Unit Plan 34 (PreK Social Studies): Taking Action in Our Community

Focus: Guide children to plan and participate in a simple classroom service project (e.g., thank-you cards, clean-up, or kindness posters) by sharing ideas, voting together, and taking action to help others in their school community.

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: Social Studies (Civics • Inquiry & Community Action)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 15–20 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, children learn that even very young students can take action to help their classroom and school community. Through stories, discussions, and simple role-play, they brainstorm ways to help others, practice sharing ideas and voting, and then carry out a small service project together (such as making thank-you cards for helpers or making posters reminding others to be kind or to clean up).

By the end of the week, students will have participated in a group decision, helped to plan what the class will do, and taken part in at least one concrete action that supports or appreciates others. They will also create a “We Help Our Community” page showing how they contributed.

Essential Questions

• How can our class help other people at school?
• What does it look like to work together and make decisions as a group?
• Why is it important to say thank you and help our community?
• How can my actions make our classroom or school a better place?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Share at least one idea for how the class could help others at school.
2. Participate in a simple group decision (listening, raising a hand, voting on the project).
3. Help with at least one part of the class service project (drawing, coloring, cleaning, delivering, or posting).
4. Tell in simple words who the project is helping (e.g., “the custodian,” “our class,” “people in the hallway”).
5. Create a “We Help Our Community” drawing or page showing themselves helping or being part of the project.

Standards Alignment — PreK (C3-based custom)

• PK.C3.Inq.4 — Participate in class projects that help others. Takes part in simple service or kindness actions.
  • Example: Making thank-you cards for school helpers.
• PK.C3.Civ.3 — Participate in group decisions. Votes, shares ideas, and listens to others when making choices together.
  • Example: Voting on a class book or snack.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can share an idea about how our class can help others.
• I can listen and vote when our class makes a choice.
• I can help with our project, like making a card, poster, or helping clean.
• I can tell who we helped and what we did.