Your Neighborhood
View: George Shrinks - "Monster Mash"
The Shrinks family, and a few of the neighborhood kids, have assembled in George's backyard for Dad's annual Monster Movie Marathon. The kids add to the fun of watching old monster movies by playing pranks on each other. When some unexplained pranks begin to happen to the kids, they set a trap for the unexplained prankster - who turns out to be a new kids who has moved in behind the Shrinks.
Do:
Caillou: The Neighborhood Hunt - Go on a hunt to find out what's new in your neighborhood, or what's been there all along but you never noticed.
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: Build a Neighborhood - Create your ideal neighborhood with this fun online game.
Read:
Elsie Times Eight
By Natalie Babbitt
Published September 2001 by Hyperion Books for Children
Elsie’s fairy godmother means well, but she has a habit of misunderstanding. When she makes eight Elsie’s, the once quiet neighborhood becomes noisy and the neighbors complain. All is made right in the end, with the help of Elsie’s cat, who knows the real Elsie.
More PreK-2nd grade resources on neighborhoods are available at PBS TeacherSource From The Start.
Your Town
View: Reading Rainbow - "My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States"
This geographical poetry collection includes poets' descriptions of every region of the United States. LeVar and a troupe of youngsters, who share their part of the USA, bring a map of the United States to life. We visit Erica, age 12, who lives on the family ranch in Montana, and 10-year-old Stephen who lives in New York City - showing how being a kid in America is as varied as the 50 states that form this country.
Do:
Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series: A Welcome Hero - Discuss community helpers as heroes. Create stories, murals or collages about heroes in your community.
ZOOM: ZOOM Into Action - Learn what you can do to make a difference in your community.
Read:
Happy Birthday, America
By Marsha Wilson Chall and Guy Porfirio
Published May 2000 by HarperCollins Children's Books
Come celebrate a small town 4th of July. Enjoy the games, picnic, parade, and fireworks on the lake. This picture book is for children 4-8.
More PreK-2nd grade resources on towns and communities are available at PBS TeacherSource From The Start.
Additional Online Resources
PBS Neighborhood: Home & Hobbies
Arthur: Arthur's World Neighborhood Teacher Guide
The PBS KIDS Democracy Project
Learning Adventures in Citizenship
TeacherSource: K-2 lesson plans and activities on Community & Citizenship, Family, Geography, and Jobs & Work
Printables for Parents
Printables for Parents are documents that can be printed and distributed to the parents of your
students. Each document contains suggestions for parents to use in the home to further promote
the skills taught in the classroom. Choose to customize the printable by "signing" your name or
simply print a pdf document with no signature. Available in English and Spanish.
*Hint: Educators have told us that they print the English and Spanish versions back to back.
This allows everyone to see both languages!
Featured Printable: Learning about your Community
In school, students learn about community, maps, people, jobs, culture, and
more. Reinforce these concepts at home by helping children and parents find real life examples in their own neighborhood.
Print as a pdf without your signature:
English or Spanish/Español (Free Adobe Acrobat Reader required) or
To customize this month's featured printable with your signature visit PBS TeacherSource From The Start Parent Connections.
Also see: The Printable for Parents Archive
From The Start is funded in part by a Ready To Learn Television Cooperative Agreement from the US Department of Education through the Public Broadcasting Service.
March 2004