Community Helpers -- Preschool & Kindergarten
Community Helpers
Mail Carrier
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.
Painters
Art
Call the Paper Hangers
Need: wallpaper samples, mural paper, flour, water, scissors.
Let children experiment with making "wallpaper paste" by mixing 2 cups flour and 1 1/2 cups water. The children can create a wallpaper collage by "wallpapering" the mural paper.
Large Motor
Painting the Building
Provide children with pails of water and large paintbrushes. Let children paint the outside of the building or a fence with water.
Science/Math
The Right Shade
Need: tempera paint, small bowls, plastic stirrers, paint-chip samples.
Show children the paint-chip samples and explain that people use the chips to choose paint colors they like. Challenge children to match the colors by mixing paints in the small bowls. Have plenty of white paint on hand.
A Perfect Match
Need: duplicate paint-chip samples, scissors, large piece of cardboard, box.
Glue one set of paint-chip samples onto the cardboard. Place the second set in a box. Children can find the chips that match the ones on the board.
See Also
