Children will think about the different parts that make up their community and categorize what they see into people, animals, and the environment.
Children are given 3 sheets of paper. Guide them as they discuss their community and help them brainstorm through the following steps:
On the first sheet of paper, they draw all the places in their community that serve people. Each drawing is labeled and cut out. Guiding questions:
| On the second sheet of paper, they are to draw all the animals in their community and the places that serve them. Each drawing is labeled and cut out. Guiding questions:
| On the third sheet of paper, they are to draw all the environmental traits in their community. Each drawing is labeled and cut out. Guiding questions:
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TIP: Depending on the scale of your map, it may be helpful to tell children to name the things and places they can walk to.
Everyone closes their eyes and imagines what it would be like to be a bird flying overhead. On a large piece of paper, the group draws a map of their community. The children work together to glue all the people, animal, and environmental elements to their map. As the pieces come together, discuss how the map becomes a puzzle and that each drawing is an important piece. Guiding questions:
TIP: Help children orient themselves on the map by starting with your current location. Invite children to use their fingers to imagine walking to the different places on their map.
Guide children as they reflect on their community map. Begin brainstorming an area of the community where students feel they can make a difference and select a Roots & Shoots project. Guiding questions:
