ED 417

Amy Michael

Rochelle York

Nicole Fouch

Table of Contents

Page Number

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………….3

Content……………………..……………………………………………………………………………3

Vocabulary……………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Objectives……………………………………………………………………………………………..5-6

  • Cognitive…………………………………………………………………………….5
  • Affective…………………………………………………………………………..5
  • Psychomotor……………………………………………………………………..5-6

Activities……………………………………………………………………………………………….7

Evaluation………………………………………………………………………………………………8-9

Instructional Resources……………………………………………………………………..10-19

  • Teacher References…………………………………………………………………10-11
  • Student References…………………………………………………………………12-14
  • Multimedia References……………………………………………………………15-19

Introduction/General Theme

It is extremely important for children to learn about their communities and the people that work to make it safe and successful. The objectives, activities, and resources provided in the following pages were put together to give teachers ways to give their students the knowledge they need about community helpers.

Content

Our resource unit is designed to meet the standards for second grade students. Students need to be able to understand, learn about, and see firsthand the effects that a community worker can have on the community. By designing and implementing this resource unit, students will be able to name different community workers and their various job descriptions, take field trips to see different workers, and participate in various in-class activities. Throughout the unit, students will learn the definition of a community and the importance of having community workers.

Vocabulary

20

  • Community
  • Community helper
  • Firefighter
  • Doctor
  • Nurse
  • Mailman
  • Letter
  • Dentist
  • Police Officer
  • Soldier
  • Hospital
  • Police Station
  • Appointment
  • Siren
  • Stethoscope

20

Objectives

Cognitive:

  • Students will learn how different community workers contribute to the community through their jobs.
  • Students will learn about all of the different jobs that serve the community.
  • Students will use prior knowledge to understand ideas and words in the books we read about different community helpers.
  • Students will learn about different community helpers, such as doctor, nurse, firefighter, mail carrier, police officer, soldier, dentist, and teacher).

Affective:

  • Students will interview their parents and then describe what it would be like to have that job and why that job is important in the community.
  • Children will write about what they want to be when they grow up and why.
  • Students will understand the importance of each community helper and what they do for the community.

Psychomotor:

  • Students will construct a map of a community.
  • Students will perform a play in which each child has a different job.
  • Students will take a field trip to the fire station to learn about being a firefighter.

Activities

  • Day 1: Students will be introduced to new vocabulary and then talk about what a community is. They will start to learn about the different jobs that make up the community they live in. As the students learn about different community workers, each student will be given a different job in the community to learn more about so that they can perform a play at the end of the week.
  • Day 2: The students will continue to look up information about the “job” that they were assigned to learn about. Today we will also discuss what our community looks like and the students will create their own map of the community. On the map they will include the different locations where we would find community workers (i.e., post office, doctor’s office, etc)
  • Day 3: Today that students will have a show-n-tell day where they will talk about what they learned in their parent interview. They will be able to come dressed up as their parent as they talk about why their job is important. After show-n-tell the students will write a short summary about what they want to be when they grow up and why.
  • Day 4: The students will visit the fire station to learn what it is like to be a firefighter and work for the community.
  • Day 5: This will be the last day for the community workers unit. Students will perform their short play about the different jobs in the community and also take a short test in order to show that they have grasped the main concepts and terms of what makes a community successful.

Evaluation

Name: Date:

Community Workers Test

1.  My job can be viewed as one that helps other people:

a.  Doctor

b.  Teacher

c.  Policeman

d.  All of the above

2.  I am a town in which many people live and businesses are run:

a.  Community

b.  Doctor’s Office

c.  Post Office

d.  Hospital

3.  If I deliver mail I may work in a:

a.  Factory

b.  Post Office

c.  Field

d.  All of the above

4.  Sometimes I serve overseas and fight for my country. What is my job?

a.  Teacher

b.  Lawyer

c.  Nurse

d.  Soldier

5.  As a firefighter I:

a.  Put out fires

b.  Help others to be safe

c.  Live in the fire station certain days of the week

d.  All of the above

Circle True or False:

6. A teacher is considered a community worker.

True/False

7. A community worker is someone who does not help others.

True/False

**Provide short answers to the following questions:

8. Compare and contrast any two different community workers in the Venn Diagram below.

Comparing Community Helpers Venn Diagram

Helper 1 Helper 2

9. What is a community, and why is it important to know about different jobs that make up the community?

Teacher References

1.  Community Club

http://content.scholastic.com/browse/unitplan.jsp?id=215

This website provides lesson plans on community helpers, objectives, supporting books, reproducible venn diagrams, KWL charts, student writing pages, and more.

2.  20 Manipulative Mini-Books: Neighborhood and Community: Easy-to-Make, Interactive Mini-Books That Engage Kids in Reading and Writingand Teach Key Social Studies Concepts and Vocabulary by Kathleen M. Hollenbeck

-Teachers can build vocabulary and reading skills while exploring this key social studies topic! Easy-to-make books on homes, transportation, jobs, goods and services, natural resources, and more provide great nonfiction reading practice. A variety of formats-such as lift-the-flap, turn-the-wheel, and slide-a-story strips-keep kids actively engaged with what they read. Includes step-by-step instructions on assembling the books, plus teaching tips, activities and extensions for each book. Great for hands-on learning!

3.  Beyond Community Helpers: The Project Approach in the Early Childhood Social Studies Curriculum by Ted L. Maple

Early childhood educators address the gaping hole in their planning books under the "social studies" header by teaching a smattering of thematic units. Most early childhood educators now know the importance of planning experiences for social studies, or any other content area, that are integrated, meaningful, and of high interest. How the author applied the project approach to his class is presented in this article.

4.  http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=8

This site allows teachers to ask questions and gain feedback from other early childhood educators. It is a great resource when you are planning a lesson and need new ideas.

5.  Crafts for Kids who are Learning about Community Workers

By Kathy Ross

Kindergarten-Grade 2–A colorful, glossy cover will attract children to this unique assortment of 20 craft ideas relating to a variety of community helpers. Each project includes a heading in a soft green, large-print typeface; a full-color illustration of the finished project; a materials list; and step-by-step directions, all on pale yellow pages. Each project has a picture of the worker related to the craft (firefighter, hair stylist, dentist, shopkeeper, etc.) holding up a sign on which is printed one sentence about the particular job, e.g., A librarian has the job of helping to select and care for the books at the library. Five of the crafts fall into the category of puppets; others include handcuffs, meal magnets, an apple-for-the-teacher pencil topper, a mail-carrier stamp dispenser, and plastic-bag flowers. This is a solid choice for teachers to supplement lessons on community workers, and librarians will find many program possibilities. Ross has a special talent for introducing all kinds of crafts to younger children in a kid-friendly manner.

Student References

1.  All About Things People Do by Chris Rice, Melanie Rice

-A lively, colorful introduction to the world of jobs and activities, filled with full-color illustrations and easy-to-understand information. A book for children to enjoy time and time again.

2.  I'm Going to Be a Vet by Edith Kunhardt

-Readers spend a busy day with Nicole and her dad at work as a vet as he cares for dogs, cats, a rabbit, a ferret, a horse, and other animals. With informative text and photos, this book gives an educational, insider's view of what an animal doctor does.

3.  Ben’s Guide for US Government for Kids

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/neighborhood/

Children can click on the different neighborhood buildings to learn more about the people who are working in the community to help them.

4.  Firefighters A to Z by Chris L. Demarest

This A-Z of a firefighter's typical day educates young children about the ins and outs of being a firefighter, discussing fire safety and even the logistics of fighting a fire.

5.  Community Helpers from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman and Niki Walker

Community Helpers shares information about many careers. Occupations are enhanced by the photographs of workers. This is a great book to share with small children to teach about the many jobs that different people do.

6.  My Daddy is a Soldier by Kirk Hilbrecht

A wonderful book sharing how children view the military. It helps children understand what soldiers do for a living and how their living affects their family.

7.  What is a Community from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

This informative book discusses the common aspects shared by most communities - people, culture, government, economy, buildings, services, and transportation. The book highlights different kinds of communities and discusses how the physical features of their location impact on their way of life. It also looks at how communities are interdependent and reminds children that planet Earth is their most important community. Children will also read about:

--environment
-- family
-- rules
-- zoos and parks

8.  Jobs People Do by Christopher Maynard

Jobs People Do is the book for helping children find out all about the careers that interest them. Here is the book to help me choose. Entertaining text and photographs of real children dressed for each hob help youngsters explore 50 different careers, from chef to scientist. Pages also detail the duties and training required for each one.

9.  Community Club

http://teacher.scholastic.com/commclub/

Scholastic's Community Club Web page is a fantastic and easy-to-navigate resource for the K-2 emerging reader. Students click one of eight community helpers -- including a police officer, mayor, veterinarian, and pizza maker -- to see photos and hear audio of that worker describing his or her job. Each page also includes two or three simple text sentences, each with a clickable audio clip. Emerging readers can read the sentences alone or while listening to the corresponding audio. Each community helper's section ends with a brief interactive comprehension quiz designed to help students who might have struggled with some of the text. The printable badge at the end of the quiz is a great motivator. Finally, a teacher's guide provides standard correlations, extension activities, as well as extra resources and links.

10.  What’s My Job?

http://www.hud.gov/kids/whatsjob.html

This easy-to-navigate game by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development matches job descriptions to pictures of community helpers. Students read a sentence, such as, "I deliver mail to your house." They then must click one of six pictures of community helpers. If they correctly match the helper to the job description, a voice chimes, "You're right" and students click a happy face to continue. If they mismatch the items, students are told to click the sad face and try again. With basic sentence structure, easy-to-understand directions, and appropriate vocabulary and icons, this is an excellent activity for any K-2 emerging readers.

Media References

1.  Powerpoint: http://www9.chatham.k12.nc.us/archives/2004_stt/intel_04/dowdy/communityhelpers.htm

This is a powerpoint that was created by a first grade teacher describing many community helpers. It is called, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”

2.  Video: Students will watch the video "When I Grow Up I Want to Be," Run time = 50 minutes

3.  Field Trip: We will visit several important places in our community (Library, Post Office, Grocery Store, Hospital, etc.).

4.  Play: 15 Easy-to-Read Neighborhood & Community Mini-Book Plays: by Sheryl Ann Crawford, Nancy I. Sanders

Every class will have fun developing reading skills, fluency, and confidence as they read these delightful mini-book plays. Titles include We Bring the Mail, Many Ways to Get Around, Fire Fighters, Follow the Map, Good Neighbors Help, and many more!

5. Song

http://comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~rstewart/k2001/Themes/community/helpers.htm

Community Helpers Song

Tune: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer")
Mailmen deliver mail,
Nurses help us when we're sick,
Bankers deposit money,
Farmers raise cows, goats and chicks.
Doctors, teachers and police.
We all need them so.
Each does his important part
Always on the go.
Bus drivers, sales and firemen,
Couldn't do without them too!
Can't wait 'til you grow up, There’s so many jobs for you!

6.  Pictures:

Community Helpers! Bulletin Board Grades PreK-3
Colorful display of 15 community helpers that can also be used in career development discussions. Career name labels also included. Plastic-coated for color-fastness and durability, write-on, wipe-off surface.

7.  Website: Community Club http://teacher.scholastic.com/commclub/ Early learners find out about different community workers by clicking on their profiles. They follow the onscreen prompts to read and even hear the story of the community helper.

8.  Computer Games: Guess the Community Helper Game http://www.sunshine.co.nz/nz/29/action/k_action.html

Help students learn about the community helpers in their neighborhood while reinforcing computer skills. Children must choose the correct community helper being described and then chose the tools that they use.

9.  Community Helper Song
(Tune: "Farmer In the Dell")

This song includes many different jobs in the community that the children are able to sing. It includes the job that each worker does.

http://comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~rstewart/k2001/Themes/community/helpers.htm#Poems%20&%20Songs

10.  Computer game: