Let’s Learn About Jobs

Learning about work is interesting and fun!

• PRINT
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Materials:

• chart paper
• markers
• books about work including Jobs People Do by Christopher Maynard (DK Publishing, 2001), Trabajos by Susan Canizares (Scholastic Inc.), and Whats My Job? by Mary Packard (Readers Digest, 2001)

Developing Skills:

• social awareness
• language
• math concepts

ACTIVITY
Collect a variety of books and pictures to illustrate the work that is done in the home and careers that adults have outside of the home.

On the top of a sheet of chart paper write the question, "What kinds of jobs do parents do?" Share with children that, as a teacher, your job is to teach and care for young children. But when you are home, you have other jobs too. Ask children to describe the different types of work their family members do either in their home or at their jobs. Record their responses on the chart paper.

Then explain to your group that they will develop something called a Venn diagram to see what types of jobs can be done both at home and at another location, only at home, or only at another location, such as an office.

Draw two intersecting shapes on a large sheet of paper with the heading "Learning About Jobs". Review the list and engage children in a discussion about each job to determine what section of the graph they should be listed under. In the section on the left, list the jobs that are done at home. In the section on the right, list the jobs that are done outside of the home. In the intersecting area, list the jobs that can be done in both places.

Remember: Since some of the children may not know how to describe their parents occupations, you can help them by knowing, in advance, the type of work each family member does.

TAKE-HOME ACTIVITY

Family Helper. Engage the class in a discussion about why it is important that they be helpful at home. Ask them to think of jobs they can do in their homes that would be appreciated by their families. Write "Family Helper Certificate" on the top of a sheet of white paper and photocopy enough for each child in the class. Explain to children that they will make a certificate for their families that depicts a special job they will do at home. Invite them to draw a picture of the job on the certificate. Then assist them in writing both their name and the name of their job on the certificate.

Curriculum Connection: LITERACY

When I Grow Up. Provide the class with paper, crayons, and pencils. Ask them to create drawings and use invented spelling to write about the job that they would like to do when they grow up.

Let’s Find Signs!
Reading skills emerge as children play with signs