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Community
Helpers
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include your favorite community helper activity in this theme!
*Art
Families at Work
Need: magazines, construction paper.
Have children make a book of Families at Work. The children can cut
out of magazines pictures of workers at various jobs and glue on
construction paper. Fasten together or staple to make a book.
*Carpenter
*Fingerplays/Songs
This is the way he saws the wood
(right hand saws left palm)
Sawing, sawing, sawing.
This is the way he nails the nail
(pound right fist on left palm)
Nailing, nailing, nailing.
This is the way he paints the house
(right hand paints left palm)
Painting, painting, painting
Johnny's Hammer
Johnny hammers with one hammer, one hammer. Johnny hammers with one hammer.
( fist hitting leg)
Johnny hammers with two hammers, two hammers. Johnny hammers with two hammers.
(both fist hitting legs)
Johnny hammers with three hammers, three hammers. Johnny hammers with
three hammers.
(both fist hit floor and one foot taps floor)
Johnny hammers with four hammers, four hammers. Johnny hammers with
four hammers.
(both fist hit floor and both feet tap floor)
Johnny hammers with five hammers, five hammers. Johnny hammers with
five hammers.
(both fist hit floor, both feet tap floor, and nod head)
*Art
Rulers
Set rulers and paper on the table. The children can then experiment
creating lines and geometric shapes.
*Learning Centers
Construction Site
Place cardboard boxes, blocks, plastic pipes, wheelbarrows, hard
hats, paper, and pencils in the block area to represent a
construction site.
Science
Exploring Levels
Place levels and wood scraps on a table for the children to explore
while being closely supervised.
The Wide World of Rulers
Set up a display with different types and sizes of rulers. Include
the reel type. Paper and pencils can also be added to create interest.
*Chef
*Art
The Cook's Kitchen
Need: play dough, pictures of various foods, cookbooks, cooking
utensils, medium-sized cartoon with flap that opens.
Put out play dough, box, and other props so children can create
different foods. Then, children can become chefs by cooking them in
the cardboard "oven."
Menu
Need: markers, glue, magazines with pictures of food, construction paper.
Have children cut out of the magazines pictures of food and glue onto
construction paper to create menus.
Children can "write" the names and prices underneath the
pictures of these foods. Compile menu pages and place in the Dramatic
Play area.
*Learning Centers
Baker
Wet some of the sand. Children can bake cakes, cookies and so on, try
providing some pans, spoons, and bowls. Decorate bakery products with
birthday candles, dry sand, pebbles, and leaves.
Cafe'
Need: plastic food, construction paper, markers.
Children can build a mini-cafe'. Arrange area with tables, chairs, a
workers' area, and a place for food. The children could use
construction paper and markers to make signs.
*Math/Science
Weigh In Please
Need: cooking scale, fruits of varying weights, vegetables of varying weights.
Place food on the table and invite children to sort it into groups
(by color, size, shape, etc). Then, choose two foods which are
dramatically different in weight, such as a grape and a melon. Ask
children to choose which one is heavier. Test their answers by weighing.
Silly Spills
Need: sponges, paper towels, cloth, tissues, washcloths, towels, tubs
with water, food coloring, clear plastic pitchers.
Ask children to investigate which materials are the best and worst at
absorbing water. Then can share their results with one another. After
children share their results, ask them to decide as a group, which
material is the best.
*Snack Time
At snack time or mealtime play restaurant. Allow children to take
turns waiting on table
*Firefighter
House
Need: Red and Yellow Paint Pattern of a house
Have the children finger paint on the house pattern with the red and yellow paint. In the process the children will learn about how the colors red and yellow makes orange. The paint stand for the fire. Contributed By: Dena Padgett
*Mail
Carrier
*Fingerplays/Songs
Mailing Letters
Tune: "The Mulberry Bush"
This is the way we mail a letter,
Mail a letter, mail a letter.
This is the way we mail a letter,
So early in the morning.
Little Mail Carrier
I am a little mail carrier
(point to self)
I walk.
(walk in place)
I run.
(run in place)
I hop to your house.
(hop in place)
To deliver your letter.
Letter to Grandma
Lick them, stamp them
(make licking and stamping motions)
Put them in a box
(extend arms outward)
Hope that Grandma
Loves them alot!
(hug self)
*Art
Postcards
Have children make postcards at school to send to family and friends.
Provide index cards. Let the children design the postcards.
Mailboxes
Make mailboxes out of old shoeboxes. Each child can decorate his/her
own box. Names can be added by the children or teacher.
Stamps
Collect assorted stamps or stickers. Cancelled stamps can be reglued.
The children can make a stamp collage.
*Learning Centers
Sorting Game
need: Construction paper, envelopes, sacks
Cut out squares from colored construction paper and write a different
number on each square (laminate them if you wish). Write a different
number on the front of small paper sacks. I used numbers 1-10. Tape
the sacks on the doors or wall, but keep them in the same room. Give
each child a sack full of the numbers and tell them they are mail
carriers and the sacks hanging up are the mail boxes. Have them walk
around and deliver their mail. The kids really like this game. Try it
using shapes and letters also. Contributed By: Connie
Post Office
Create a post office in the dramatic play area. Provide a mailbox,
mail carrier hats, mailbag, stamps, cash register, rubber date
stamps, and a letter scale.
Weighing Mail
A variety of letters, boxes, stamps, and a scale can be placed in the
science area. The children can weigh letters and packages. This
activity can be extended by placing materials in the boxes and
weighing them, noting the difference.
Easel Idea
Cut easel paper in the shape of envelopes, letters, stamps, or mailbags.
*Snack
Zip Code Special
Need: 1 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk, 2 cups fresh or frozen berries, 1
teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup water, 1 tray ice cubes.
Blend all ingredients in a blender. Serve and enjoy!
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