What is a citizen?
A citizen is someone who lives in a particular area, or belongs to a country such as the United Kingdom.
Citizens often live in groups called communities.
Communities are groups of people who live in the same place or have something in common.
Watch - Explore citizenship
Watch the video below and explore what citizenship is all about.
What does it mean to be a citizen? The Community Club friends learn more about this.
Beth: Right, let's practise the poem we're going to perform at the talent show to raise money for the library.
Mo: A community is a place where people work and live. A place where people help and give.
Harry: A community is a place where everyone can share. A place where people show they care.
Lucy: A community is a place where we respect being different. We try to be aware instead of ignorant.
Beth: Ariana. Ariana? Come on, we all need to focus on the performance. You can doodle later.
Becky: Yeah, I can only do my bit if you do your line.
Lucy: We all need to take part.
Ariana: Oops, sorry.
Beth: Right, let's try that again. Your turn Ariana.
Ariana: A community is where we all work together to make things fair and communicate better.
Becky: A place where kindness and tolerance are given. A place where you can be a responsible citizen.
Beth: Wow, that was really good! Joining in can make a big difference. How do you think the new library will help people?
Harry: Mh, people will have access to the internet for free.
Lucy: Everyone will be able to borrow books.
Ariana: And people will be able to come together there.
Beth: Yes, it will help our whole community. A responsible citizen joins in and helps to make their community a nicer and safer place to live.
Librarian: Excellent, we've raised our target for the library. Thank you to everyone for doing their part. The fundraising totalizer that you designed is fantastic.
Ariana: My friends helped me make it.
Librarian: Well you know what they say, team work makes the dream work.
All: Yeah!
What is a responsible citizen?
Being a responsible citizen is all about taking part in our community.
We can do this by doing helpful things and being kind towards other people in the community.
For example:
- Making sure we throw away litter
- Supporting a charity by helping to raise money
- Offering to look after older neighbours with help from our family.
How can I be a more responsible citizen?
Image caption, Listen
Listening to other people and sharing your opinions with them are great ways to be a responsible and caring citizen.
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What can I gain from being responsible and active?
Time to discuss!
With a friend or family member have a short discussion about what you do to be a responsible citizen where you live.
Can you think of any ways to be more responsible?
Draw a picture that shows people being responsible citizens.
These could be actions like:
- helping someone who is ill
- picking up litter
- raising money for charity
- being a good friend.
Take a piece of paper and some coloured pencils, and get creative!
Quiz
What can you remember about being a responsible citizen?
Try this quiz to test your knowledge.
Play BBC Bitesize games! game
Fun, interactive games for children aged 4-11, with maths, English, science, history and many more subjects.
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