Community Workers

     Community workers are an integral part of every city and/or town. At SMART START our goal is to instill the importance of local helpers in the minds and hearts of our young learners by providing general information of each profession. Overall we have stressed that community workers are here to keep us safe, healthy, educated, protected and connected in our neighborhoods. Children are always pretending who they want to be when they grow up; therefore this unit of study allows us to embrace the opportunity to shine light on our local community workers and how they enrich the lives of all.

     Our students are thoroughly enjoying the community workers unit of study.  Our plan is to continue with this added curriculum throughout the 2017-2018 academic year. During this time, our on-site field trips will coincide with these teachings. Andover firefighters, Glen the Andover Handyman and D.J the mail carrier have all come to our school this past month for on-site field trips! It has been a privilege to learn from them and witness their kind interactions with our group. Upcoming on-site field trips will be listed in our monthly newsletters. 

     SMART START friends have been busy learning, playing and making connections here at school.  We focus on many of the same types of activities and structured learning times and simply diversify the curriculum- routine and consistency are key for our students! Below are featured highlights from our community workers unit. 

   

     SMART START Professionals spent time looking at a wide variety of community worker books from our school and local public library.  They loved dressing up as and reading about the various careers while playing along with corresponding figurines. A few other highlight activities include: playing a matching card game that entailed matching the correct object to the career,  using magnet pieces to put the correct uniform on the worker along with other puzzles and games. Here are two songs and lyrics we learned during circle time that you can sing along with your child at home - "People in Your Neighborhood" from Sesame Street and "What I Want to Be " and "Looking Around My Neighborhood" from Barney. They loved learning these new tunes and singing with friends!

     Community vehicles bring excitement both on and off the streets. Students learned about the different sounds and lights they have and why. While some such as, fire engines, police cars and ambulances are fun to hear and see, we informed that these vehicles utilize flashing sirens to arrive and depart from emergency situations. Our goal is to have our young learners recognize and be comfortable with community workers and their purpose. 

     SMART START's community workers love learning and playing together in our outdoor classroom. Each dressed up in chosen attire and brought a profession to life in their own neighborhood (outdoor structure)! SMART START veterinarians gave Pilot, Charlotte and Caroline their routine physicals, mail carriers delivered packages, fires in the structure's kitchen were put out by firefighters and police officers ensured SMART START citizens were safe. Dress up is always a class favorite!  We love to witness the dramatic play between friends as it confirms they are retaining the material taught. SMART START community workers at your service!

Click on the following videos below to see SMART START Community Worker Fun!

     Thank you for sharing your children and allowing us to continue to care for and educate them.  We take pride in what we do here at SMART START and strive to provide our young learners with the utmost quality of, care, education and enriching experiences.

🍂 Mary and Francesca 🍂