Activity Instruction Page
Get to Know Your Neighborhood
- Activity Type: Hands-On Activity
- Theme: Family and My Home
- Learning Center: Social Studies & Emotional Dev
Take a walk around your neighborhood and explore! Learn about your neighbors, animals, and street names. This activity will help preschoolers understand their community and foster a sense of belonging. Enjoy the sights and sounds of your neighborhood as you become familiar with your surroundings.
Materials & Direction
Materials List:
– Comfortable walking shoes
– Sunscreen
– Water bottle
– Snacks, if needed
– Note pad and pen/pencil *optional
Preschool Learning Objectives:
1. To enhance children’s understanding of their neighborhood and the community they live in.
2. To improve observation skills by identifying familiar places, people, and animals in the neighborhood.
3. To promote social skills by discussing the importance of neighbors and community in a child’s life.
Teacher Instructions:
1. Before the walk, talk to the children about the purpose of the activity. Explain that you will be taking a walk around the neighborhood to observe and talk about the things that make it special.
2. As you walk, encourage the children to use their senses to observe their surroundings. Ask questions such as “What do you see?” “Do you hear anything?” “Can you smell anything?”
3. Point out familiar landmarks such as the grocery store, park, or school. Talk about the people who live in the neighborhood, and any animals that are frequently seen.
4. Stop at any point of interest and encourage the children to take notes or draw pictures of what they observe.
5. Once you return to the classroom, gather the children together to discuss their observations. Ask them to share what they found interesting about the neighborhood.
6. Display the children’s drawings or notes in the classroom to promote further discussion and reflection on the walk.
Teacher Tips for Differentiated Instruction:
– For children with limited mobility, consider doing a virtual neighborhood walk using Google Maps. Encourage the children to point out familiar places on the map.
– For children who are more advanced, challenge them to create a map of their neighborhood, including key landmarks and locations.
Assessment:
– Observe the children during the walk to see if they are engaged and actively participating in the activity.
– Review the children’s notes or drawings to assess their observation skills and understanding of their neighborhood.
– Have a follow-up discussion to gauge how much the children remember and retained from the walk.
