Grade by Grade
B. People and Environments · The Local Community

Community Services and Workers

B1.2 B1.1About 35 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can name some services in my community and the workers who provide them.
  • I can describe how services meet people's needs, including my own.
  • I can name tools and vehicles that community workers use.
  • I can tell what might happen if a service did not exist.

Words to know

service
Work that people do to help others, like putting out fires, delivering mail or lending library books.
community helper
A person whose job is to provide a service to the community.
emergency
A dangerous situation when someone needs help right away. In Canada we call 9-1-1.
occupation
A job someone does to earn a living.
band office
The office of a First Nation's government, where community services are organized.

Who helps our community?

It snowed all night! In the morning a snowplow has already cleared the road, and the school bus driver picks you up. At school the custodian has salted the steps. Later, a letter carrier brings mail to your door.

All these people provide services. A service is work that helps other people meet their needs.

A snowplow truck clearing snow from a neighbourhood street.
A snowplow driver clears the road after a snowfall so that buses and cars can get through safely. AI-generated image
snowplow driverclears the roadbus driverpicks you upcustodiansalts the stepsletter carrierbrings the mail
One snowy morning, four community workers have already helped you, and it isn't even lunchtime!
ServiceWorkersTools or vehiclesNeed it meets
fire stationfirefightersfire truck, hose, laddersafety
policepolice officerspolice car, radiosafety
hospital and clinicdoctors, nursesstethoscope, bandageshealth and care
ambulance serviceparamedicsambulance, stretcheremergency health care
librarylibrarianscomputers, books, library card scannerlearning and reading
garbage, recycling and green bin pickupcollectorsgarbage truck, recycling trucka clean, healthy community
snow removalsnowplow driverssnowplow, salt trucksafe roads in winter
mail deliveryletter carriersmailbag, delivery truckgetting letters and parcels
public transitbus driversbus, subway or streetcargetting around
clean waterwater treatment workerspipes, pumps, testing kitssafe drinking water
Some community services, the workers who provide them, their tools and the needs they meet

Services meet our needs

Each service meets a need:

  • Firefighters, police and paramedics keep us safe and help in emergencies.
  • Doctors and nurses help us stay healthy.
  • Water treatment workers make sure our tap water is clean to drink.
  • Garbage and recycling collectors keep the community clean.

In many First Nations communities, the band office helps organize services for the community, like housing, schools and health care.

Emergency? Call 9-1-1

In an emergency (a fire, someone badly hurt, someone in danger), anyone in Canada can call 9-1-1 for police, firefighters or paramedics. Only call 9-1-1 for a real emergency.

Worked example

Example: Who can help?

Match each problem with the service that can help.

  1. A smoke alarm is beeping and there is smoke in the kitchen.
  2. You want to borrow a book about polar bears.
  3. The road is covered in deep snow.
  1. Read each problem. Ask: What need is it about?
  2. 1. Smoke and fire are about safety in an emergency. Get out of the house, then a grown-up calls 9-1-1 for the fire department.
  3. 2. Borrowing books is about learning. The library can help, with a librarian.
  4. 3. Snowy roads are about getting around safely. Snowplow drivers clear the road.

1 → firefighters (call 9-1-1). 2 → library. 3 → snowplow. Each service meets a different need.

ProblemWho can helpsmoke in the kitchenfirefighters (call 9-1-1)want a book on polar bearslibrarydeep snow on the roadsnowplow
Match the problem to the service. Each service meets a different need: safety, learning, or getting around.
Worked example

Example: What if there was no garbage pickup?

Imagine the garbage and recycling trucks did not come for a whole month. What might happen?

  1. Think about what the service does: takes away garbage and recycling.
  2. Without it, garbage would pile up at homes and stores.
  3. Piles of garbage could smell bad, attract animals like raccoons, and make people sick.

The community would get messy, smelly and unhealthy. Garbage pickup meets our need for a clean, healthy place to live.

Just for fun

Riddle: What starts with P, ends with E, and has thousands of letters in it?

The Post office!

Hands-on activity

Community helper thank-you

You need: paper, crayons, and a grown-up.

  1. Choose a community helper you see often (letter carrier, crossing guard, bus driver, librarian, garbage collector).
  2. Draw that person doing their job, with the tools or vehicle they use.
  3. Write or say: "Thank you for ___. You help me ___."
  4. With a grown-up, give your card to that helper (or tape it to your mailbox or recycling bin for them to find).

Talk about it: "What would our day be like without this helper?"

Your turn

1

What is a service?

2

Who puts out fires?

3

Name one tool a doctor uses.

4

What number do you call in an emergency in Canada?

5

How does the library meet your needs?

6

Which worker clears snow from the roads?

7

What might happen if there were no crossing guards near your school?

More practice: warm-up

1

🚒 Which worker uses this vehicle?

2

🚑 Which worker uses this vehicle?

3

📬 Who brings letters to your home?

4

🚌 Who drives the bus?

5

Who helps you find books at the library?

More practice: on your own

1

Which need does a water treatment worker help meet?

2

Is a lost mitten an emergency? Should you call 9-1-1?

3

Name two services that help keep people safe.

4

What is a band office?

5

A big snowstorm hits. Name two community workers who will be busy, and say why.

Challenge

1

A town has a hospital but no ambulance. Why could that be a problem?

2

Many services are paid for by everyone together, through taxes. Why do you think a community shares the cost of firefighters instead of each family paying when they need them?

3

Invent a new community service your neighbourhood needs. Who would work there and what need would it meet?

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

What is a service?

2.

Which worker helps keep roads safe in winter?

3.

What number do you call in an emergency in Canada?

4.

A librarian works at...

5.

Which need does a garbage collector help meet?

6.

Which is a real emergency?

7.

Paramedics drive...

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Communities have services (fire, police, health, libraries, waste collection, transit, water, snow removal) and service-related occupations that meet people's needs, including the child's own needs. Children also think about what would happen without a service.

How to help at home:

  • Point out workers and their vehicles when you see them, and ask "What need does that meet?"
  • Visit your local library, and ask about a library card for your child.
  • Practise your home address and when (and when not) to call 9-1-1.

Common difficulties:

  • 9-1-1 for non-emergencies. Role-play: "Spilled milk? Lost toy? House on fire?" Only call for danger.
  • Thinking services are free. At this age, it's enough to know many services are shared and paid for by the community together.