A Community and Its Helpers

A Community and Its Helpers By: Mindy Shardo & Kate Janning ED 417-01

The Community and Its Helpers • Target Grade for lessons: 2nd • Activities: • Discuss what makes a community and describe its helpers, followed by a word search of community helpers • Most Wanted posters • Have a community helper come in and speak to the children about their occupation

Community Helpers • Fireman • Policeman • Postal worker • Doctor • Librarian • Trash Collector • Dentist • School teacher • Nurses • Electrician • Plumber • Baker • Military personnel • Chef • Political leaders • Construction worker

Activities continued… • Visit post office for a tour and mail thank you letters to guest speaker • Show equal importance of helpers in the community

1. What Makes a Community? • Objective: • Students will learn and understand the various workers and helpers in their community. • Materials: • Chart paper • Markers • Word search • Pictures of workers and helpers for reference • Paper and pencil

Lesson Plan Teacher will lead discussion asking the children who makes up their community, and what those people do. The teacher will make a list of these people and their jobs while students do the same at their desks. If not all occupations are named by the students, teacher may give the students hints in figuring out all occupations included in the word search. After all occupations have been named, students will complete word search of occupations and helpers .

2. Most Wanted Objective: Students will describe tools used by community helpers and make a class book. Materials: • White paper, black construction paper, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, pencils, classmate names on individual pieces of paper

The Lesson • Students will draw a name of their classmate out of a hat. They will then draw a picture of their “criminal” classmate on white paper. When finished, students cut out black strips of construction paper and glue over picture so it looks as if the criminal is in jail. At the bottom, students must write why the “criminal” is in jail. (Ideas must be approved by the teacher)

Lesson Continued… • Students may then share their posters with the class. • Drawings will be kept and made into a class book.

3. Guest Speaker • Objectives: • Students will meet a community helper first hand and gain a deeper understanding of the helper’s job. • Students will write letters in writing center. • Materials: • Paper, pencils, envelopes, stamps

The Lesson Find a community helper (fireman, police officer, postal worker, etc) who is willing to come to your classroom to speak. Parents may be helpful in contacting these workers. Speaker will talk to students about his/her occupation and bring in tools they use at their job to show the students. After speaker has left, students will write a thank you note to the speaker, including something new they learned during the presentation or something they especially liked. Students will mail these letters personally during another activity.

Lesson Continued… After speaker has left, students will write a thank you note to the speaker, including something new they learned during the presentation or something they especially liked. Students will mail these letters personally during another activity.

4. Visit a Post Office • Objective: Students will gain a deeper understanding of how the mail is processed by touring the post office Materials: Bus (if needed), thank you letters, permission slips, medical forms for traveling with students

The Lesson • Students will travel to post office either by foot or by bus. Postal worker will speak to the students about how the mail is processed and give them a tour of the building. Postal worker will also explain how to mail a letter and the other services they provide.

5. Equally Important Helpers • Objective: Students will recognize the equal importance of each role played by helpers in the community • Materials: Chart of helpers listed in first lesson, overflowing trash cans

The Lesson • Previous to lesson (at the beginning of the week) , secretly talk to the janitor and ask him/her not to empty your trash cans all week. Do not let the students know about this arrangement. This lesson should be taught several days into the week.

Lesson Continued… • Bring back the chart of helpers the students named in the first lesson. One at a time, take away a helper. Ask students to brainstorm possible problems in the community from this helper no longer providing his/her service. • Chart the possible problems on the board next to each helper’s name.

Lesson Continued… • Point out the trash bins and how they are overflowing, making a mess, and probably not smelling so pleasant. Use this as a first hand example to show how trash collectors and cleaners are just as important as doctors and fireman. Students can then help take their own trash out to the dumpster, hopefully providing more appreciation for the helpers within the building.

Helpful Websites • www.edhelper.com/community_helpers.htm • http://people.csp.edu/pickel/helpers.htm • http://teacherexchange.mde.k12.ms.us/teachnett/helpers.htm

http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/history/comm/http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/history/comm/ • http://comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~rstewart/k2001/Themes/community/helpers.htm

A Community and Its Helpers