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Firefighters: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

October 26, 2014 by Mama Carmody 32 Comments

Firefighters: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
with Free Printables





Firefighters put their lives on the line for us each and every day. It is essential that we teach our children about the sacrifices they make to help others.

Schedule a visit to the fire station. Call first to see if they welcome visitors and what a good time would be to stop by. If the first station you call doesn’t welcome visitors, then try another one. I know there are many stations that would love to have you visit. One thing to ask, is if someone would be willing to put on a full set of fire gear. It is very important for children to know what a firefighter might look like if one would have to save them from a fire. Children need to be taught not to run and hide from them but to go to them.

I like to start my learning activities with a book and I recommend you do the same. There are a few listed below in the Story Time section. If you have another book, that you really like, please share it with me.

Below you will also find a craft and some ideas for pretend play. Be sure to enjoy this time of exploration and learning with your child.

Content:

Playtime
Fun Sheet
Craft
Story Time
Videos
Related Posts
Acknowledgements

Playtime

Does your child have a fire station or fire truck to play with? I love the Fisher Price Rescue Heroes. They were very popular with my preschool classes. I just scored several of them at a Goodwill Store. You would have thought I won the lottery. Playmobil was another things my preschoolers loved. They have a fire station and fire trucks.

Dress up is a fun way to explore the world of firefighters. Dress up is fun for boys and girls alike. I like to look for costumes after Halloween. That’s when they are really inexpensive.

Firefighters: Fireman D.I.Y. Costume by Parties for Pennies
Firefighters: Fireman D.I.Y. Costume by Parties for Pennies

You can find a D.I.Y. Firefighter costume on Parties for Pennies. Click on the link, or the picture, to see how to make this cute outfit: Fireman D.I.Y. Costume

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Fun Sheet

Community Helpers: Firefighter Fun Sheet
Community Helpers: Firefighter Fun Sheet

I have created a fun sheet to do with your child. Have your child color the firefighter and then color only the items that the firefighter would use. Don’t color the items that the firefighter would not use. Click on the picture to get the downloadable fun sheet.

The fun sheet is a great way for your child to develop their fine motor skills, as they color. They will learn to follow directions and will also reinforce what they have learned about firefighters.

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Craft

Fire Truck Shape Craft

Firefighters: Fire truck Shape Craft
Firefighters: Fire truck Shape Craft

Materials Needed:

Fire Truck template
Crayons, markers or paint
Paint brushes
Scissors
Glue stick
Optional:
magnets
lamination

Instructions:

I have given you several free downloadable templates to use with this craft. I had so many different ideas of things you could do, I just had to include it all.

First of all, you can use it as a simple craft.

  1. Print the fire truck with no color
  2. Print the fire truck shapes (with no words and no color)
  3. Let your child color or paint the pieces.
  4. Cut out the pieces. (either they can do this or you can, depending on where your child is developmentally)
  5. Glue the pieces to the fire truck.

* Another option would be to print the truck shapes with color and cut them out. Then let your child glue those shapes on.
** You could also cut the shapes out of construction paper and let your child glue them to the fire truck.

Another way to play with this is to make a puzzle out of it.

  1. Print the fire truck with color.
  2. Print the fire truck shapes with color.
  3. Laminate both sheets. (I get my laminating done at a nearby teacher’s store)
  4. Cut out the fire truck shapes.
  5. Add magnets to the back of the fire truck picture and to each of the pieces.
  6. Now your child can do the “puzzle” on a cookie sheet.

*You could also print the fire truck with no color for some extra puzzle fun.

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Story Time

DK Readers: Jobs People Do — A Day in a Life of a Firefighter (Level 1: Beginning to Read) by Linda Hayward
Reading Level: Ages 5 – 7 yrs old
Follow Rob Green as he goes through his day as a firefighter. Rob will have to be away from his family for a full day (24 hours). This book covers a couple of duties that Rob might have that I haven’t seen covered in other firefighter books. It explains that the firemen have to inspect restaurants and stores to make sure they are safe and have the simple fire equipment they need to keep customers safe. It also talks about a class having a field trip to the fire station. The firemen will also get to go put a fire out. Rob even sleeps at the firestation. This will be a fun way for your child to learn about firemen and the jobs they have to perform.

A Day in the Life of a Firefighter (Kids’ Career Library) by Mary Bowman-Kruhm and Claudine G. Wirths
Reading Level: Ages 5 and up
If your child is looking for a little more information about firefighters and not just a simple introduction, this would be the book to go to. This book explains the responsibilities of firefighters and the equipment they need but with a little more detail than some other books. If you have an inquisitive child that loves to sit and listen, I would recommend this book.

A Day with Firefighters by Jan Kottke
Reading Level: Ages 2 – 6 yrs old
This is a great book to introduce your little one to the responsibilities of firefighters. It has very simple text but covers the basic information your child will need. The illustrations are actual pictures of firefighters on the job. On another note, I was surprised when I picked up this book at the library. It came in a plastic bag with some paperwork and a DVD. I thought it was a movie of the book but that’s not what it was as all. It was actually a video of someone using American Sign Language to share the book with deaf children. It turns out there is an organization called The Shared Reading Project. The video is to help parents be able to effectively share books with their deaf child so they can become lifelong readers. You can search your library’s website for The Shared Reading Project and you will find several titles to choose from.

Fighting Fires: See More Readers Level 1 by Seymour Simon
Reading Level: Ages 3 to 7 yrs old
If you have a child that is really interested in different types of trucks then he/she will love this book. It doesn’t just talk about fire trucks in general but names and gives you pictures of the different types of fire trucks and the special job each of them does. I especially like the fact that the book explains how people used to pass buckets of water by hand to put out fires. This book impressed me because it covers fire fighting from a different angle than most books.

Fire Fighter! (DK Readers) – Level 2 by Angela Royston
Reading Level: Ages 6 – 8 yrs old
Your child will enjoy the excitement in this book as the firefighters do their jobs. It starts out as a quiet day in the firehouse. Your child will get to see the different things found in the firehouse. Then the alarm goes off and they head to a fire. They are worried that a child might be trapped in the burning house. Your child will get to hear about the different things a firefighter might experience while searching through a burning house for a trapped person. There are several different side notes and pictures of the equipment the firefighters use. This is a very sweet and informative book.

Firefighter (Benchmark Rebus) by Dana Meachen Rau
Reading Level: Ages 2 to 6 years old
I love the books by Dana Meachen Rau that are put out by Benchmark Rebus. They are so simple and easy to understand. I like the fact that they use pictures instead of words as part of the text. It will make your little one proud that they are helping with the story. In this book we learn about the many things that firefighters do and the equipment they use. This is a very cute book to introduce the job of firefighters to your child.

Fire Fighters (Community Helpers) by Dee Ready
Reading Level: Ages 4 and up
This is a great book to introduce your child to the responsibilities of a fire fighter. The illustrations are actual pictures of fire fighters doing their many jobs. The text is simple; just a few clear sentences to each illustration. Once you share this book with your child, they will have a better understanding of what fire fighters do and the things they need to perform their jobs.

  Firefighters (Neighborhood Helpers) by Cecilia Minden
Reading Level: Ages 5 and up
A little girl, named Elizabeth, believes she may want to be a firefighter when she grows up. She wants to learn all she can about being a firefighter. You will find a lot of information in this book about what firefighters do and the equipment they use. It even talks about some of the education they need. Although there is a lot of text in this book it is broken down into subtopics so if your child has a short attention span or just needs a break, it is easy to stop and start up again. There is a lot of additional information along the sides of the pages too. If I had a child that was really interested in firefighters I would definitely share this book with them.

  Fire Fighters: A to Z (Community Helpers) by Jean Johnson
Reading Level: Ages 5 to 8 yrs old
Every letter of the alphabet represents something a firefighter uses or does. There are a lot of wonderful pictures of firemen at work. The illustrations are in black and white but they are still very interesting. There is quite a bit of information about firefighters including an extra section in the back called “More About Fire Fighters”. I would recommend this book whether learning about firefighters or just wanting to reinforce alphabet recognition.

I’m Going to Be a Fire Fighter by Edith Kunhardt
Reading Level: Ages 4 and up
This story is about three little girls whose daddy is a firefighter. They get to go to work with him one day and they share all the things that their daddy does on the job. You will see some of the tools he uses and the many different aspects of his job. The illustrations are actual photographs of the firefighter at work and with his family. This is a fun way to learn about firefighters.

  I Want To Be A Firefighter by Dan Liebman
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7 yrs old
This book has wonderful photos of firefighters at work. The text is simple which makes it nice for a younger child. Although the text is simple there is plenty of information to help your little one learn about firefighters. Not only does this book talk about building fires but it also talks about forest fires and fires on boats. You child will learn a lot from this simple but informative book.

  I Want to Be a Firefighter by Stephanie Maze
Reading Level: Ages 8 yrs old and up
This book is for a little older child. There is plenty of text and a lot of pictures describing the life and job of a firefighter. Your child will learn about the different places firefighters are needed, such as in urban areas or out in the brush putting out wildfires. Your child will also learn about the different kinds of training that a firefighter needs. There are a lot of interesting pictures of firefighters in action. If your child is a little older and interested in firefighters this will be a great book for them.

Uncle Rocky, Fireman by James Burd Brewster
Reading Level: Ages 3 and up
Uncle Rocky, Fireman is actually a series of books about Rocky Hill and his fire station. As of this moment, I have only read the first book but I can’t wait to get hold of more of the series. I love the use of sound words such as vroom, vroom and clang, clang, clang. Children love making noises and this story definitely encourages that. I love that the author uses technical terms without making the story difficult to follow. Your child will learn new words like turnout coat and smoke inhalation. I hope you enjoy following the adventures of Uncle Rocky as much as I did.
The author, James Burd Brewster, is offering a free download of his first book. Just go to his website: Glad To Do It!

  We Need Fire Fighters (Helpers in Our Community) by Lola M. Schaefer
Reading Level: Ages 3 and up
This is a simple little book that makes a great introduction to fire fighters. There is just one sentence per page. Each page shows a picture and explains something about fire fighters. You get information about the jobs they do and the things they need to carry out their work.

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Videos

Fireman Sam – distributed by Lionsgate
Recommended for ages 3 to 6 yrs old
Fireman Sam is a British animated children’s show. It is about Fireman Sam, the other firemen at his fire station and the townspeople of Pontypandy. Each episode deals with some aspect of a fireman’s job. The ones I watched covered things like forest fires, a fire because of paper close to the stove and fire prevention. I believe your child will enjoy these videos and learn a lot about being safe with fires while having fun at the same time.

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Related Posts

Community Helpers – Overview
Doctors: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Dentists: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Police Officers: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

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Acknowledgements

Charlotte's Clips and Kindergarten Kids

Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Charlotte’s Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Charlottes-Clips-4150

whimsy-clips-by-laura-strickland-square
Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Whimsy Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Whimsy-Clips

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Filed Under: Community Helpers, Learning Activities Tagged With: civil servant, community helper, Community Helpers, educational activities, fire, fire fighter, fire fighters, fire truck, firefighter, firefighters, learning activities, love to laugh and learn, love to learn, preschool lessons

Police Officers: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

January 25, 2015 by Mama Carmody 5 Comments

Police Officers: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
with free printables




It’s time to have fun learning about police officers. Police officers are there to protect and take care of us. Children need to learn this early because you never know when they might need a police officer’s help.

I like to start learning activities with a book. You can find several books about police officers in the Story Time section, below. Pick a couple out and share them with your child.

Content:

Playtime
Fun Sheet
Craft
Story Time
Related Posts
Acknowledgements

Playtime

There are many wonderful toys out there that can encourage imaginative play, while learning about police officers. Lego and Playmobil both have police themed sets. Your child might have a simple police car that they like to play with. We used to have a community helper doll set that we used in our preschool classes. I plan to get some for my home so my grandson and great-nephew will have them to play with.

I love the use of dress-up clothes. When I was teaching preschool, the boys loved to dress-up as much as the girls did. I pick up inexpensive costumes once Halloween is over. I picked up a play set with handcuffs, a walkie talkie and a toy gun at the Dollar Tree. You can read my post, “Let’s Play with Toy Guns”, to see why I believe that was a good addition to our dress-up bin.

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Fun Sheet

Police Officer Fun Sheet - Help the officer find the equipment she needs to do her job.
Police Officer Fun Sheet – Help the officer find the equipment she needs to do her job.

I have created a fun sheet to do with your child. Have your child color the police officer and then color only the items that the police officer would use. Don’t color the items that the police officer would not use. Click on the picture to get the downloadable fun sheet.

The fun sheet is a great way for your child to develop their fine motor skills, as they color. They will learn to follow directions and will also reinforce what they have learned about police officers.

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Craft

Police Car Craft

Learn About Police Officers using this free printable.

Materials Needed

Police Car template
markers, crayons or paints

Instructions

  1. Print the police car template.
  2. Do a Google search for your local police cars. (We have several different styles here in Indianapolis)
  3. Let your child color or paint the police car to match their favorite one. My favorite police cars are the black and white ones.
Police Car Craft – Do a Google search for your local police cars. Then let your child color or paint the police car to match their favorite one. There is a free printable included in this post.

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Story Time

A Day in the Life of a Police Officer (Kids’ Career Library) by Mary Bowman-Kruhm and Claudine G. Wirths
Reading Level: Ages 5 and up
If your child is looking for a little more information about police officers and not just a simple introduction, this would be the book to go to. This book explains the responsibilities of police officers and the equipment they need but with a little more detail than some of the other books. If you have an inquisitive child that loves to sit and listen, I would recommend this book.

A Day with Police Officers by Jan Kottke
Reading Level: Ages 2 – 6 yrs old
This is a great book to introduce your little one to the responsibilities of police officers. It has very simple text but covers the basic information your child will need. The illustrations are actual pictures of police officers on the job. On another note, I was surprised when I picked up this book at the library. It came in a plastic bag with some paperwork and a DVD. I thought it was a movie of the book but that’s not what it was as all. It was actually a video of someone using American Sign Language to share the book with deaf children. It turns out there is an organization called The Shared Reading Project. The video is to help parents be able to effectively share books with their deaf child so they can become lifelong readers. You can search your library’s website for The Shared Reading Project and you will find several titles to choose from.

I’m Going to Be a Police Officer by Edith Kunhardt
Reading Level: Ages 4 and up
This story is about a little girl and boy whose daddy is a police officer. They get to go to work with him one day and they share all the things that their daddy does on the job. You will see some of the tools he uses and the many different aspects of his job. The illustrations are actual photographs of the police officer at work and with his family. This is a fun way to learn about police officers.

Police Officer (Benchmark Rebus: Jobs in Town) by Dana Meachen Rau
Reading Level: 3 – 6 yrs old
I love the books by Dana Meachen Rau that are put out by Benchmark Rebus. They are so simple and easy to understand. I like the fact that they use pictures instead of words as part of the text. It will make your little one proud that they are helping with the story. In this book we learn about the many things that police officers do and the equipment they use. This is a very cute book to introduce the job of police officers to your child.

Police Officers Help (Our Community Helpers) by Dee Ready
Reading Level: Ages 4 and up
This is a great book to introduce your child to the responsibilities of a police officer. The illustrations are actual pictures of police officers doing their many jobs. The text is simple; just a few clear sentences to each illustration. Once you share this book with your child, they will have a better understanding of what police officers do and the things they need to perform their jobs.

Police Officers, A to Z (Community Helpers (Walker) by Jean Johnson
Reading Level: Ages 5 to 8 yrs old
Every letter of the alphabet represents something a police officer uses or does. There are a lot of wonderful pictures of police officers at work. The illustrations are in black and white but they are still very interesting. There is quite a bit of information about police officers including an extra section in the back called “More About Police Officers”. I would recommend this book whether learning about police officers or just wanting to reinforce alphabet recognition.

We Need Police Officers (Helpers in Our Community) by Lola M. Schaefer
Reading Level: Ages 3 and up
This is a simple little book that makes a great introduction to police officers. There is just one sentence per page. Each page shows a picture and explains something about police officers. You get information about the jobs they do and the things they need to carry out their work.

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Related Posts

Community Helpers – Overview
Doctors: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Dentists: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Firefighters: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

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Acknowledgements

Cara's Clips Credit Button
Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Cara’s Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Cara-Taylor-8656

Charlotte's Clips and Kindergarten Kids

Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Charlotte’s Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Charlottes-Clips-4150

Polliwog Place

Images for Doctor’s Bag Craft and part of Fun Sheet created by Polliwog Place
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Polliwog-Place

whimsy-clips-by-laura-strickland-square
Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Whimsy Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Whimsy-Clips
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Filed Under: Community Helpers, Learning Activities Tagged With: Community Helpers, educational activities, free printable, fun learning, kindergarten, learning activities, learning fun, love to laugh and learn, making learning fun, police, police car, police car craft, police officers, preschool, preschool lessons, printable

Doctors: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

August 11, 2014 by Mama Carmody 8 Comments

Doctors: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
with free printables




I’m going to start my posts, on Community Helpers, with doctors. Children spend a lot of time with doctors, starting at birth. They need to realize that doctors are their friends and are just helping them to stay healthy. Don’t lie to your child about getting shots, then not only will they be afraid of the doctor but they won’t trust you either. Let them know it will hurt a little bit but the hurt doesn’t last long and shots are to keep them from getting sick.

I always like to start my learning activities with a book. I have listed a few, in the Story Time section, for you to choose from. If you have another book, that you really like, please share it with me.

Below you will also find a craft and some ideas for pretend play. Be sure to enjoy this time of exploration and learning with your child.

Content:

Playtime
Fun Sheet
Craft
Story Time
Related Posts
Acknowledgements

Playtime

Does your child have a toy doctor’s kit to play with? If not, purchase some band-aids, gauze, medical tape and some wipes at the Dollar Tree (or whatever inexpensive store you have). Even if your child does have a toy doctor’s kit it would be fun to occasionally give them some real supplies to play with. You might even be able to find an inexpensive thermometer (not the glass kind) that would be safe for them to play with. Bring out the dolls and have fun making them feel better. Your child may even want to fix an “ouchie” that you have.

Dress up is another fun way to explore the world of doctors. Dress up is fun for boys and girls alike. I like to look for costumes after Halloween. You can find them really cheap.

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Fun Sheet

Community Helpers: Doctor Fun Sheet
Community Helpers: Doctor Fun Sheet

I have created a fun sheet to do with your child. Have your child color the doctor and then color only the items that the doctor would use. Don’t color the items that the doctor would not use.
Click on the picture to get the downloadable fun sheet.

The fun sheet is a great way for your child to develop their fine motor skills, as they color. They will learn to follow directions and will also reinforce what they have learned about doctors.

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Craft

Doctor’s Bag

Community Helpers: Doctors - Materials Needed For Doctor's Bag Craft
Community Helpers: Doctors – Materials Needed For Doctor’s Bag Craft

Materials Needed:

Template for Doctor’s Bag craft
Black or white construction paper
cotton swabs
band aid
cotton ball
gauze
glue
tape
crayons or markers
scissors

Instructions:

1. Print the template for the Doctor’s Bag craft
2. Cut out the pieces.
3. Choose whether you want to make a black doctor’s bag or a white one.
4. I like to use the extra large pieces of construction paper. If you do use that size, then fold the paper in half. Place the template of the doctor’s bag onto the construction paper, with the bottom of the bag on the fold. If you use regular size paper, then cut out 2 of the bags and then tape or staple them together at the bottom.
5. Trace and then cut out the bag.

Community Helpers: Doctors -Do ctor's Bag Craft
Community Helpers: Doctors -Doctor’s Bag Craft

6. Have your child color the stethoscope, thermometer and needle.
7. Now glue or tape your items inside the doctor’s bag. Don’t forget your cotton ball, cotton swabs, gauze and band aid.

Community Helpers: Doctors - Doctor's Bag Craft
Community Helpers: Doctors – Doctor’s Bag Craft

I also cut out and glued the white cross from the template to the outside of my doctor’s bag.
8. Discuss with your child what other items a doctor might have in his bag.

Community Helpers: Doctors - Doctor's Bag Craft
Community Helpers: Doctors – Doctor’s Bag Craft

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Story Time

A Day in a Life of a Doctor (DK Readers, Level 1) by Linda Hayward
Reading Level: Ages 4 – 7 yrs old
Follow Doctor Baker through her day. She has to go to work early because of a little girl that is very sick. You will get to see and hear about the different instruments the doctor uses. She not only has to take care of patients at her doctor’s office but she also has patients at the hospital that she has to check on. A doctor’s day can be very long and busy but they like being able to help people feel better.

Doctors (Community Helpers) by Dee Ready
Reading Level: Ages 4 and up
This is a great book to introduce your child to the responsibilities of a doctor. The illustrations are actual pictures of doctors doing their many jobs. The text is simple; just a few clear sentences to each illustration. Once you share this book with your child, they will have a better understanding of what doctors do and the things they need to perform their jobs.

Tools We Use: Doctors (BookWorms) by Dana Meachen Rau
Reading Level: Ages 4 – 7 yrs old
This is a wonderful little book to help your child be comfortable with going to the doctor. It describes and shows many of the things that might happen to them. Your child can see the instruments that a doctor uses to listen to your heart or to look into your ears and eyes. A lot of time your child is fearing the unknown. If you take time to talk and show them what could happen it can put your child at ease. The illustrations will help your child feel better since they can see several smiling children visiting the doctor.

We Need Doctors (Helpers in Our Community) by Lola M. Schaefer
Reading Level: Ages 3 and up
This is a simple little book that makes a great introduction to doctors. There is just one sentence per page. Each page shows a picture and explains something about doctors. You get information about the jobs they do and the things they need to carry out their work.

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Related Posts

Community Helpers – Overview
Dentists: Love to Learn about Community Helpers
Firefighters: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Police Officers: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

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Acknowledgements:

Polliwog Place

Images for Doctor’s Bag Craft and part of Fun Sheet created by Polliwog Place
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Polliwog-Place

Charlotte's Clips and Kindergarten Kids

Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Charlotte’s Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Charlottes-Clips-4150

Whimsy Clips
Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Whimsy Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Whimsy-Clips

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Filed Under: Community Helpers, Learning Activities Tagged With: Community Helpers, Doctors, fun learning, learning fun, love to laugh and learn, making learning fun

Dentists: Love to Learn about Community Helpers

August 19, 2014 by Mama Carmody 26 Comments

Dentists: Love to Learn about Community Helpers
with free downloadable activity sheets





Do you know when your child should have his or her first dentist appointment? I thought it was around ages 3 or 4 years old but I recently found out that it’s supposed to be by the age of 1, or within 6 months after his or her first tooth comes in. With that in mind, you should help your child learn about the dentist so they will be more comfortable when they go for their appointment.

I always like to start my learning activities with a book. There are a several listed in the Story Time section below. If you know of another great book please share it with me.

Below you will also find a craft and some ideas for pretend play. Be sure to enjoy this time of exploration and learning with your child.

Content:

Playtime
Craft
Fun Sheet
Snacks
Story Time
Related Posts
Acknowledgements

Playtime

Dress up is a fun way to explore the world of dentists. The same lab coat your child used for doctors can also be used for the dentist. Dress up is fun for boys and girls alike. I like to look for costumes after Halloween. You can find them really cheap.

I found a couple of blogs that had some really cute creative ideas. I love the the activity I found on Preschool Playbook. They used play dough and white navy beans to represent a child’s gums and teeth.

There are a couple of great activities on Sense of Wonder: Let’s Play Dentist. My favorite is making a set of teeth out of a cardboard egg carton and using green tissue paper as the “food” caught between the teeth. The children get to use dental floss to remove the “food”.

What other activities do you and your children enjoy?

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Craft

Dentists: Love to Learn about Community Helpers – Materials Needed for Tooth Craft

Materials Needed:

Tooth template
Cream colored construction paper or cardstock
White paint
White glitter
Inexpensive toothbrushes
Plate to put paint on

Instructions:

1. Print off the tooth template onto a cream colored cardstock or use the template as a pattern to trace onto a cream colored piece of construction paper. The reason I am suggesting cream colored paper is so that the child can see the difference between the cream colored “dirty” tooth and the sparkling white tooth after it gets “brushed”.
2. Pour some white paint onto a paper plate.
3. Mix some of the white glitter into the paint.
4. Use the toothbrush to “brush” the tooth with the white paint and glitter.

Dentists: Love to Laugh and Learn about Community Helpers – Tooth Craft

5. Now you have a sparkling white tooth. I added a little more glitter after I painted it, to give it just a little extra sparkle.

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Fun Sheet

Dentist Fun Sheet
Dentist Fun Sheet

I have created a fun sheet to do with your child. Have your child color the dentist and then color only the items that the dentist would use. Don’t color the items that the doctor would not use. Click on the picture to get the downloadable fun sheet.

The fun sheet is a great way for your child to develop their fine motor skills, as they color. They will learn to follow directions and will also reinforce what they have learned about dentists.

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Snacks

Make snack time a fun lesson time. Have some snacks that will make healthy teeth and some items that aren’t good for the teeth. See if your child can tell you which ones are good and which ones are bad. Of course you child will probably want some of the “bad” snacks as well as the healthy ones. Just explain that a little “bad” food (on occasion) is okay but be sure to brush your teeth as soon as snack time is over.

I am including a happy tooth and a sad tooth template. You can use these as a hands-on activity and actually sort the foods that are healthy and unhealthy.

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Story Time

The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan & Jan Berenstain
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7 yrs old
Sister Bear has her first loose tooth and, what luck, Brother Bear has a dentist appointment. Brother Bear like to tease Sister Bear so he tell her that she better wiggle that tooth until it comes out or the dentist will yank it out. Mama Bear assures Sister that the dentist is gentle. Sister gets to watch while Brother gets his teeth cleaned and a cavity filled. Then it’s Sister’s turn. The dentist takes a piece of cloth (not the “yanker”) and gently grasps Sister’s tooth; with a gentle tug it pops right out. The book gives a fun introduction to the dentist office.

Dentists (Community Helpers) by Dee Ready
Reading Level: Ages 4 and up
This is a great book to introduce your child to the responsibilities of a dentist. The illustrations are actual pictures of dentists doing their many jobs. The text is simple; just a few clear sentences to each illustration. Once you share this book with your child, they will have a better understanding of what dentists do and the things they need to perform their jobs.

Going to the Dentist by Helen Frost
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7 yrs old
This wonderful little book will introduce your child to the dentist and his/her office. The text is simple and the illustrations are of things you will see in the dentist office. Your child can see the dentist using his different tools to look inside the mouth. I would use this book before a child’s first trip to the dentist.

Going to the Dentist (My First Time)
by Kate Petty, Lisa Kopper and Jim Pipe
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7 yrs old
Sam and Jenny take their first trip to the dentist. Jenny is little enough that she sits in mom’s lap while the dentist counts her teeth and takes a good look at them. Sam is a little older and he gets to sit in the dentist’s special chair. The dentist cleans his teeth and takes pictures of them. Sam has a small cavity that the doctor fills without any problems. The majority of the illustrations are drawings but there are a few actual photos inlaid on some of the pages. This book is a fun way to introduce your child to the dentist.

  Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7 yrs old
Little Critter gets to take a trip to the dentist. He describes what it’s like in the waiting room. He is big enough that he gets to go back and see the dentist all by himself. I like that Little Critter uses descriptions that children will relate to such as the room he goes too looks like a spaceship because of all the weird machines. Little Critter even has a cavity and it describes a bit of what it’s like to get a tooth filled. This is a fun light-hearted way for children to learn about the dentist.

Meet My Neighbor, the Dentist by Marc Crabtree
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7 yrs old
This book has large simple text so it is good for an early reader or for a young child just learning about the dentist. I love that the illustrations are actual pictures of Doctor Meisels, both with his family and performing the duties of his job. Your child will get to see the dentist at work in someone’s mouth and the different tools he will be using. This would be a great book to share with a child before their first trip to the dentist.

Show Me Your Smile!: A Visit to the Dentist (Dora the Explorer) by Christine Ricci
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7 yrs old
Do your children love Dora? If so, they will enjoy making a visit to the dentist with Dora. Dora explains her appointment from the visiting room, through her exam, concluding with the special treats she receives at the end of her visit. The illustrations are bright and the text is easy to understand. A must for any child that loves Dora and is getting ready to visit the dentist.

The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss
Reading Level: Ages 2 – 7 yrs old
What is there to say? It’s Dr. Seuss! I love rhyming books so, of course, I love Dr. Seuss. In this fun rhyming book, we learn all about teeth. We see people and animals that have teeth; and some that do not. We will learn about things we should not do with our teeth, if we are going to keep them. And don’t forget to be nice to your dentist, because he is the one that takes care of your teeth.

We Need Dentists (Helpers in Our Community) by Lola M. Schaefer
Reading Level: Ages 3 – 7 yrs old
This is a simple little book that will introduce your child to the dentist. It talks about the different tools dentists use and the various things they might do to your teeth. I like the illustrations because they are actual pictures of children at the dentist. This would make a good book to read to your child before their first trip to the dentist.

What to Expect When You Go to the Dentist by Heidi Murkoff
Reading Level: Ages 4 – 8 yrs old
This book has some heavy duty reading, so it would be better for a little older child. I love the way it covers the things a child will see and experience while in the dentist office. The information is shared by, Angus, the Answer Dog. On each page there is even a game or idea to think about to prepare for a trip to the dentist. If your child is a little older and would like some more detailed information about the dentist and how to take care of his/her teeth, this will be an awesome book.

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Related Posts

Community Helpers – Overview
Doctors: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Firefighters: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Police Officers: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

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Acknowledgements

Cara's Clips Credit Button
Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Cara’s Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Cara-Taylor-8656

Charlotte's Clips and Kindergarten Kids

Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Charlotte’s Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Charlottes-Clips-4150

Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Lauren Thompson
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lauren-Thompson

Whimsy Clips
Some of the images for the Fun Sheet were created by Whimsy Clips
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Whimsy-Clips

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Filed Under: Community Helpers, Learning Activities Tagged With: Community Helpers, dentist, dentists, educational activities, fun learning, learning opportunities, preschool, preschool lessons

Community Helpers – Overview

February 14, 2014 by Mama Carmody 5 Comments

Community Helpers – Overview





Teaching your child about community helpers can help them understand and feel more secure in their ever widening world. Learning about community helpers can help them realize that they don’t need to be afraid when they hear sirens in the neighborhood or in the car. The sirens are signaling that there are people out there to help take care of them. Police officers are there to help us when there is an accident. Firemen help us if there is a fire. The doctor and dentist help keep us healthy and the school teacher helps us learn new things.

When I taught preschool, we studied community helpers in the three year old classroom. At home, you might want to introduce some of them even earlier; for instance, the doctor. Children have to go to the doctor regularly, from birth, so reading books and talking about the doctor may help put them at ease. Before my children went to their first dental appointment, I read books to them so they would understand what was going to happen.

In the following posts you will find book suggestions and crafts to do with your children to help make learning about their world fun. Enjoy playing pretend with your children as they become the doctor and you are the patient. Please come back and leave comments about the books and crafts you enjoyed together. I would love to see pictures too. You can share them on the Love to Laugh and Learn Facebook page.

Related Posts

Doctors: Love to Learn about Community Helpers
Dentists: Love to Laugh and Learn about Community Helpers
Police Officers: Love to Learn About Community Helpers
Firefighters: Love to Learn About Community Helpers

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Filed Under: Community Helpers, Learning Activities Tagged With: Community Helpers, fun learning, learn, learning, learning opportunities, love to laugh and learn, making learning fun, preschool, preschool lessons

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