Students will compare the two communities through discussion and organizing ideas

Introduction

• Read a version of Aesop’s Fable “City Mouse and Country Mouse". Make sure the students understand the story by discussing the story, prompting them, and asking questions when necessary. Introduce students to the terms “urban" and “rural." Ask students to identify the community they live in and ask if they have ever been to the other community. 

Discussion of the Story

Draw a T-chart on the board, and ask students to think about the differences they have noticed between the city and the country. Add each idea to the corresponding column of the chart. If they run out of ideas, prompt them with questions like “Where would you most likely see shopping malls – in the city or in the country?" or “Where would you see tractors?" 

Activity

• For older students, list two or three examples on each column of the chart and have them complete the chart independently or in pairs. 
• Have younger or older students draw a picture of an area that is either urban (city), or rural (country). They can show off their drawings to the class and talk about why certain items are in the picture. 

• Extension
• Introduce students to the term “suburban" and add it to the comparison.

Compare country music to another type of modern music. Different singers and types of dance can also be investigated. 

More great comparison activities can be found at theses links!

Living and Nonliving Things

Music Comparisons