Day 1  - Setting up the classroom community

        See lesson plan

Day 2  - Rural Communities

        This lesson includes a discussion about what a rural community is like.  The children will better understand what it is
        like to live in a community such as this, and what the important roles are in a rural area.  Cut and color rural
        worksheets:   29, 35-37.

Day 3  - Small Towns

        Students will learn about how a small town functions, and the people who make it work.  They will make
        strong connections to our own classroom community.  Cut and color small town worksheets:  32-35, 37.

Day 4  - Cities and Transportation

        This lesson will compare and contrast the other two types of communities to life in the city.  The students will also
        learn about transportation and how it affects the way we live.  Cut and color city / transportation worksheets:
        32-34, 38-39, 41-43.

Day 5  - Bulletin Boards

         The students will get into groups and design a bulletin board on a particular type of community we have
         discussed using the worksheets we have done on various days.  Example Bulletin Board: worksheet 14.

Day 6  - Author-Illustrator Study
 
         See lesson plan

Day 7-9  -  Community Action Study  (Worksheet 30)

        1.  Students will draw issues (previously discussed in class) out of a hat.  Students will create a simple flier dealing
        with  the issue.

        2.  Students will be grouped into 6 per issue.  Each group will produce an organized plan for a petition.

        3.  Students will be grouped again and will be assigned a scenario dealing with one of the issues.  Each group
        will interview the community via  a press release on their issue.

Day 10  -  DRTA

        See lesson plan

Day 11  -  Community Service / Volunteer Study

        The students will fill out a survey on community service.  Go over questions such as:  What is a volunteer?  Why do
        people volunteer?  Where and how can you volunteer?
        This activity will prepare the students for the upcoming speaker week, in which 4 volunteers from the community
        will come in and speak to the class.

Day 12 -15  -  Speaker Week

        During the next four days, people from various organizations within the community will come in and speak to the
        class.  Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about these organizations.

        1.  4-H:  The speaker will discuss what the 4-H does and will provide examples of ways students could get involved.

        2.  Habitat for Humanity:  A representative will come in and give a brief overview of the program, how it began,
        and whom it benefits.

        3.  Meals on Wheels:  Contact the local Meals on Wheels program and ask a volunteer to come and speak
        about the importance of the program.  Also, they would speak about why they volunteered and what it has done
        for them.

        4.  Humane Society:  A volunteer comes to speak about the reasons community volunteers are so crucial to the
        program.  Also, to discuss the purpose of the Humane Society as a whole.

Day 16  -  Volunteer Worksheet (worksheet 60-61)

        Have students think about a time when they volunteered for something.  What did they do?  Who did it help?  Why
        did they volunteer?  Then have them complete the survey.  Were they good volunteers?  What could they have done
        better to be a better volunteer, or what could others do?

Day 17-19  -  Internet lesson plan

Day 20  -  Walking Tour of the Community

        Students will spend a day walking through town.  Speakers in various buildings  (Town Hall, Police Department,
        Fire Department, and hospital) will talk to the kids about their role int he community.  Lunch will be a picnic at the
        local park.  This field trip will conclude the "People in our Comunity" unit.
 
 
 
 
 

Sometime within the unit, eduactional television could be brought in the supplement the day's activities.  Shows such as Sesame Street are always talkign about communities and community service.  These types of programs would fit perfectly into a discussion on community responsibilty.