Colony

Have you ever been the new kid at school, or moved to a brand-new house. It feels a little wobbly and exciting all at once, right. Now, imagine starting somewhere new, but with a whole team of your friends and family. Everyone would have a special job. Some of you would build cozy houses out of sticks and mud, while others would be expert snack-finders, searching for yummy berries and nuts. Together, you would turn a strange new place into your very own home, full of laughter and fun. That amazing idea of teamwork in a new land, well, that's me. Hello. I'm a Colony.

I’m not just for people, you know. I am all over nature. If you look closely at the sidewalk, you might see a busy ant colony. Thousands of tiny ants march in a line, each with a job to do. Some build the nest, some find food, and some protect the queen. They all work as one big family. Far away in the freezing snow, penguin colonies huddle together in a giant group hug to stay warm and protect their eggs. They know that being together makes them stronger. A long, long time ago, brave people were just like those ants and penguins. They sailed on big, creaky ships across a giant ocean to find new places to live. One of the most famous times I appeared was for a group from England. On May 14th, 1607, about one hundred men and boys, led by brave people like John Smith, started a new town in America. They called it Jamestown. They had to work together just like the ants, chopping down tall trees to build a strong fort and small houses. It was very hard work, but they knew they had to be a team to make their new home safe and strong.

Even today, people live inside me in some of the most amazing places on Earth. Far, far away in the super-cold land of Antarctica, scientists live together in a special research station. They are a team, studying our amazing planet and sharing their discoveries with the world. And guess what. My story isn't over yet. I have big dreams for the future. People imagine building me on the Moon, with shiny domes and space gardens, or even on the red planet, Mars. I am the spirit of adventure and teamwork. Whenever a group comes together to build a new home, whether it’s a buzzing beehive, a brand-new town, or a science base on another planet, that’s me, a Colony, helping them create something wonderful together.