Community helpers are all around us! You might spot firefighters heading out in their truck, wave to a police officer, or visit the vet with a furry friend. But what happens behind the scenes, and how do these helpers know what to do? There’s so much to find out about the people who care for our communities!
I’m excited to share our Community Helpers Family Unit Study with you! Across ten topics, you’ll meet firefighters, paramedics, police officers, teachers, veterinarians, and more, taking a closer look at how their work makes a difference in everyday life.
You’ll collect your own fingerprints, assemble a first aid kit, take a virtual trip to a one-room schoolhouse, and even earn Helper Badges by lending a hand. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of ways to be a community helper yourself!
Below, I’m sharing all ten topics and a peek at the hands-on activities you’ll enjoy together. Let’s meet the helpers in our communities!
What is a Family Unit Study?
But first… what exactly is a Family Unit Study?
This unit study, like all of our ever-growing library of unit studies, takes one big theme – Community Helpers– and breaks it down into ten manageable, bite-sized learning topics filled with hands-on activities for kids. This format gives you the freedom to dive into learning at a pace that works for your family. Perhaps you do one topic per day, perhaps one per week. Whatever suits your fancy! You can explore each topic from start to finish in about 1-2 hours each.
Dive in and watch the sparks of wonder ignite. Watch the child-led learning take off. Watch what happens when children are engaged in what they are learning!
Each of the 10 topics includes:
- an interesting fact,
- a discussion question,
- informative information,
- a curated YouTube video,
- a recommended book,
- a math or literacy enrichment question (with three difficulty levels),
- and an ultimate-can’t-be-beat hands-on activity!
Plus, all subjects are covered across the 10 topics! Geography, History, Science, Social Studies, Music, Art, Health, Literacy, and Math.
When everything connects across subjects, learning just makes more sense. Kids remember more, understand better, and actually enjoy the process. It’s the kind of learning that really sticks. 🙌
Before we meet the helpers that keep our communities running, I’d love to share a little something to make your homeschool days just a bit easier (because we all need that, right?).
Our Mini Homeschool Toolbox is a simple, go-to resource filled with helpful printables – like math charts, number lines, and writing supports – to keep your days organized and your lessons running smoothly.
It’s completely free and so handy to have on hand as you move through your homeschool routine. Simply enter your email address below, and a copy will be instantly delivered to your inbox.
Community Helpers Family Unit Study
Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect with the Community Helpers Family Unit Study. Below are the 10 topics, along with some examples of the hands-on activities you will enjoy together.
Topic #1: What Is a Community Helper?
Who helps you stay healthy, delivers your mail, or teaches you something new? Learn about the people who keep our communities safe, healthy, and running smoothly. With a matching game, you’ll hunt for community helper cards hidden around your home and match each helper to a description of their job.
Topic #2: Firefighters
There’s so much more to a firefighter’s job than putting out fires! Firefighters rescue people and animals, respond to emergencies, and teach families about fire safety. You’ll also create a fire escape plan for your own home, mapping exit routes, choosing an outdoor meeting spot, and practicing together as a family.
Topic #3: EMTs and Paramedics
When an ambulance arrives, who’s inside and ready to help? You’ll learn how EMTs and paramedics care for people during medical emergencies and transport them to the hospital. You’ll also assemble a first aid kit with your family, gathering supplies to have on hand for everyday bumps and scrapes.
Topic #4: Police Officers
The clues are right at your fingertips! Discover how police officers respond to emergencies, enforce laws, and help keep people safe, including how fingerprints can help them investigate crimes. Using a pencil and clear tape, you’ll collect your own fingerprints and take a closer look. Can you spot an arch, loop, or whorl?
Topic #5: 911 Operators
A calm voice on the phone can make a big difference in an emergency. You’ll learn how 911 operators gather important details and send the right helpers where they’re needed. You’ll also practice box breathing, tracing a square with your finger as you breathe – a simple tool to help you feel calmer during stressful moments.
Topic #6: Doctors and Nurses
How do doctors and nurses figure out what’s making someone feel unwell? Explore their different roles and how they work together to care for patients. You’ll also research a childhood health condition and create an infographic, combining facts and pictures to help explain it to someone else.
Topic #7: Teachers
Imagine sharing a classroom with children of all different ages – and just one teacher! From one-room schoolhouses to today’s classrooms and homeschool tables, teachers help people build skills and try new things. Take a virtual visit to a one-room schoolhouse, then create a Venn diagram to compare school in pioneer days with schooling today.
Topic #8: Veterinarians
Some patients have paws, whiskers, or even hooves! Veterinarians care for sick and injured animals and provide checkups to keep them healthy. In this topic, you’ll meet these animal helpers, find out how wild cats became household pets, and follow a step-by-step drawing lesson to create your own sleeping cat.
Topic #9: Can I Be a Community Helper?
It’s your turn to lend a hand! Helping with chores, donating outgrown toys, or caring for a neighbor’s yard are all ways kids can contribute to their communities. You’ll decorate your own Helper Badges and earn them by completing helpful tasks, from reading to a sibling to watering the garden. Can you earn all seven?
Topic #10: The Importance of Helpers
So many helping hands make a community a wonderful place to live! This final topic brings together the ways helpers care for others and reminds us that everyone has something to contribute. Choose a community helper who interests you, research their work, and create a presentation with pictures and facts to share why their job matters.
And there you have it – ten topics celebrating the people who lend a hand in our communities! The Community Helpers Family Unit Study brings their work closer to home, helping you appreciate all they do and recognize the ways you can help, too.
I hope this peek inside has sparked some curiosity about the helpers around you. Whether you’re caring for someone, sharing what you know, or pitching in with a task, even small acts of kindness can make someone’s day a little easier.
Ready to get started? Find the Community Helpers Family Unit Study in our shop and enjoy learning together, one topic at a time!
Community Helpers Family Unit Study
https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-community-helpers
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Thanks so much for reading, friend!
xo
Sarah
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