Unit Plan 8 (PreK Social Studies): Helpers in Our Community
Community helpers keep us safe, healthy, and connected. Children learn about firefighters, doctors, police, and mail carriers through tools, workplaces, and helping actions.
Focus: Help children recognize and describe community helpers (firefighters, police officers, doctors, mail carriers), notice their tools and workplaces, and understand that helpers keep us safe, healthy, and connected.
Grade Level: PreK
Subject Area: Social Studies (Civics • Economics • History)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 15–20 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, children explore helpers in our community as people who keep us safe, keep us healthy, and help us every day. Through stories, photos, and dramatic play, they learn about firefighters, police officers, doctors, and mail carriers, as well as other helpers they know. Children notice tools, vehicles, and places connected to each helper and begin to understand that people work to help others and meet needs.
Essential Questions
- Who are the helpers in our school and community?
- How do helpers keep us safe, healthy, or connected?
- What tools and places do helpers use for their jobs?
- How can we thank and appreciate the helpers in our community?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Name at least two community helpers (e.g., firefighter, doctor, mail carrier, police officer).
- Tell or act out one way a helper keeps people safe, healthy, or connected.
- Match a helper to at least one tool, vehicle, or workplace (e.g., firefighter → fire truck, doctor → stethoscope).
- Share one simple way to thank or appreciate helpers (e.g., making a card, saying “thank you”).
Standards Alignment — PreK (C3-based custom)
- PK.C3.Civ.2 — Identify classroom and community helpers. Recognizes people who help others and tells what they do.
- Example: “Firefighters put out fires.”
- PK.C3.Econ.2 — Recognize jobs and workers in the community. Names familiar workers and the tools they use.
- Example: “A builder uses a hammer.”
- PK.C3.Hist.3 — Identify important people and celebrations. Recognizes helpers, leaders, and special holidays.
- Example: “We celebrate Dr. King because he helped people be fair.”
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can name helpers in my community.
- I can say how a helper helps people.
- I can match a helper to their tools or workplace.
- I can tell one way to say thank you to helpers.