K - Act. 12: Our Community Helpers

Summary

Learning about community helpers, such as police officers, fire fighters and hospital workers, and taking community field trips will help students understand how they fit into their community and the world.

Materials

Our Family Trip of National Symbols

• pictures of national symbols laminated and glued onto posterboard
• a light/plain tablecloth
• paint and paint brushes
• markers
• a medium-sized card board box

Our Community Helpers

• books, pictures, and hats representing community helpers.
• (costumes, props, clothes, and miniature doll replicas could also be used)

Additional Resources

Check your school librarian to see what resources are available.

Teacher Resource

Video: All About America, 37 min. GOODTIMES, 16 E. 40th Str., New York, N.Y.10016

Patriotic Books:

The Best Vacation Ever by
Me on the Map by Joan Sweeny
America’s Symbols by Judith Bauer Stamper
U.S.A. Treasure Hunt-booklet, map & magnifier (Scholastic)
America: “A Patriotic Primer” by Lynne V. Cheney
Red White and Blue by Susan Canizares
Red, White, and Blue The Story of the American Flag by John Herman
Freedom for All by Janet Palazzo-Craig (Summarize)
Pledge of Allegiance by K. L. Frankel
The Pledge of Allegiance (Troll) by Kristine Lombardi Frankel
Why I’m Proud to be an American (Troll)
America the Beautiful by Katherine Lee Bates
LIBERTY
The Star-Spangled Banner
PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIES
My Country Tis of Thee by Samual Francis Smith
A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler
A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln by David A. Adler
Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport-Biography of Martin L. King Jr.
Thank You, Dr. King
Celebrate the 50 States! by Loreen Leedy

Our Community:

The Berenstain Bears, The New Neighbors by Stan & Jan Berenstain
Hi, Neighbor—Projects and activities about our community (Scholastic)
15 Easy-To-Read Neighborhood & Community Mini-Book Plays (Scholastic) by Sheryl Ann Crawford and Nancy I Sanders
At Play in the Community by Judy Nayer

Community Helpers:

People Who Keep You Safe by Cathy French
Who Are We by Tanner Ottley Gay
Alphie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes
The Builder by Kari James
Big Dig: A Pop-Up Construction! Let’s go to work! by Paul Stickland
My Dentist by Harlow Rockwell
The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan & Jan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor
Grandfather Tang’s Story by Ann Tombert
On the Move by Ming Tan
My Walk by Zoe Sharp
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
I Jog Around-Learning the J Sound by Maryann Thomas

Background for Teachers

Children need an understanding of their surroundings, and how they fit into their family, community, and the world.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Intended Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate a positive learning attitude.
2. Demonstrate social skills and ethical responsibilities.
5. Understand and use basic concepts and skills.
6. Communicate clearly in oral, artistic, written and nonverbal form.

Process Skills
Symbolization, observation, description, data collection, investigation, problem solving, form conclusions

Instructional Procedures

Invitation to Learn
Our Family Trip of National Symbols: The teacher will draw a basic road map (using markers) on the tablecloth and write “U.S.A.” at the top (ahead of time). The students will help the teacher make a car out of a cardboard box (ahead of time) large enough for a child to stand in and hold up. The students will sit in a circle around the tablecloth while the teacher describes what a tourist is, what U.S.A. stands for, and reads the books The Best Vacation Ever and National Symbols. Pictures of national symbols (that have been glued and laminated onto poster board) will be placed face up on the tablecloth. The students will be asked to pick a picture and hold it face down in front of them until the tourist is at their stop. Each child will be given a turn to go on a trip of national symbols while driving the cardboard car. The car will stop at each symbol, as the teacher talks about the symbol. After a few road trips, some children will be able to tell the tourist about their own symbol.

Instructional Procedures
Our Community Helpers: Teacher Resource Book—Hi, Neighbor–Projects and Activities about our communities. Read the books People Who Keep Us Safe and Picture Me Grown Up. Choose books that represent the community helpers in your area. Use pictures, props, hats, dress up clothes, miniature dolls, etc., to depict these helpers to the students. Who could you have visit your classroom? (Police Officers, Fireman, Hospital Workers, Parents who may want to share, etc.) Where could you go on community field trips? (Post Offices—write and mail letters to self, Fire Stations, Public Libraries, Stores, Restaurants, Parks, Universities, Zoos, etc.) Ask other school personnel for ideas.

Extensions

Possible Extensions and Adaptations

1. A walk around the neighborhood using observational journals

Assessment Plan

Observe the children and check for understanding.