Come Explore Your Neighborhood

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Many kindergartners are curious about their world and interested in the people around them. They are beginning to develop friendships and learn how to get along with others. At this age, they do not always know the qualities to look for in a friend, nor those necessary to be a good friend to others. Here, you'll find lessons that teach the values of friendship, like getting along with others, sharing, taking turns, and showing empathy. You'll also find ways to help students explore their school neighborhood and learn about community relationships by talking with people who work there.

OBJECTIVE
Students will:

1. Discuss and learn about friendships
2. Become familiar with their school neighborhood and the people who work there

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: Our Friendship Chain Links Us Together
Lesson 2: The Gingerbread Friend Is Loose!

REPRODUCIBLES
Friendship Poems/Chants Letter to Parents (PDF)
Gingerbread Friends Baker's Dough Recipe (PDF)
Gingerbread Friend Notes to the Children (PDF)
Student Writing Pages for Class Book (PDF)
Parent Letter (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

Community Map Project
I use a large school neighborhood map (approx. 5' X 5'). Students paint small boxes to represent the places in the community we have visited or seen on our neighborhood walks. They help to label streets, buildings, and other special places. They can make vehicles, trees, and paper dolls of themselves as well. This can be set out as a play center and children can recreate our shared experiences or invent new ones.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books for Teaching About Friendship and Your Neighborhood

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  	Kid Power With her mom out of work, Janie decides to earn some money herself and opens her own employment agency, Kid Power. "[Janie's] dilemmas and solutions are fresh and funny.... The characters...are alive and individual."-School Library Journal. $3.99 Paperback Book | Grades 3-5

  
  Kid Power
  Grades 3-5 $3.99
  
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  The Teacher Store

  Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick When eighth-grader San Lee moves to a new town and a new school for the umpteenth time, he doesn't try to make new friends or be a loner or play cool. Instead he sits back and devises a plan to be totally different. When he accidentally answers too many questions in World History on Zen (only because he just had Ancient Religions two schools ago) all heads turn and San has his answer: he's a Zen Master. And just when he thinks everyone (including the cute girl he can't stop thinking about) is o $13.59 You save: 20% Hardcover Book | Grade 7

  
  Zen and the Art of Faking It
  Grade 7 $13.59
  

The People and Places Around Us
Teach your students to use their five senses to learn about their local community, including their homes and neighborhoods.

Point of View
Shares ways to teach students to recognize and appreciate differences in people's perspective, including a letter writing exercise that allows...