Melissa and Doug Community Helpers

We do a big unit on community helpers and have parents come in to talk to the class about their jobs.  Before we get parents in the classroom, we talk about the various helpers in our community.  I usually have a few community helper centers that my kiddos rotate through.  Some of the activities are drawing tools community helpers use or build a city out of blocks!

I recently found Melissa and Doug on Oriental Trading and they have great high quality toys which includes community helpers!  

I got a pack that included various emergency vehicles with people, a farmer with tractor and animals, and a rug that shows the places you would see in a city.  There is a school, stores, farm, roads, and water!  My kiddos can use their imaginations to navigate through the city with their vehicles and people :)

These will be a great addition to my community helper centers and will help enforce the ideas on who and what is in a community!

* Note: I was given these items from Oriental Trading in exchange for a review.  All opinions are my own

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A Trip to the Zoo

If you are like me, field trips are STRESSFUL!  Don't get me wrong they are educational and engaging, but making sure all kiddos are safe at every minute can stress a person out!

I was given a chance to try out a fun virtual reality game that brings the zoo to life in your own classroom.
The kit I received came with a virtual reality headset and reality flashcards.  The app is free to download.

Once the app is downloaded your kiddos can scan the cards to watch the animal come to life!

There are also food cards that you can match with the correct animal and watch them gobble that food right up!
The app also allows you to use it without the cards.  You can click on an animal and see it in 2D or 3D plus they give you a short paragraph about that animal.

This part of the app would be perfect for researching and writing about one of the animals.
I forgot to mention that there is an animal for every letter of the alphabet, so you're also practicing those letters along with learning all about the different animals.
You can use the virtual reality headset or just watch on your smart phone or tablet!

This trip to the zoo is a lot less walking, but still just as engaging!
Check it out for yourself HERE!

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