Belonging and symbols — Civics, 4–6 years
Groups use names, colours and symbols to show who belongs together and what they care about.
Signs of belonging
A group can have a name, colour, badge or picture that helps people recognise it. The symbol is not the people themselves; it is a sign that points to the group and its shared ideas. Different groups can have different symbols and still respect one another.
Why groups use symbols
A large group cannot always speak to everyone at once. A name or symbol gives people a quick way to recognise a team, club, town or country. Symbols also help people remember what they share, especially when the group is spread across many places.
Making a group badge
Four children make a badge for their garden group. They choose a green leaf because they care for plants, then draw it inside a yellow circle so it is easy to see. The leaf and circle now help others recognise their group, but every child still belongs even without wearing the badge.
A symbol is not a person
It is easy to think that a badge or flag is the group itself, because people treat it carefully and recognise it quickly. But the people, their ideas and their actions are the group. A symbol can represent them, while a different person may understand or care about it in a different way.
Symbols around us
You can see symbols on sports shirts, library cards, signs and buildings. A heart may show care, while a picture of a book can show a library. Looking at a symbol, ask what group or idea it represents, rather than assuming that everyone feels exactly the same about it.
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