Community Helpers

I read about this theme on SLC Book Boy’s blog and I just HAD to do it.  I like the idea of kids knowing who the helpers are in the community and knowing the idea that contributing to the community is a good thing.  Also Mr. Rogers.  FTW.

BOOKS:

We read Mr. Griggs’ Work by Cynthia Rylant and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems.

The pigeon was by far the favorite of the two stories.  I picked Mr. Griggs’ Work because it was cute and relatively short and I love the post office.  But it isn’t action packed and actually very little happens in the story, so it was hard to keep the kids’ attention.  I would definitely pick a different book the next time this theme comes around – maybe Gloria and Officer Buckle.

FLANNELBOARD:

I borrowed this from SLC Book Boy because it went with the pigeon book and I love love loved the little felt vehicles.  I put up a bunch of different felt vehicles and one had a tiny felt pigeon behind it.  We went through and talked quickly about each vehicle and then the kids had to guess which one the pigeon wanted to drive.  HUGE hit.

CRAFT:

I was super duper stumped for this one.  What kind of craft can you create that encompasses the gist of community helpers?  We ended up making a doctor’s kit, but it wasn’t really what I was aiming for.  I’ll keep the theme in my brain and try to shake out a better idea later.