Skip To Main Content

UNIT 2 - Family and Community

Topics Covered in Unit 2

  • Identifies and follow rules of classroom community

  • Shows confidence in engaging social interactions

  • Explain diverse culture and custom celebrations within home, classroom, and community

  • Shows awareness of geography in his or her community

  • Shows awareness of economics in his or her community

At four, children are able to identify the rules of the classroom and know when others are not following them. They demonstrate their knowledge of rules and social behavior throughout the day in dramatic play, being responsible for their classroom jobs and following the routines of the class.

Examples: 

  1. helps teacher create class rules

  2. points out and explains rules to others

  3. has frequent appropriate social conversations with peers

  4. shares classroom materials

  5. displays appropriate behavior during meals

  6. takes turns in large group and doesn't speak over teacher/classmates

  7. waits her turn to use the restroom

  8. carries out classroom jobs (leader, light switch operator, caboose)

Four-year-old children have greater awareness of group similarities and differences. They enjoy learning about others' customs and traditions, especially those that involve their classmates.

Examples:

  1. learns about and participates in community events (parades, festivals, fairs, picnics)

  2. shares weekend experiences with class mascot - "We took Billy Bear to my aunt's wedding."

  3. participates in classroom activities to encourage understanding of other cultures

Four-year-olds are very observant and easily recognize similarities and differences between themselves and others. Their thinking, however, is limited and they can easily develop stereotypes if adults don’t offer other examples.

Examples:

  1. says, "Tomas speaks Spanish and so do his Mom and Dad."

  2. during a unit study on shoes asks, "Why do some people not wear shoes in their houses."

  3. learns some words from other languages

  4. looks at the book, "Everybody Eats Rice" - says, "My mom cooks rice for me."

Four-year-olds are aware of who is responsible for the different jobs in the classroom. They can state who the line leader is when it is time to go outside and who gets to look out the window to determine the weather for the day.

Examples:

  1. says, "It's Amy's turn to be snack helper."

  2. comments, "You need to hold the book straight." to child holding book for large group reading

  3. helps the class transition to line up using wand

  4. assigns class jobs using the job chart

Four-year-olds have a general understanding of a variety of occupations and are able to describe their duties and responsibilities. They love to dress-up and role play different types of community workers and often talk about what each one of them does as they perform their jobs.

Examples:

  1. says, "The pilot has to drive the plane. He has to be real careful not to crash."

  2. talks about the importance of brushing teeth after visit from dental hygienist

  3. says, "You be the mail carrier. You have to bring all the letters and give them to the people."