Minds On

Exploring maps

Let’s explore the following picture:

A map of a town. The town has several streets. On various streets in this town, there is a school, a library, a park, a city hall, a post office, a hospital, a laundromat, a grocery store, and a fire station. There are also houses and apartment buildings. The town has many trees and bushes, and a small lake.

What things do you notice on the map?

Are there any places on the map that are also in your community? What other places are in your community that are not on the map?

Record your ideas.

If possible, share your thoughts with a partner.

As you work through this learning activity, you can record your ideas in many ways.

Access the following audio recording to learn more about how to record your ideas.

How to Record Your Ideas

Action

Our community helpers

Let’s explore the map again.

A map of a town. The town has several streets. On various streets in this town, there is a school, a library, a park, a city hall, a post office, a hospital, a laundromat, a grocery store, and a fire station. There are also houses and apartment buildings. The town has many trees and bushes, and a small lake.

Do you notice all the buildings? Community helpers work in those buildings.

Community helpers are the people that work in the places that make up a community.

If possible, on your own or with a partner, record a list of different people in your community.

Who’s that helper?

Let’s explore some buildings and decide which community helper works there.

Here is the first building. It’s a fire station.

A fire station

Who works at the fire station?

Press ‘Answer’ to find out!

A person wearing a fire safety jacket and helmet.

A firefighter works at the fire station. When the alarm bell rings, they get in the truck and go stop the fire!

Let’s try again.

Here is a building. It’s a school.

A school

Who works at the school?

Press ‘Answer’ to find out!

A person wearing glasses and pointing to the letters A B C.

A teacher works at the school! When the students come inside, the teacher teaches them all sorts of things!

Let’s try again.

Here is a building. It’s a hospital.

A hospital

Who works at the hospital?

Press ‘Answer’ to find out!

A doctor

A doctor works at a hospital! When someone is sick, they take care of them.

Let’s try one more.

Here is a building. It’s a post office.

A post office.

Who works at the post office?

Press ‘Answer’ to find out!

A person holding a pile of mail and letters.

A letter carrier works at the post office! When someone sends some mail, they deliver it to the right person.

Consolidation

A day in the life

Materials Needed

Materials needed

Materials needed for this learning activity:

  • cut-out person template
  • pencil
  • scissors
  • paper

Create a community helper

Paper cut-outs of community helpers, including a firefighter, a doctor, and a teacher.

Choose a community helper that you may want to become one day.

Create a paper cut-out of that community helper and dress them up. What would the community helper be wearing? What would they be doing?

You can use the following printable Community Helper Cut-Out document to complete this activity. You may also draw your community helper or describe what a person would need to be a community helper.

If possible, on the back of your person, record the job that the helper does.

Community Helper Cut-OutPress the ‘Activity’ button to access Community Helper Cut-Out.Activity (Open PDF in a new window)

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Press the button next to the sentence that matches how you feel.

I feel…