Community Helpers: Dramatic Play, Whole Group Activity & Writing

For the last couple weeks, we have been learning all about what a community is, places in our community and community helpers! 

After we learned about different places in our community, the kids decided that they wanted to turn our dramatic play centre into a pizza restaurant! Then they came up with things they will need in a pizza restaurant and made these with my ECE (a sign, menus, pizzas out of paper plates etc.)

My ECE also did an whole group activity with them where they had to match items to the correct community helper.  

 She printed the names of different community helpers on construction paper and put them in the middle as she introduced them.  Then she had a big bag with various items in it and the kids got to come up one at a time, pick an item and match it to the community helper that uses that item.  They did so well and had so much fun!

Here is one of the boys matching the oven mitt to chef/baker.

Here are some of the items that the kids pulled out of the bag for doctor (toy x-ray machine, needle, thermometer).

Some other items were:

Teacher: chalkboard + chalk, whiteboard marker, book

Crossing Guard: reflective vest, stop sign

Chef/Baker: spatula, whisk

Firefighter: toy fire truck, picture of a hose, picture of a fire hydrant

Mail Carrier: cross-body bag, a letter

Here is what our wonder board looked like at the end:

We also made a map of a neighbourhood on the wall behind our sink!

For our writing wall they wrote about what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Their writing is improving so much!

I made two versions.

Most of my JK's used this one.

"When I grow up I want to be a police officer."

Most of my SK's used the one below.

So many SK's did a second page!

I was so proud!

"When I grow up I want to be a police officer because I want to give speeding tickets."

"Also I want to be a police officer because they are awesome."

I hope that gives you some ideas if you are planning to explore community helpers too!

- Yukari