The first jobs we dream about as children are the jobs of community helpers such as firefighters, police officers, or chefs. For me, it was to become a teacher. And yet, when I went to college, I changed my major four times before I realized that this was my calling. My interior design class took a field trip to an eco-friendly elementary school when the sun shone into the room, and the angels started singing. These roles in our community are vital. While not all of our little ones will hear those angels calling when it comes to the jobs of community helpers, we can still learn how important each of these jobs is through different books on community helpers.
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Community Helpers Lesson Plans
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do
by Kathryn Heling
Our first book on community helpers includes illustrations of the clothes and equipment that a particular job requires hanging on a clothesline.
The reader has to make an inference as to what job matches the clothesline clues. So fun for little learners to guess which community helper it could be!
Questions:
- Which community helper wears these clothes/uses this equipment?
Let's Meet a doctor
Books on Community Helpers
Let’s Meet a Doctor by Bridget Heos is the story of Dr. Zambil and how he helps sick or hurt kids. He also helps healthy kids stay healthy and trains new doctors.
This book on community helpers takes you through the day of a doctor, and if you’re looking for more, this series has books on all types of community helpers to add to your classroom library.
Questions:
- What are some reasons kids go to the doctor’s office?
- What happens at a checkup?
Firefighter Pete
by James Dean
Firefighter Pete by James Dean shows Pete the Cat going on a field trip to the fire station and how he ends up assisting the firefighters in an emergency call. I don’t know about you, but I just love Pete the Cat.
Questions:
- What equipment do firefighters wear? Why do you think they have to wear all of that?
- Why does a firetruck turn on lights and a siren when they are driving?
- How does the ladder on the firetruck help firefighters?
Delivering Your Mail
by Ann Owen
Delivering Your Mail by Ann Owen shows the importance of mail carriers. This book also shows how a mail truck works and how mail carriers deliver the mail in all kinds of situations.
And if you’re looking for dramatic play to go with this community helper, check out our post office dramatic play.
Questions:
- How do mail carriers make sure mail and packages are delivered to the right place? Do you know your address?
- Where do mail carriers go to deliver the mail?
Police Officers on Patrol
by Kersten Hamilton
Police Officers on Patrol by Kersten Hamilton is a lively book with detailed illustrations that show all of the diverse tasks that police officers take on. I love the motto: “Situation? Under control! / When people need help, we rock and roll!” This book is an exciting introduction to police officers and how they help in the community. Perfect pick for your books on community helpers!
Questions:
- What are some ways police officers help people?
- What are some ways police officers get around town?
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MORE Community Helpers Activities
Teaching preschoolers can sometimes feel like you’re putting out a million tiny fires all day long. But when it comes to lesson planning, you don’t have to feel like a firefighter running into the flames. Save yourself the stress of lesson planning with these highly engaging community helpers centers that will ignite so much learning with your students.
Get your lesson plans done with all of these community helpers centers for preschool that are included in this discounted bundle! Plus, you get your community helpers lesson plans done for you with the complete list of books on community helpers so you will be able to extinguish at least one fire this week. Check!
If there is anything you need to get this community helpers theme ready for your preschoolers, just let me know, and I would be happy to help with whatever you need!
