Engaging EYFS Introduction Activities for ‘People Who Help Us’

One essential topic in the EYFS curriculum is ‘People Who Help Us’. This theme not only broadens children’s understanding of their community and an appreciation for the diverse roles that keep our society functioning smoothly. Here’s a comprehensive guide to introducing this topic engagingly and effectively you may also like this post which includes some of our teaching resources linked to the People Who Help Us topic..

People Who Help Us Topic

I have taught this topic every year to most key stages. Children need to know where they can find support and help when we talk about understanding the world.. 

1. Community Awareness: It helps children understand their place within the larger community.
2. Career Exploration: Early exposure to various professions can spark future interests.
3. Social Skills: Learning about helpers encourages gratitude and respect for others.
4. Safety Education: Understanding the roles of emergency services can be life-saving.

Lesson Plan: ‘Who Helps Us?’ People Who Help Us Adventure

Learning Objectives

• Identify different community helpers
• Understand the roles of various helpers in our community
• Develop appreciation for people who help us
• Enhance vocabulary related to community roles

Resources Needed

• Picture cards of community helpers (e.g., doctor, firefighter, teacher, police officer)
• Dress-up clothes and props related to different helper roles
• Large paper or whiteboard for mind mapping
• Art supplies for follow-up activities

Lesson Activity Breakdown

1. Circle Time Introduction (5-10 minutes)

Begin by gathering the children in a circle. Start a conversation with questions like:

• “Who helps you get ready in the morning?”
• “Who helps you learn new things at school?”
• “If you’re not feeling well, who helps you feel better?”

This helps children connect the concept of ‘helpers’ to their personal experiences.

2. ‘Who Am I?’ Guessing Game (15-20 minutes)

• Show picture cards of different community helpers one by one.
• For each card, provide clues about the helper’s job without revealing who they are.
• Encourage children to guess the community helper based on the clues.
• After each correct guess, discuss how this helper assists people in the community.

Example clues:

“I wear a uniform with a badge. I help keep people safe and catch bad guys. Who am I?” (Police Officer)

“I wear a white coat and use a stethoscope. I help people when they’re sick or injured. Who am I?” (Doctor)

3. Interactive Role Play (20-25 minutes)

• Set up simple role-play stations around the classroom (e.g., doctor’s office, fire station, classroom).
• Provide dress-up items and props related to different helper roles.
• Allow children to choose roles and act them out.
• Encourage interaction between different ‘helpers’ to simulate real-life scenarios.

4. Reflection and Mind Mapping (10 minutes)

• Gather the children back in a circle.
• Create a mind map/Semantic Web on a large paper or whiteboard.
• Ask children to recall the helpers they learned about and their roles.
• Write down their responses, connecting related ideas.

Key Questions for Discussion

Throughout the activities, use these questions to deepen understanding:

• What does this helper do?
• How do they help people in our community?
• What special tools or equipment do they use?
• Where do we see these helpers in our community?

Follow-Up Activities

• Thank You Cards: Create thank-you cards for local community helpers.
• Helper Visit: Arrange for real community helpers to visit the class over the coming weeks.
• Community Walk: Take a short walk around the school or community to spot helpers at work.
• Helper-Inspired Art: Draw pictures of favourite community helpers.

Linking the Learning to Home

Encourage family involvement with these ideas:

• Point out helpers during daily activities (e.g., crossing guard, bus driver).
• Discuss family members’ jobs and how they help others.
• Read books about community helpers together.

Assessment Opportunities

• Observe children’s ability to recognize different helpers during the guessing game.
• Note children’s understanding of helper roles during role play.
• Assess vocabulary use when describing helpers’ jobs.
• Monitor participation in discussions and willingness to share ideas.

Differentiation/Adaptive Teaching Strategies

For younger children: Focus on more familiar helpers like teachers, doctors, and firefighters.

For older or more advanced children: Introduce less obvious helpers like librarians, postal workers, or waste collectors.

For children with special needs: Provide visual aids or simplified roles during role play.

People Who Help Us Language Development

Language development is a crucial aspect of early years education, and the ‘People Who Help Us’ topic provides an excellent opportunity to expand children’s vocabulary and communication skills. Here’s a comprehensive guide to fostering language development within this theme:

Core Concepts

• Help, helper, assist, support
• Community, neighborhood, society
• Work, job, career, profession
• Service, duty, responsibility

• Uniform, outfit, gear
• Tools, equipment, instruments
• Emergency, urgent, important
• Protect, save, rescue, care

Job-Specific Vocabulary

• Medical Professionals: doctor, nurse, paramedic, dentist, stethoscope, thermometer, syringe, bandage, hospital, clinic, ambulance, patient
• Emergency Services: firefighter, police officer, lifeguard, hose, ladder, siren, badge, fire station, police station, emergency
• Education: teacher, librarian, coach, classroom, books, lessons, students
• Community Services: postal worker, garbage collector, crossing guard, mail, letters, recycling, traffic
• Food Services: chef, waiter, baker, kitchen, ingredients, menu, recipe

Language Development Activities

1. Word of the Day: Introduce a new helper-related word each day. Display the word with a picture and simple definition. Use the word frequently throughout the day.
2. Vocabulary Sorting Activities: Create picture cards of helpers, their tools, and workplaces. Have children sort them into categories, explaining their choices.
3. ‘Who Am I?’ Riddles: Describe a helper using key vocabulary. Children guess the helper based on the description.
4. Story Creation: Use helper vocabulary to create simple stories together. Encourage children to use new words in their own storytelling.
5. Song and Rhyme Time: Incorporate helper vocabulary into familiar songs and rhymes. Create new verses for “The Wheels on the Bus” with different helpers.
6. Question of the Day: Post a daily question about helpers, encouraging use of target vocabulary. Example: “Which tool does a dentist use to look at teeth?”
7. Visual Word Wall: Create a word wall or anchor chart with helper vocabulary. Include pictures alongside words for visual reinforcement.
8. ‘I Spy’ Game: Play ‘I Spy’ using helper-related vocabulary. “I spy with my little eye something a doctor uses to listen to your heart.”
9. Role-Play with Script Building: Create simple scripts for helper scenarios. Encourage children to use specific vocabulary during role-play.
10. Vocabulary Bingo: Play bingo with helper words and images. Call out definitions or descriptions instead of just the words.

Extending Vocabulary

• Introduce more specific job titles (e.g., pediatrician, detective)
• Explore adjectives to describe helpers (brave, caring, skilled)
• Discuss abstract concepts like ‘community’, ‘service’, and ‘responsibility’

By focusing on language development within the ‘People Who Help Us’ topic, you’re not only teaching children about community roles but also equipping them with the vocabulary to discuss and understand the world around them. This rich language environment sets the stage for improved communication skills, enhanced understanding, and a broader perspective on their community and its helpers.

Conclusion

Introducing ‘People Who Help Us’ through interactive and varied activities not only makes learning fun but also lays a foundation for children to become aware, appreciative members of their community. By engaging multiple senses and encouraging active participation, we can create lasting impressions that extend beyond the classroom.

The goal is not just to teach about helpers, but to inspire children to see the value in helping others and to appreciate the interconnectedness of our community. As you explore this topic, you’re not just teaching about jobs – you’re nurturing future citizens who understand the importance of cooperation and service.

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