Community Helpers

New Literacies Curriculum Project

By: Kelsey Ramirez

Connie Ma

Grade: Preschool

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 Overview: Topic, Big Ideas, and Concept
Topic/Concept:
Students will learn about who community helpers are. They will also learn about
how different people in our community can help us in different ways. Students will learn
about various community helpers such as police officers, doctors, firefighters,
construction workers, and mail carriers.
Throughout this new literacies curriculum unit, students will participate in a
variety of hands-on learning experiences that involves multiple modalities, text, and
media forms in order to learn about different community helpers. Some of these
activities include read alouds, arts and crafts, videos, music, games (science, math, and
literacy), one-on-one apps, fine motor and gross motor activities, and centers such as
dramatic play, sensory table, and blocks.

Big Ideas:
1. Who are community helpers?
2. What are different types of community helpers?
3. How do different community helpers help us?

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 Overview: Standards and Objectives
Hawaii Early Learning and Development Standards (HELDS):
Age: 48 months - Kindergarten Entry

Domain Strand Topic Code HELDS

Standard

Cognition and Social Studies Economics GK.KE.ff Identify one or

General two workers
Knowledge and their jobs
in the
community

English Speaking and Comprehension AL/LA.48.a Try new

Language Arts Listening and activities and
and Literacy Collaboration experiences
independently

General Learner Outcomes (GLOs):

General Learner Outcome #2: Community Contributor
The understanding that it is essential for human beings to work together

General Learner Outcome #6: Effective and Ethical User of Technology

The ability to use a variety of technologies effectively and ethically

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 Overview: Rationale
Students in preschool are naturally curious about the world around them. They
can expand their knowledge beyond their own homes and classrooms to a larger
community with this new literacies curriculum unit. By learning about community
helpers, students can understand the importance of a community and how people work
together. They will learn about the different people in their community, what they do, and
how they can help others. Furthermore, students can also begin to explore what types
of jobs and/or careers they want to have when they grow up.

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 Timeline
Date Lesson

Week of August 29, 2016 Lesson 1: Introduction & Police Officers

Week of September 5, 2016 Lesson 2: Doctors

Week of September 12, 2016 Lesson 3: Firefighters

Week of September 19, 2016 Lesson 4: Construction Workers

Week of September 26, 2016 Lesson 5: Mail Carriers

* Tentative schedule subject to changes as needed.

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 Lesson 1: Introduction & Police Officers
Introduction
- Show a poster of community helpers
- Ask students if they can identify some of the jobs these people do (encourage students
to make connections to jobs their parents do)
- Explain that these people are called Community Helpers

Police Officers Group Lesson

- Mystery Bag on SmartBoard (police items)
- Have students take turns revealing pictured items in mystery bag on smartboard
- Have students identify objects and guess the community helper
- Introduce students to policeman puppet and state what community helper we are
focusing on today
- Policeman Circle Map on SmartBoard
- Activate students prior knowledge by asking what they already know about policemen
(remind students of Paw Patrols Chase Police dog)
- Fill in circle map with small drawings and word phrases
- Explain that were going to watch a video to learn more about what a police officer
does, then come back to fill in more of what we learned
- Video: The Policeman Song - The Workers https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=fpobmsOQakE
- Pause video periodically to add more to circle map
- Review ideas from circle map
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song

Craft
- Police Officers: Fingerprints
- Trace each childs hand on a sheet of paper. Children color
heavily with a pencil on an index card to make a layer of
graphite; they rub a fingertip on the graphite; stick clear tape
on that fingertip and press; pull the tape off and stick to the
finger on the hand outline. After, look at the fingerprints with a
magnifying glass, and talk about ways police detectives use
fingerprints.

- Badges
- In advance, cut out badge shapes from manilla folders (one
for each child); provide aluminum foil, beads, markers, glue and safety pins. The
children decorate their badges and then you pin them to their clothing.

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 Activities
- Traffic Light Dance
- Just like "freeze dance", but instead of turning the music off to freeze, the children
looked at my signs that read, Go, Slow, and Stop.

Centers: Dramatic Play

- Walkie talkies, blue shirts, notepads, pens, badge, hats, etc.

Centers: Sensory Table

- Police officers use clues to solve crimes. Add sand and spray bottles to your sensory
table. The children can spray the sand and then press items (their hands, fingers,
shoes or classroom toys) in the wet sand and remove to see the prints these items
leave.

Centers: Blocks
- Add people, trucks, cars and emergency vehicles to the block area to encourage
students making their own cities or towns

Read Aloud
- In My Neighborhood: Police Officers by Paulette Bourgeois
- Police: Hurrying! Helping! Saving! By Patricia Hubbell
- Lets Meet a Police Officer by Gina Bellisario

One-on-One
- App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
- App Community Helpers by TinyApps

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 Lesson 2: Doctors
Introduction
- Show a poster of community helpers and review definition
- Refer to police circle map and ask students to share some things they learned about
policemen
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song (Police)

Doctors Group Lesson

- Mystery Bag on SmartBoard (doctor items)
- Have students take turns revealing pictured items in mystery bag on smartboard
- Introduce students to doctor puppet and state what community helper we are focusing
on today
- Doctor Circle Map on SmartBoard
- Activate students prior knowledge by asking what they already know about doctors
(remind students of Doctor Mcstuffins)
- Fill in circle map with small drawings and word phrases
- Explain that were going to follow Caillou to the doctors to learn more about what a
doctor does, then come back to fill in more of what we learned
- Video: Caillou Check Up: Doctors Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=s6VqNGP3Z24
- Pause video periodically to add more to circle map
- Review ideas from circle map
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song (Doctor)

Poem
- Doctor Foster Nursery Rhyme

Activity
- Stethoscope (Science)
- Use a paper cup with the bottom cut out. Children press the big end of the cup to the
heart area of a friends chest, and press an ear against the small end. (Works best if
you dont hold onto the cup.)

Craft
- Doctors Kit

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- Together identify each doctor item and talk about how doctors use it to help people.
Have students ask for items with sentence phrase ____________ please. Have
student glue items in paper case.

Centers: Dramatic Play

- Doctors or nurses coat, doctor checklist, scrub shirt, stethoscope, cloth bandage
wraps, x-rays, empty medicine bottles, shot syringes (without needle), bandaids, etc.

Centers: Blocks
- Add people, trucks, cars and emergency vehicles to the block area to encourage
students making their own cities or towns

Read Aloud
- We Need Doctors by Lola Schaefer
- Froggy Goes to the Doctor by Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz
- Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty

Other Videos
- Doc McStuffins: Time For your Check Up Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=sDFnuEgrB48
- Baby Doctor Newborn Check Up Dr Sandraw McStuffins & Daughter Ava Real Scale +
Hospital Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1NTs9dhZ3s

One-on-One
- App Caillou Check Up: Doctors Visit
- App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
- App Community Helpers by TinyApps

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 Lesson 3: Firefighters
Introduction
- Show a poster of community helpers and review definition
- Refer to police and doctor circle maps and ask students to share some things they
learned about each one
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song (Police and Doctor)

Firefighters Group Lesson

- Mystery Bag on SmartBoard (firefighter items)
- Have students take turns revealing pictured items in mystery bag on smartboard
- Introduce students to firefighter puppet and state what community helper we are
focusing on today
- Firefighter Circle Map on SmartBoard
- Activate students prior knowledge by asking what they already know about firefighters
(remind students of Paw Patrols Marshall)
- Fill in circle map with small drawings and word phrases
- Explain that were going to watch a video to learn more about what firefighters do, then
come back to fill in more of what we learned
- Video: A Day in the Life - Firefighter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbL45xX6p6E
- Pause video periodically to add more to circle map
- Review ideas from circle map
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song (Firefighter)

Activities
- Stop, Drop & Roll (Safety, Large Motor)
- Paint red flames onto an adult size (Large or X-Large) white
T-shirt. Choose a child to put on the T-shirt over their clothing
and have the child practice stop, drop, and roll. When they
have gotten the pretend flames out, they take off the shirt to
show that the flames are gone. Make sure each child has a
turn.

- Firetruck Stamping Game (Math, Literacy)

- Write a letter or numeral on each firetruck, and make a copy for each child. Children will
draw a number or letter card from a stack (or roll a die), find that letter/numeral on their
mat, and stamp it out. You can use rubber stamps or bingo dot markers. As an
alternative, you can have children draw an X over the firetruck if stamps or bingo dot
markers are not available.
Songs
- Firefighter Song

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 Centers: Dramatic Play
- Fire hats, black boots, oxygen tanks (made from 2 liter bottles), raincoat, short pieces of
hose, hand bell, first aid kit, etc.

Centers: Sensory
- Make little flames out of fun foam and write numbers on them. Add a little water to your
sensory table so they float and give the children a spray bottle with water in it. The
children can squirt the " flame" the number of times the number says, or squirt them in
numerical order.

Centers: Blocks
- Add people, trucks, cars and emergency vehicles to the block area to encourage
students making their own cities or towns

Read Aloud
- A Day with Firefighters by Jan Kottke
- Lets Meet a Firefighter by Gina Bellisario
- Curious George and the Firefighters by H. A. Rey and Anna Hines

One-on-One
- App 3D Fire Fighter Game For Kids by Internet Design Zone
- App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
- App Community Helpers by TinyApps

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 Lesson 4: Construction Workers
Introduction
- Show a poster of community helpers and review definition
- Refer to police, doctor, and firefighter circle maps and ask students to share some
things they learned about each one
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song (Police, Doctor, and Firefighter)

Construction Workers Group Lesson

- Mystery Bag on SmartBoard (construction worker items)
- Have students take turns revealing pictured items in mystery bag on smartboard
- Introduce students to construction worker puppet and state what community helper we
are focusing on today
- Construction Worker Circle Map on SmartBoard
- Activate students prior knowledge by asking what they already know about construction
workers (remind students of Paw Patrols Rubble or Felix in Wreck It Ralph)
- Fill in circle map with small drawings and word phrases
- Explain that were going to watch a video to learn more about what construction
workers do, then come back to fill in more of what we learned
- Video: A day in the Life of a Construction Worker https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=NO_DrUQjppM
- Pause video periodically to add more to circle map
- Review ideas from circle map
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song (Construction Worker)

Activities
- Play Dough Construction (Fine Motor Skills)
- Add wooden craft sticks to the play dough for children to construct houses and other
buildings.

- Block Game (Math)

- Children take turns rolling the die, and counting out that amount of blocks from the pile.
As they take the blocks from the pile, they construct a tower. After all the blocks are
gone, we compare the towers to see whose is the tallest.

Crafts
- Tool Belt

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- Have students name and cut out shapes. Students can then practice writing their
names on their new tool belt.
- Painting with Tools
- Dip some (safe) tools in paint and students explore the patterns they can create.

Centers: Dramatic Play

- Tools, belt, hat, toolbox, orange vests, blueprints, safety glasses, etc.

Centers: Sensory
- Fill sensory bin with corn dry corn, shovels, and construction vehicles.

Centers: Blocks
- Add people, trucks, cars and emergency vehicles to the block area to encourage
students making their own cities or towns

Read Aloud
- Community Helpers: Construction Workers by Cari Meister
- The Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer
- Pete the Cat: Construction Destruction by James Dean

One-on-One
- App Kids Vehicles: Construction by Polish Jokes Entertainment
- App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
- App Community Helpers by TinyApps

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 Lesson 5: Mail Carriers
Introduction
- Show a poster of community helpers and review definition
- Refer to police, doctor, firefighter, and construction worker circle maps and ask students
to share some things they learned about each one
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song (Police, Doctor, Firefighter, and
Construction Worker)

Mail Carriers Group Lesson

- Mystery Bag on SmartBoard (mail carrier items)
- Have students take turns revealing pictured items in mystery bag on smartboard
- Introduce students to mail carrier puppet and state what community helper we are
focusing on today
- Mail Carrier Circle Map on SmartBoard
- Activate students prior knowledge by asking what they already know about firefighters
(remind students of mail time in Blues Clues)
- Fill in circle map with small drawings and word phrases
- Explain that were going to watch a video to learn more about what mail carriers do,
then come back to fill in more of what we learned
- Video: So you want to be a Postal Service Mail Carrier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Lel07Qj6Q
- Pause video periodically to add more to circle map
- Review ideas from circle map
- Sing Community Helpers Good Morning Song (Mail Carrier)

Activities
- Mailbox Sorting Activity (Literacy)
- Write "ABC" on one mailbox to designate it as the
Letter Mailbox and "123" on the other for the Number
Mailbox. Make index cards with each letter of the
alphabet and numbers 1 through 10. Scatter all of the
cards face up on the floor and have the students take
turns picking a card, calling out the letter/number on
the card, and placing it in the correct mailbox.
- The Hop-Pop Game (Gross Motor)
- Tape bubble wrap to the floor. Tell the children they
will be given instructions on how to get from one end of their bubble wrap
to the other. (Tape very long strips of bubble wrap in the room. Have 2
children use each strip--one starting from one end of the bubbles and the

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 other child starting from the opposite end). (ex. Hop 2 times forward, run
3 times, walk like a spider (or crab!), slither like a snake, etc.)

Crafts
- Cardboard Canvas
- Rather than painting on paper at the easel, try provided cut out pieces of old boxes, that
the children have helped cut or rip.
- My Name Mailbag
- Provide paper mailbags by stapling 2 pieces of construction paper together (leaving one
end not stapled for an opening) and hole punch the two upper corners. Lace yarn or
string through the bags for shoulder handles. The children print their name on a bag.
They can write letters or draw pictures for their friends and place them in their own
bags. When done, they go around the room and deliver the letters to their friends.

Centers: Dramatic Play

- All size envelopes, bubble mailers, stamps (canceled), priority mail envelopes,
cardboard boxes, packaging tape, tube mailer, mailbox, paper, pens, etc.

Centers: Sensory
- Fill sensory bin with packing peanuts and various mail carrier items for students to find.

Centers: Blocks
- Build a New Post Office
- If possible, take pictures of your local Post Office. Also, show pictures of them from
magazines, posters, etc. Provide wooden unit blocks to build the post office. Provide toy
trucks and cars (and mail trucks, too!)
- Add people, trucks, cars and emergency vehicles to the block area to encourage
students making their own cities or towns

Song
- Five Little Letters

Read Aloud
- Mail Carriers at Work by Karen Latchana Kenney
- One Wind Day by Tammi Salzano
- Bunny Mail by Rosemary Wells

One-on-One
- App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
- App Community Helpers by TinyApps

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 Assessments
We will use the following general assessment strategies, performance tasks, and
tools to assess our students learning throughout this unit about community helpers.

Anecdotal notes of students during small group activities

Informal classroom observations of students during centers
One-on-one conferencing with each student during one-on-one activities

Rubric for each lesson of this unit:

Standard Meets Does not meet

Identify one or two workers Student was able to Student was not able to
and their jobs in the identify one or two workers identify any workers and
community and their jobs in the their jobs in the community
community

Try new activities and Student tried new activities Student did not try new
experiences independently and experiences activities and experiences
independently independently

Checklist for each lesson of this unit:

HELDS Standard: Identify one or two workers and their jobs in the community.
__ Identifies one worker
__ Identifies two workers
__ Identifies one worker and his/her job
__ Identifies two workers and their jobs
Notes:

HELDS Standard: Try new activities and experiences independently.

__ Tries new activities and experiences independently
__ Tries new activities and experiences with assistance
Notes:

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Lesson 1: Instruction & Police
Prepared Items
Materials
Poster of community helpers
Mystery bag (with police items)
Police puppet
Empty Circle Map Poster
Community Helpers Good Morning Song poster
Traffic Light Dance signs

Electronic Devices and Smart Board

Programs Computer
Projector
Speakers
iPad(s)
App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
App Community Helpers by TinyApps

Office Supplies Poster paper

Markers
Multi-colored paper
Ink
Pencils
Magnifying glass
Manila folders

Books In My Neighborhood: Police Officers by Paulette Bourgeois

Police: Hurrying! Helping! Saving! By Patricia Hubbell
Lets Meet a Police Officer by Gina Bellisario

Miscellaneous Community helper figures

Community helper vehicles
Aluminum foil
Beads
Glue
Safety pins
Music
Dramatic Play Items: Walkie talkies, blue shirts, notepads,
pens, badge, hats, etc.
Sand
Spray bottles

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Lesson 2: Doctors
Prepared Items
Poster of community helpers
Mystery bag (with doctor items)
Doctor puppet
Empty Circle Map Poster
Community Helpers Good Morning Song poster
Doctor Foster Nursery Rhyme Poster

Electronic Devices and Smart Board

Programs Computer
Projector
Speakers
iPad(s)
App Caillou Check Up: Doctors Visit
App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
App Community Helpers by TinyApps

Office Supplies Poster paper

Markers
Multi-colored paper
Ink
Pencils
Glue

Books We Need Doctors by Lola Schaefer

Froggy Goes to the Doctor by Jonathan London and Frank
Remkiewicz
Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty

Miscellaneous Community helper figures

Community helper vehicles
Paper cups
Doctors Kit Craft Supplies (ex. band aids, Q-tips, tongue
depressors, gauze, etc.)
Dramatic play items: Doctors or nurses coat, doctor checklist,
scrub shirt, stethoscope, cloth bandage wraps, x-rays, empty
medicine bottles, shot syringes (without needle), bandaids, etc.

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Lesson 3: Firefighters
Prepared Items
Poster of community helpers
Mystery bag (with firefighter items)
Firefighter puppet
Empty Circle Map Poster
Community Helpers Good Morning Song poster
Firefighter Song Poster

Electronic Devices and Smart Board

Programs Computer
Projector
Speakers
iPad(s)
App 3D Fire Fighter Game For Kids by Internet Design Zone
App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
App Community Helpers by TinyApps

Office Supplies Poster paper

Markers
Multi-colored paper
Ink
Pencils
Glue
Paint

Books A Day with Firefighters by Jan Kottke

Lets Meet a Firefighter by Gina Bellisario
Curious George and the Firefighters by H. A. Rey and Anna
Hines

Miscellaneous Community helper figures

Community helper vehicles
White T-shirt
Fire truck toys
Number or letter cards
Bingo dotters
Dramatic play items: Fire hats, black boots, oxygen tanks
(made from 2 liter bottles), raincoat, short pieces of hose, hand
bell, first aid kit, etc.
Fun foam
Spray bottles
Music
Dramatic Play Items: Walkie talkies, blue shirts, notepads,
pens, badge, hats, etc.
Sand

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Lesson 4: Construction Workers
Prepared Items
Poster of community helpers
Mystery bag (with construction worker items)
Construction worker puppet
Empty Circle Map Poster
Community Helpers Good Morning Song poster

Electronic Devices and Smart Board

Programs Computer
Projector
Speakers
iPad(s)
App Kids Vehicles: Construction by Polish Jokes
Entertainment
App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
App Community Helpers by TinyApps

Office Supplies Poster paper

Markers
Multi-colored paper
Ink
Pencils
Glue
Scissors
Paint

Books Community Helpers: Construction Workers by Cari Meister

The Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer
Pete the Cat: Construction Destruction by James Dean

Miscellaneous Community helper figures

Community helper vehicles
Play dough
Wooden craft sticks
Dice
Blocks
Tools for Painting with Tools
Dramatic play items: Tools, belt, hat, toolbox, orange vests,
blueprints, safety glasses, etc.
Dry corn
Shovels
Construction vehicles

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Lesson 5: Mail Carriers
Prepared Items
Poster of community helpers
Mystery bag (with mail carrier items)
Mail carrier puppet
Empty Circle Map Poster
Community Helpers Good Morning Song poster
ABC and/or 123 mailbox
Five Little Letters Poster

Electronic Devices and Smart Board

Programs Computer
Projector
Speakers
iPad(s)
App Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps
App Community Helpers by TinyApps

Office Supplies Poster paper

Markers
Multi-colored paper
Ink
Pencils
Glue
Index cards
Tape
Paint
Yarn
Stapler

Books Mail Carriers at Work by Karen Latchana Kenney

One Wind Day by Tammi Salzano
Bunny Mail by Rosemary Wells

Miscellaneous Community helper figures

Community helper vehicles
Bubble wrap
Card board pieces
Dramatic play items: All size envelopes, bubble mailers,
stamps (canceled), priority mail envelopes, cardboard boxes,
packaging tape, tube mailer, mailbox, paper, pens, etc.
Packing peanuts
Pictures of post offices
Wooden blocks
Mail trucks

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 Resources
Childrens Literature
In My Neighborhood: Police Officers by Paulette Bourgeois
Find out how police officers investigate a crime by looking at a day in the life of
police officers.

Police Officers Help Us by Aaron R. Murray

Learn about how police officers help us by describing how they keep us safe in
our communities.

We Need Doctors by Lola Schaefer

Photographs and simple text help young readers learn about doctors and their
role in the community.

If I Were a Doctor by Rookie Toddler

A simple introduction to what a doctor does.

A Day with Firefighters by Jan Kottke

Describes what firefighters wear, the equipment they use, and how they fight
fires.

Meet the People in Your Neighborhood!: Firefighters by Naomi Kleimberg

Learn with Elmo how firefighters keep you safe, wear special clothes, and
teaches kids about fire safety.

Community Helpers: Construction Workers by Cari Meister

Discover what a construction workers job is like and learn about how they tear
down old buildings and build new ones.

If You Were a Construction Worker by Virginia Schomp

Describes the tools and skills that construction workers need to build houses,
bridges, and other structures.

Mail Carriers at Work by Karen Latchana Kenney

Teaches young readers about the education, tasks, tools, and role in society of
mail carriers.

Delivering Your Mail: A Book About Mail Carrier by Ann Owen

Describes some of the things that mail carriers do to make sure people in the
community get their mail.

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 Educational Apps for Kids
The following educational apps can help enrich students learning experiences with fun
mini games. These interactive and engaging apps can help to help boost students
knowledge about various community helpers throughout this unit.

- Community Helper Play & Learn by Paper Boat Apps

- Community Helpers by TinyApps
- Caillou Check Up: Doctors Visit
- 3D Fire Fighter Game For Kids by Internet Design Zone
- Kids Vehicles: Construction by Polish Jokes Entertainment

Helpful Resource Sites

Cox, K. (n.d.). Community Helpers Theme: A Collection of Pre-K activities by Pre-
Kinders.com. Retrieved from http://www.prekinders.com/community-theme/
Hatch, C. (n.d.). Community Helpers. Retrieved from http://www.preschool-plan-it.com/

Videos
The Policeman Song - The Workers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpobmsOQakE
Policeman Ben sings about the important duties police officers do in our
community.

Caillou Check Up: Doctors Visit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6VqNGP3Z24
Go to the doctors office with Caillou to check his height and weight, test his
vision, play with cool doctor tools such as stethoscope, and lots more!

A Day in the Life - Firefighter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbL45xX6p6E
Learn what firefighters at the Phoenix Fire Department Fire Station 9 do.

A day in the Life of a Construction Worker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO_DrUQjppM
Watch as construction workers build the roads that we use.

So you want to be a Postal Service Mail Carrier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Lel07Qj6Q
This short video highlights the day-to-day activities you might expect to
encounter when you are a Postal Service Mail Carrier.

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