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BY MARETE SNORTLAND-PI
UNIVERSITY OF MARY

LITERATURE SELECTION
NONFICTION:
WE NEED MAIL CARRIERS BY LOLA M. SCHAEFER
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A POLICE OFFICER BY LINDA HAYWARD
GOING TO THE DOCTOR BY ANNE CIVARDI
FIREFIGHTER A TO Z BY CHRIS L. DEMAREST
OWNEY, THE MAIL POUCH POOCH BY MONA KERBY AND LYNNE BARASCH
3 LITTLE FIREFIGHTERS BY STUART J. MURPHY
FICTION:
THE BERENSTAIN BEARS GO TO THE DOCTOR BY STAN AND JAN BERENSTAIN
MISS MINGO AND THE FIRE DRILL BY JAMIE HARPER
RICHARD SCARRYS A DAY AT THE POLICE STATION BY RICHARD SCARRY
POLICE OFFICERS ON PATROL BY KERSTEN HAMILTON AND R.W. ALLEY
A LETTER FOR LEO BY SERGIO RUZZLER
MILLIE WAITS FOR THE MAIL BY ALEXANDER STEFFENSMEIER

UNIT PLAN
THIS UNIT PLAN WILL BE ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY HELPERS. STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT COMMUNITY
HELPERS BY INTEGRATING LANGUAGE ARTS LESSONS, SUCH AS READING AND WRITING, WITH OTHER
CONTENT AREAS LIKE MATH, SCIENCE, MUSIC, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT WHO HELPS US IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT THEY DO TO HELP US, HOW WE
CAN HELP THEM, AND HOW TO BECOME ONE.

LANGUAGE ARTS: READING ACTIVITIES

STUDENTS WILL READ A VARIETY OF FICTION, NONFICTION AND POETRY BOOKS ABOUT COMMUNITY
HELPERS THROUGH WHOLE GROUP, SMALL GROUP, AND INDIVIDUAL READING TIME

STUDENTS WILL READ ALOUD THEIR POEMS AND STORIES ABOUT COMMUNITY HELPERS
STUDENTS WILL READ CLOVERLEAF BOOKS COMMUNITY HELPERS SERIES WITH A PARTNER IN DAILY
FIVES

LANGUAGE ARTS: WRITING ACTIVITIES

STUDENTS WILL WRITE A POEM ABOUT A COMMUNITY HELPER JOB
STUDENTS WILL JOURNAL ABOUT WHAT SORT OF COMMUNITY HELPER JOB THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN
THE FUTURE

STUDENTS WILL RESEARCH ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE COMMUNITY HELPER JOB WITH A PARTNER
STUDENTS WILL WRITE THANK YOU CARDS TO THE FIREMEN WHO ALLOWED US TO VISIT
STUDENTS WILL WRITE A STORY ABOUT A COMMUNITY JOB
STUDENTS WILL JOURNAL BASED ON A COMMUNITY JOB CHOSEN FROM THE TOPICS WALL

LANGUAGE ARTS: SPEAKING ACTIVITIES

STUDENTS WILL ASK AND ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT COMMUNITY HELPERS DURING WHOLE GROUP
TIME

STUDENTS WILL SHARE THEIR RESEARCH WITH THE CLASS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY HELPER JOB THEY
CHOSE

STUDENTS WILL CREATE A PLAY ABOUT A COMMUNITY HELPER JOB

STUDENTS WILL ASK QUESTIONS OF THE FIREMEN WHEN VISITING THE FIREHOUSE
STUDENTS WILL SHARE THEIR PICTURE BOOK STORY WITH THE CLASS

LANGUAGE ARTS: LISTENING ACTIVITIES

STUDENTS WILL LISTEN TO STORIES DURING WHOLE GROUP LESSON
STUDENTS WILL LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY HELPER SPEAKERS DURING WHOLE GROUP LESSON
STUDENTS WILL LISTEN TO A PARTNER READ A STORY DURING DAILY FIVE
STUDENTS WILL LISTEN TO SONGS BEING SUNG IN THE CLASSROOM

LANGUAGE ARTS: VIEWING ACTIVITIES

STUDENTS WILL WATCH A FIREMAN TURN ON HIS FIREHOSE DURING THE FIREHOUSE VISIT
STUDENTS WILL OBSERVE ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO LIVING AT THE FIREHOUSE AND DRAW
PICTURES OF IT WHEN THEY RETURN TO CLASS

STUDENTS WILL OBSERVE EACH OTHERS DRAWINGS OF COMMUNITY HELPER JOBS THEY CHOSE THE
RESEARCH

STUDENTS WILL OBSERVE EACH OTHERS PICTURE BOOKS IN WHOLE GROUP

LANGUAGE ARTS: VISUALLY REPRESENTING ACTIVITIES

STUDENTS WILL DRAW PICTURES OF THEIR COMMUNITY HELPER JOB THEY CHOSE TO RESEARCH
STUDENTS WILL DRAW DIAGRAMS OF THE FIREHOUSE
STUDENTS WILL CREATE A CLASSROOM MURAL OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY JOBS
STUDENTS WILL CREATE PICTURE BOOKS TO REPRESENT A COMMUNITY JOB

LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS

SL.K.5 ADD DRAWINGS OR OTHER VISUAL DISPLAYS TO DESCRIPTIONS AS DESIRED TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL DETAIL.

RI.K.1 WITH PROMPTING AND SUPPORT, ASK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT KEY DETAILS IN A TEXT.
SL.K.3 ASK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS IN ORDER TO SEEK HELP, GET INFORMATION, OR CLARIFY
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT UNDERSTOOD.

SCIENCE ACTIVITIES
STUDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO PUT OUT A FIRE FROM THE VISITING FIREMAN
STUDENTS WILL DESIGN A RECYCLING BIN FOR OUR CLASSROOM TO USE AND DISCUSS THE BENEFITS OF
RECYCLING AND HOW THAT MAKES US COMMUNITY HELPERS

STUDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A SERVICE DOG

STUDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BODIES FROM A VISITING DOCTOR

SCIENCE STANDARDS TIE-IN

K-ESS3-3 COMMUNICATE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL REDUCE THE IMPACT OF HUMANS ON THE LAND, WATER,
AIR, AND/OR OTHER LIVING THINGS IN THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

K-LS1-1 USE OBSERVATIONS TO DESCRIBE PATTERNS OF WHAT PLANTS AND ANIMALS (INCLUDING
HUMANS) NEED TO SURVIVE

K-ESS2-2 CONSTRUCT AN ARGUMENT SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE FOR HOW PLANTS AND ANIMALS
(INCLUDING HUMANS) CAN CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT TO MEET THEIR NEEDS

MATH ACTIVITIES
STUDENTS WILL OBSERVE DIFFERENT SHAPES ON THE FIRE TRUCK
BAND-AID ADDING AND SUBTRACTION WORKSHEETS
GRAPHING A CLASS POLL OF WHAT EVERYONE IN THE CLASS WANTS TO DO FOR A JOB
COVER THE FIRETRUCK MATH GAME
CREATE FIRE TRUCKS, AMBULANCES, OR POLICE CARS OUT OF DIFFERENT SHAPES CUT FROM
CONSTRUCTION PAPER

MATH TIE-IN STANDARDS

K.CC.3 WRITE NUMBERS FROM 0 TO 20. REPRESENT THE NUMBER OF OBJECTS WITH A WRITTEN NUMERICAL 0-20
K.CC.4 UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUMBERS AND QUANTITIES; CONNECTING COUNTING TO
CARDINALITY

K.OA.5 FLUENTLY ADD AND SUBTRACT WITHIN 5

K.MD.2 DIRECTLY COMPARE TWO OBJECTS WITH A MEASURABLE ATTRIBUTE IN COMMON, TO SEE WHICH OBJECT
HAS MORE OR/LESS OF THE ATTRIBUTE, AND DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCE

K.G.1 DESCRIBE OBJECTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT USING NAMES OF SHAPES, AND DESCRIBE THE RELATIVE
POSITIONS OF THESE OBJECTS USING TERMS SUCH AS ABOVE, BELOW, BESIDE, IN

SOCIAL STUDIES ACTIVITIES

STUDENTS WILL STUDY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY HELPERS
STUDENTS WILL LEARN WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY AND WHO TO CONTACT
STUDENTS WILL VISIT THE FIREHOUSE AND SEE HOW THE FIREMEN LIVE
STUDENTS WILL PLAY A MATCHING GAME WHERE THEY MATCH THE OUTFIT TO THE CAREER
WATCH COMMUNITY HELPER VIDEO
STUDENTS WILL MEET THE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICER

SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS TIE-IN

K.3.1 IDENTIFY COMMUNITY WORKERS (E.G., LIBRARIAN, DOCTOR, TEACHER, POLICE OFFICER, FIRE
FIGHTER, CUSTODIAN)

K.4.1 IDENTIFY MEMBERSHIP IN DIFFERENT GROUPS (E.G., FAMILY, SCHOOL, COMMUNITY)

K.4.3 IDENTIFY EXAMPLES OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP (E.G. HONESTY, COOPERATION, RESPECT,
RESPONSIBILITY)

MUSIC AND ARTS ACTIVITIES

STUDENTS WILL CREATE PICTURES OF THEIR FAVORITE COMMUNITY HELPER JOB TO DISPLAY AROUND
THE ROOM

STUDENTS WILL SING SONGS ABOUT COMMUNITY JOBS, SUCH AS THE STOP, DROP, AND ROLL SONG OR
THE COMMUNITY HELPERS SONG

STUDENTS WILL MAKE A CLASSROOM MURAL OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY JOBS
STUDENTS WILL DRAMATIC PLAY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY JOBS

MUSIC AND ARTS TIE-IN STANDARDS

DRAMA: 4.2.3 CREATE AND SUSTAIN A CHARACTER
MUSIC: 4.1.1 SING INDEPENDENTLY ON PITCH AND IN RHYTHM
MUSIC: 4.1.5 SING IN GROUPS
MUSIC: 4.1.2 SING EXPRESSIVELY
VISUAL: 4.1.2 KNOW THE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES USED TO CREATE VISUAL ART
VISUAL: 4.1.5 KNOW HOW DIFFERENT VISUAL ART MEDIA, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCESSES ARE USED TO
COMMUNICATE IDEAS, EXPERIENCES, AND STORIES

PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

PUT OUT THE FIRE BOWLING PIN THROWING GAME
CATCH THE BAD GUY TAG
HOSE DOWN THE FIRE RELAY RACE
CAPTURE THE LOST ANIMALS TEAM RACE
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT

PHYSICAL EDUCATION TIE-IN STANDARDS

S1.E1 HOPPING, GALLOPING, RUNNING, SLIDING, SKIPPING, LEAPING
S1.E10 CURLING & STRETCHING; TWISTING & BENDING
S1.E13 UNDERHAND THROW
S2.E1 SPACE
S2.E3 SPEED, DIRECTION, FORCE

LANGUAGE ARTS STRATEGIES

ACTIVATING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE: STUDENTS WILL THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT COMMUNITY HELPERS
DURING DISCUSSION

BRAINSTORMING: STUDENTS WILL THINK OF IDEAS FOR RESEARCH TOPICS OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY HELPERS AND STORY IDEAS
CONNECTING: STUDENTS WILL THINK ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITY HELPING JOB THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO
PREDICTING: STUDENTS WILL PREDICT WHAT THEIR FUTURE JOB WOULD BE LIKE
PLAYING WITH LANGUAGE: STUDENTS WILL USE CREATIVE LANGUAGE FOR THEIR STORIES, RESEARCH, AND JOURNALS
REVISING: STUDENTS WILL MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES TO THEIR WRITTEN AND DRAWN WORK
VISUALIZING: STUDENTS WILL DRAW WHAT THEY REMEMBER OF THE FIREHOUSE

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
WATCH THE BERENSTAIN BEARS ON THE JOB VIDEO HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=1ZD7SQQTLM

GAMES:

HTTP://PBSKIDS.ORG/DANIEL/GAMES/DOCTOR-DANIEL/
HTTPS://JR.BRAINPOP.COM/SOCIALSTUDIES/COMMUNITIES/COMMUNITYHELPERS/MATCHING/
HTTPS://JR.BRAINPOP.COM/HEALTH/BEWELL/GOINGTOTHEDOCTOR/PREVIEW.WEML
HTTP://PBSKIDS.ORG/CGI-REGISTRY/CURIOUSGEORGE/ON_THE_JOB.PL
HTTP://TEACHER.SCHOLASTIC.COM/COMMCLUB/OFFICER/INDEX.HTM
HTTP://WWW.THEKIDZPAGE.COM/ONLINEJIGSAWPUZZLES/JIGSAW-PUZZLES/12-PIECE-JIGSAW/POLICECAR.HTML

GROUPING PATTERNS
LARGE GROUP: READING STORIES, FIELD TRIP, VIDEOS, MURAL, SHARING STORIES, SHARING RESEARCH,
SHARING PICTURES, GRAPH, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GAMES

SMALL GROUP: READING STORIES, MATH ACTIVITIES, DISCUSSIONS, RESEARCH PROJECT, DRAMATIC
PLAY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GAMES

INDIVIDUAL: JOURNALING, CREATING PICTURE BOOKS, POEMS, MURAL, THANK-YOU CARD, MATH
PROJECTS

Subject
Morning

Afternoon

SCHEDULE
Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Language Arts

Discuss community
jobs
Read Owney, the Mail
Pouch Pooch by Mona
Kerby and Lynne
Barasch
Discuss research
project and create
groups

Read The Berenstain

Bears Go to the
Doctor by Stan and
Jan Berenstain in
whole group
Continue research
project

Read A Day in the Life

of a Police Officer by
Linda Hayward in
whole group
Finish research
project
Break into Daily Fives
writing activities,
reading to self, etc.

Present research
projects
Read Cloverleaf
Books Community
Helpers Series to a
partner

Firehouse Field Tripask questions of the

firemen, journal when
return to class

Social Studies

Play community job

matching game

Create Community
helpers A to Z chart

Meet the school

police officer

Watch community
helper video

Firehouse Field Tripsee how the firemen

live

Math

Create class poll

graph

Play Band-aid adding

game

Create trucks from

different shapes

Play cover the firetruck math game

Firehouse Field Tripdraw shapes seen at

firehouse

Art/Music

Create Mural of
community jobs

Sing songs

Dramatic play
community jobs

Create community
job pictures

Create thank-you
cards

Physical Education

Red light, green light.

Catch all the animals

team game

Catch the bad guy tag

Hose down the Fire

relay race

Put out the Fire

Science

Create recycling bin

and discuss

How to take care of

our bodies lesson

Learn how to take

care of a service dog

Play doctor games on

computer

Review how to out a

fire

ASSESSMENTS
PARTICIPATION IN WHOLE GROUP AND SMALL GROUPS
INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS
CONTRIBUTION TO THE MURAL AND RESEARCH PROJECT
RUBRIC FOR RESEARCH PROJECT
6+1 WRITING TRAITS FOR JOURNAL
ACTIVE LISTENING DURING FIELD TRIP
RUBRIC FOR POEMS
CHECKLISTS FOR MATH AND SCIENCE ACTIVITIES
CHECKLISTS FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PORTFOLIO OF ARTWORK SUCH AS THE PICTURE BOOK, COMMUNITY HELPER DRAWING, ETC.