Subject Area Theme

Grade Level K
Unit Plan Topic Community Helpers
Length of Unit 9
(days)

Community Helpers
Rationale:
Theme study time has three core components: Show & Share, Social/Science and
Play Time. Each is essential for kindergarten students development and learning.
Show & Share is an opportunity for students to connect their home life to what they
are learning in school as well as practice communication skills with their peer. The
Social component of this unit will explore communities and the important people
within them. Play Time provides space for students to practice key social skills that
are foundational for interpersonal intelligence. Play centers will reflect the
community helper theme, such as a veterinary or doctor office dress-up and
dramatic play.

Throughout the components of theme study time, students will explore who they are
in relation to others in their world. They will discover how they are connected to
other people and to their communities. They will be encouraged to express interest,
sensitivity and responsibility in their interactions with others, including their
classmates, teachers, guests in the classroom and hosts on field trips. Through
inquiry into their social and physical environments, students will see themselves as
part of the larger world. This unit emphasizes the development of a strong sense of
belonging.

God has placed all of us in various communities. The most intimate community is
the family. Together, a family helps, loves, protects and serve one another. Parents
take care and love their children, but children are supposed to love, respect and
help their parents in return. Each family is uniquely different. The family is then part
of the broader community, whether that is an urban or rural setting. There are
people in our communities whose job is to protect and serve the broader
communities. These people are called community helpers. Since they are there to
serve and protect us. We need to be willing to listen, respect and follow the rules
they tell us to follow. Our communities also need us to play a part in keeping them
going. There is a certain way for us to live and act in our communities that help
everyone live peaceful and happy lives.

Teaching for Transformation

Earth-keeper: By exploring some of the community helpers that keep our
community clean and healthy, students will grow in their understanding of the
importance of everyone doing their part to steward the world God has given us as a
part of respecting and loving Him.

Spring 2016: Marynowski

Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe (2005)
 Subject Area Theme
Grade Level K
Unit Plan Topic Community Helpers
Length of Unit 9
(days)

Justice-seeker: By investigating some of the community helpers that actively work to

ensure justice within our community, students will increase their awareness of how
they can be agents of restoration in their own encounters.
Servant-worker: Students will discuss and meet people from many occupations
whose days are spent meeting others needs with great sacrifice, displaying the
heart of God within a world of brokenness.
Community-builder: This unit directs our focus to those around us and what it means
and feels like to belong to a larger group. As students understand that everyone is
welcome in Gods community, they will grow in their ability to pursue and build
community in the classroom and beyond.
Established Goals:
Community Helpers
GLOs:
K.2. I Belong: Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the
characteristics and interests that unite members of communities and groups.
K.S. Dimensions of thinking and social participation as a democratic practice.
Understandings: Essential Questions:
Students will understand that What makes a community?
There are different types of communities. What does it mean to belong?
We can help others belong. How does it feel to belong?
Everyone belongs in Gods community. How do you take part in Gods
community?
Students will know Students will be able to
K.2.3 how their participation in their K.2.1 value how personal stories express what it
communities affects their sense of means to belong.
belonging. K.2.2 value and respect significant people in
K.2.4 characteristics and interests that their lives: home, school and community.
bring people together in groups. K.S.4 demonstrate skills of decision making and
K.2.5 ways in which people create a problem solving.
climate of cooperation. K.S.5 demonstrate skills of cooperation, conflict
Terms and Concepts: community, resolution and consensus building.
group, individual, respect
Resources Needed: Resources Consulted:
- Community Helpers Volunteer request form
- Alberta Program of Studies
- Big Idea Poster (mounted on construction paper)
- Learning Target print outs (mounted on
- Little Thinkers: Social Studies
Curriculum for Kindergarten Unit
construction paper)
4: My Community by Karen Jones
- Unit 4 My Community PowerPoint
- Anchor charts:
Kinds of neighborhoods (Titles and pictures)
Neighbourhoods (Chart paper and markers)
What we want to BE (Chart paper and
markers)
How people work (Chart paper, markers and
pictures)

Spring 2016: Marynowski

Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe (2005)
 Subject Area Theme
Grade Level K
Unit Plan Topic Community Helpers
Length of Unit 9
(days)

Ways to HELP/HURT a community (T-Chart and

cards)
Neighbourhood community circle map
(Chart paper, markers and pictures)
- Neighbour Picture Prompt cards
- Community 3D Craftivity
Paper lunch bags (1/student)
Location pages (1/student)
Pencils
Crayons/markers
Scissors
Glue
Green bulletin board paper
Black construction paper
Props for display
- Community Helpers sort cards
- When I grow up writing activity page
- Activity pages/exit slips (1/student)
- My Community Texts (by Karen Jones):
Neighborhoods
Places in the Community
Community Helpers
Community Helpers Are Important
Why People Work
Helping Our Community

Spring 2016: Marynowski

Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe (2005)
 Subject Area Theme
Grade Level K
Unit Plan Topic Community Helpers
Length of Unit 9
(days)

Assessments
Learning Title Questioning Observations
Crafts and
Activities
Outcomes Formative &
Type Formative Formative
(Formative/Summative) Summative

K.2.1 value how personal stories express

what it means to belong.
K.2.2 value and respect significant people
in their lives: home, school and
community.

K.2.3 appreciate how their participation in
their communities affects their sense
of belonging.

K.2.4 examine characteristics and
interests that bring people together in
groups.

K.2.5 examine ways in which people
create a climate of cooperation.
K.S.4 demonstrate skills of decision
making and problem solving.
K.S.5 demonstrate skills of cooperation,
conflict resolution and consensus
building.

Spring 2016: Marynowski

Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe (2005)
 Subject Area Theme
Grade Level K
Unit Plan Topic Community Helpers
Length of Unit 9
(days)

Assessment Tool Overview

Assessm
Outco Fo
ent Tool Brief Description AS OF
mes r
Title
Key Students will be asked key questions about letters, letter
sounds and alphabetical order throughout the unit. Their
Questionin
ALL answers will confirm letter understanding. They will be
g and used formatively for learning to assess student
Responses understanding, interests and learning styles.
During individual or group activities, sticky notes will be
used to record observations of student learning, next
steps, interventions as well as anecdotal notes on
individual progress in the key understandings and skills.
Observatio Struggling students will have more detailed notes and
ns/Anecdo ALL will be closely observed. Student participation and
tal Notes understanding of the alphabet will be noted. These notes
will be used to better differentiate instruction (for
learning) by identifying student interests and strengths
as well as tools and strategies that particularly connect
with the student.
K.2.1 Student response activities and crafts will be used to
K.2.2, assess understanding, as well as to facilitate individual
Crafts and K.2.3, discussion about communities and their parts within

Activities K.2.4, them. They will also provide opportunities for students to
K.S.4 & display thinking and social participation skills and
K.S.5 democratic practice skills.

Spring 2016: Marynowski

Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe (2005)
 Subject Area Theme
Grade Level K
Unit Plan Topic Community Helpers
Length of Unit 9
(days)

Monday (Mar 6 KA) Tuesday (Mar 7 KB) Wednesday (Mar 8 Thursday (Mar 9 Friday (Mar 10 KB)
KA) KB)
Time: 1 hour 20 min Time: 1 hour 20 min Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min.
My Neighbourhood My Neighbourhood Places in a Community Places in a Community Community 3D
Places and Homes Places and Homes Describe different places Describe different places Craftivity
-Show & Share: -Show & Share: in a community in a community Make a class community
-Story: Neighbourhoods -Story: Neighbourhoods -Show & Share: -Show & Share: -Make a community
-Schema chart -Schema chart -Story: Places in a -Story: Places in a location out of pages and
-Matching activity -Matching activity Community Community paper bags
-Play -Play -Anchor chart circle map -Anchor chart circle map -Community display out of
-Prep questions for -Play all locations
K.2.3, K.2.4 & K.S.4 K.2.3, K.2.4 & K.S.4 community helpers -Prep questions for
-Play K.2.5 & K.S.5 community helpers
-How do we know that we -How do we know that we
belong to groups or belong to groups or K.2.5 & K.S.5 -Do you think all K.S.4 & K.S.5
communities? communities? communities are the
-Does everyone belong to -Does everyone belong to -Do you think all same? -What are important
a group or a community? a group or a community? communities are the -What are the rules at places in our community?
-How does living and -How does living and same? home, at school and in the -What makes a
participating in your participating in your -What are the rules at community? community?
community affect your community affect your home, at school and in the -Are there similar rules at
sense of belonging? sense of belonging? community? home, at school and in the
-What is a neighbourhood? -What is a neighbourhood? -Are there similar rules at community?
-What kinds of -What kinds of home, at school and in the -What rules does God give
neighbourhoods are there? neighbourhoods are there? community? us?
-What rules does God give
us?
Monday (Mar 13 Tuesday (Mar 14 Wednesday (Mar 15 Thursday (Mar 16 Friday (Mar 17)
KA) KB) KA) KB)
Time: 1 hour 20 min Time: 1 hour 20 min Early Dismissal Time: 40 min. PD Day
Community Helpers Community Helpers Community Helpers
Fire fighters Fire fighters Paramedic (Garrett
-10:30-11:30AM field trip -10:30-11:30AM field trip Sinky?)
to Station 1 to Station 1 -Show & Share:
-Show & Share: -Show & Share: -Community helpers
-Story: Community Helpers -Story: Community Helpers activity
-Community Helper Sort -Community Helper Sort -Special Guest
activity activity -Play
-Play -Play
K.2.1, K.2.2 & K.S.5

Spring 2016: Marynowski

Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe (2005)
 Subject Area Theme
Grade Level K
Unit Plan Topic Community Helpers
Length of Unit 9
(days)

K.2.1, K.2.2 & K.S.4 K.2.1, K.2.2 & K.S.4

-Why are these helpers
-Can you think of any -Can you think of any important?
community helpers? community helpers? -How do paramedics take
-What does a fire fighter -What does a fire fighter part in Gods community?
do? do? -What does a paramedic
-How do fire fighters take -How do fire fighters take do?
part in Gods community? part in Gods community?
-Which job uses this -Which job uses this
tool/material? tool/material?
Monday (Mar 20 Tuesday (Mar 21 Wednesday (Mar 22 Thursday (Mar 23 Friday (Mar 24 KA)
KA) KB) KA) KB)
Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 40 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min.
Community Helpers Community Helpers Community Helpers Community Helpers Why People Work
Nurse: Mom Nurse: Mom Police officer: Robbies Police officer: Robbies How and why people work
-Show & Share: -Show & Share: dad dad -Show & Share:
-Story: Community Helpers -Story: Community Helpers -Show & Share: -Show & Share: -Story: Why People Work
are Important are Important -When I grow up activity -When I grow up activity -Anchor chart
-What we want to BE list -What we want to BE list -Special guest -Special guest -Play
-Special Guest -Special Guest -Play -Play
-Play -Play K.2.4 & K.2.5
K.2.1, K.2.2 & K.S.5 K.2.1, K.2.2 & K.S.5
K.2.1, K.2.2 & K.S.5 K.2.1, K.2.2 & K.S.5 -Where do people work?
-Writing and drawing -Writing and drawing -Why do people work?
-Why are these helpers -Why are these helpers -What does a police officer -What does a police officer -What brings people
important? important? do do together in a group?
-What could you be when -What could you be when -How do police officers -How do police officers -What are the benefits of
you grow up? you grow up? take part in Gods take part in Gods working cooperatively with
-What does a nurse do? -What does a nurse do? community? community? others?
-How do nurses take part -How do nurses take part
in Gods community? in Gods community?
Monday (Mar 27 Tuesday (Mar 28 Wednesday (Mar 29 Thursday (Mar 30 Friday (Mar 31 KB)
KA) KB) KA) KB)
Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min. Time: 1 hour 20 min.
Ways We Help Our Ways We Help Our Community 3D Community 3D Assessment/Flex Day
Community Community Craftivity Craftivity Review/assess or finish
How we can help our How we can help our Make a class community Make a class community activities
community community -Make a community -Make a community -Show & Share:
-Show & Share: -Show & Share: location out of pages and location out of pages and -Community picture book
-Story: Helping Our -Story: Helping Our paper bags paper bags -Review questions

Spring 2016: Marynowski

Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe (2005)
 Subject Area Theme
Grade Level K
Unit Plan Topic Community Helpers
Length of Unit 9
(days)

Community Community -Community display out of -Community display out of -What I want to BE writing
-Helping our community -Helping our community all location all location activity
sort sort -3D Craftivity
-Play -Play K.S.4 & K.S.5 K.S.4 & K.S.5 -Play

K.2.3, K.S.4 & K.S.5 K.2.3, K.S.4 & K.S.5 -What are important -What are important ALL
places in our community? places in our community?
-Does ___ help our -Does ___ help our -What makes a -What makes a -Unit 4: Assessment: My
community? community? community? community? Community

Spring 2016: Marynowski

Adapted from Wiggins and McTighe (2005)