For this lesson you will need:
Speaker Bear
Sticker Basket
Window Marker (or Dry erase marker)
Word Squares (see letter of the day)
Dress up items
Choice of Story Book
Printed Coloring Page
Apples, Celery and PB
Welcome Song: (To tune of Old MacDonald):
Welcome, welcome everyone
So glad that you are here.
Today we’re gonna have some fun
So let’s give out a cheer
Woo hoo!!
Clap clap clap clap
Slap(legs) slap slap slap
Clap clap clap let’s go! (when you shout “let’s go!”, do a group high five in the center)
Question of the day: Can you tell me about a time that you helped someone else? Pass speaker bear around giving each child a chance to answer. Share an experience you’ve had helping someone, and how helping made you feel.
Number of the day ‘8’: With a window marker (or dry erase marker) draw a big number 8 on the window. Ask children if they would like to practice their number 8s as well.
Give each child a turn to practice drawing a number 8 on the window. (Assistance may be needed for younger children if a window marker is used… it will drip!)
Have children count to 8 on their fingers (leaving out their thumbs), then have them count to eight on their toes (leaving out their big toes). Ask them what it would be like to have only 8 fingers with no thumbs. Have them try to pick up some items off the floor without using their thumbs. Have children count out eight stickers from the sticker basket while counting aloud and have them stick them on the sticker chart.
Letter of the day ‘H’: On six squares of paper write the following H-less words:
1: “ot”
2: “alloween”
3: “Ello!”
4: “ungry”
5: “air”
6: “appy”
Put the squares of paper into a bowl. Have children take turns standing up, and pulling a square of paper out of the bowl for you to read out loud. After you read what is on the paper, use that word in a sentence. “ot. Jeez, it’s ot in here!” or “air. I love the way you brush your air!” When all of the words have been read, ask what they noticed about each of these words.
Demonstrate how to write the letter Hh, and have children write the letter in where it’s supposed to go on each of the word squares. Say the words aloud again and ask if they think that sounds better.
Allow children to practice in their writing notebooks.
Teach ASL sign for the letter H, as well as the signs for Hot, Hungry and Help.
Introduction of topic: If you have any costume items around the house (such as a police, fireman or chef’s hat, nurse’s scrubs, or any other type of uniform) put it on. If you have others, put them aside for the children to wear later.
Ask if any of the children have chores that they are expected do to help out around the house. If they answer ‘yes,’ ask for examples. Discuss how important it is for everyone in the family to help each other in order to make our homes a happy, clean, and healthy place to live.
“Did you know that the town we live in has hundreds of people that work to help us every day too? Just like we do chores to help and serve each other at home, these helpers work hard to serve the people in our town or Community, and make it a happy, clean and healthy place to live!”
Ask them to think of some examples of helpers in our community. As they come up with answers, ask what each of these people do, and how what they do helps us.
(Doctors, Teachers, Dentists, Cashiers, Police Officers, Firemen, Waitresses, Chefs, Mechanics, Pharmacists, Truck Drivers, Librarians, Postal workers, Farmers etc.)
Explain that each of these jobs are so important. Have children imagine what would happen if some of these helpers were not available. (Example: What would happen if we didn’t have dentists? Who would I go to if I had a horrible toothache? What would happen if I was hurt very badly and there weren’t any doctors to help me?)
Listen to their answers. Explain that each of these helpers are very important, and that we need each and every one of them to make our community a good place to live.
Story: When I Grow Up by PK Hallinan
A Day with a Mail Carrier by Jan Kottke
Jobs People Do by Christopher Maynard
Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice
Library Lil by Suzanne Williams, Steven Kellogg Allow children to make comments or ask questions about the story.
Activity: Have children dress up in Community Helper attire. If you don’t have ready made costumes, then have children help you construct them out of whatever you have handy (towels, eye glasses, Daddy’s ties…) and just play! Allow each child to choose an imaginary name and then act out different scenarios where you make use of each of their special Community Helper skills. Take mail to the post office, then go to a doctor’s appointment for a hurt leg. Check out books at the pretend library and then stop by Rite Aid to pick up your prescription. Let their imaginations go wild.
When they’ve had enough pretending… proceed with remainder of lesson plan.
Art: Color! See this site to print out community helper coloring pages of your choice. http://www.coloring.ws/people.htm
or
Have children design their own 'helper charts.' Have them choose a few chores that they enjoy doing, and then add a one or two others. Hang on the refrigerator and tell them that each day they do the chore, they can put a sticker on the chart. You may want to offer something special when their helper chart is filled up.
Snack: Apples, celery and peanut butter. Explain that farmers are special community helpers that grow yummy foods like this for us to eat!
Service: Choose one or a few Community Helpers to thank for their hard work and service. Deliver a plate of cookies to the firehouse, give a note of appreciation to the mailman. Verbally thank a cashier for her friendliness, etc.
Good bye song: To the tune of “If You’re Happy and you Know it”
If you’ve learned a lot today, clap your hands (clap clap)
Here’s the letter of the day (sign the letter H), clap your hands (clap clap)
Oh, we’ve had a lot of fun,
Now our preschool time is done (tap index finger to wrist)
See you next time (wave) and we’ll do it all again! (Clap clap.)
