Unit Plan 9 (PreK Social Studies): Working and Helping Together
People work together in class and community to help others, take responsibility, and make group decisions through simple jobs and teamwork.
Focus: Help children experience and describe teamwork, practice taking responsibility for simple classroom jobs, and notice that people work and help others in a community.
Grade Level: PreK
Subject Area: Social Studies (Civics • Economics)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 15–20 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, children explore what it means to work and help together in the classroom and community. Through stories, songs, and cooperative activities, they practice sharing, taking turns, and doing jobs that help the group. Children participate in group decisions (like voting on a class activity) and begin to understand that people work to help others and to get what they need.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to work together as a class?
- How can we help each other during play and clean-up?
- How do people’s jobs help families and communities?
- How can we make decisions together in our classroom?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Describe or show at least one way to work together (sharing, taking turns, helping clean up).
- Participate in at least one group decision, such as voting on an activity or book.
- Name at least one job people do to help others (at home, school, or community).
- Explain in simple language that people work to help others and to get what they need.
Standards Alignment — PreK (C3-based custom)
- 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.
- PK.C3.Econ.3 — Understand that people work to get what they need. Learns that people have jobs to earn money and help others.
- Example: “My mom works at the store.”
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can work together with my friends.
- I can help by doing a job in our classroom.
- I can vote or share my idea when we choose something.
- I can name one job people do and how it helps others.