* In the fall we learn about our community and the people who help us.
 
 For a baker or chef we make a  hat by cutting a strip of white poster board,
staple it to fit the size of each childs head. Then we take one sheet of
white tissue paper and staple it to the top of the poster band and fluff up
the tissue to look like a bakers hat.
 The children wear their bakers hat and we bake some cookies for our snack.
For art we make pizzas with paper plates for the crust, red paint for the
sauce, yellow and white construction paper cut into thin strips for cheese,
brown construction paper cut into circles for sausage.
 
* fingerplay
 	If I Were
 If I were a baker		(pretend to put on a hat and apron)
 What would I do?	
 Bake lots of cookies	(make a circle with thumb and forefinger)
 For me and you.		(point to self and a friend)
 
 If I were a secretary,	(pretend to type and write on a notepad)
 What would I do?
 Answer the phone,	(hold pretend phone to ear)
 "How do you do?"	
 
 If I were a veterinarian,	(pretend to put a stethoscope in ears)
 What would I do?
 Care for your pet	(pretend to examine a cat or dog)
 It's special to you.
 
 If I were a dentist,	(look in mouth of friend)
 What would I do?
 Check those teeth	(pretend to drill or x-ray friend's teeth)
 That's good for you!
 
*  Here are some songs and fingerplays for a Community Helper theme.
 
 Ten Workers
 Said the farmer, the miller, the baker,
 "We'll give the dear baby his food."
 Said the carpenter, glazier, and mason,
 "We'll build him a house strong and good."
 Said the weaver, the tailor, the cobbler,
 "We'll make him warm pretty clothes."
 The mechanic said, "I'll fix the auto
 When off on a journey he goes."
 
 Police Officer
 Police officers are helpers wherever they may stand.
 (Stand with feet apart, hands on hips.)
 They tell us when to stop and go by holding up their hands.
 (Signal stop by holding up hand and go by pointing index finger.)
 
 Cowboy
 Home on the Range
 Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,
 And the deer and the antelope play,
 Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
 And the skies are not cloudy all day.
 Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope play,
 Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
 And the skies are not cloudy all day.
 
 Firefighter (tune:  "Eensy Weensy Spider")
 The firefighter helps us learn our safety rules.
 Playing with matches is only for fools.
 If you see a fire, "Help," you'll scream and shout.
 Dial 911.  The firefighter will put it out.
 
 Farmer
 First the farmer sows his seeds.
 (Imitate planting seeds.)
 Then he stands and takes his ease.
 (Stand with hands on hips.)
 He stamps his foot.
 (Stamp foot.)
 He claps his hands.
 (Clap hands.)
 And turns around to view his lands.
 (Turn around with hand across eyebrows, looking.)
 
 Dentist
 If I were a dentist,
 I know what I would do.
 (Point to self.)
 I'd tell all the children, "Brush your teeth."
 (Imitate brushing teeth.)
 "Keep a smile like new."
 (Make a big smile and point to lips.)
 And if a tiny hole should show,
 I'd say, "Climb into my chair."
 (Make circle with fingers.)
 I'd make my little drill go buzzzzzzzzzz,
 And put a filling there!
 (Point to teeth.)

*  GATHER
 
 * 2 cups salt
 * 1 cup cornstarch
 * 1 1/4 cups cold water
 * paper clips
 
 GO
 
 1. Mix the salt, cornstarch and cold water in a saucepan. Ask an adult to
heat the mixture until it is very thick.
 
 2. Let the dough cool a little. Then squish it between your fingers until
it's smooth.
 
 3. Use the dough to form the letters of your name. 
 
 4. Press the paper clips into the backs of the letters to make hooks.
 
 5. Let the dough dry until it's hard. Then hang the letters in your room as
a reminder to be the "salt of the earth."
 
 
 __Salty Scenes_____
 
 GATHER
 
 * 1 cup salt
 * 1 cup flour
 * 2 cups water
 * 2 cups tempera paint
 
 GO
 
 1. Mix the salt, flour and water. Divide the mixture into four pie tins.
 
 2. Add 1/2 cup of tempera paint to each tin and mix it in. (Use a different
color for each tin.)
 
 3. Paint a picture of the world that will remind you to give to others.
 
 
 __Light of Love_____
 
     
 ___________
 Try one of these ways to spread love...
 
 * Bake cookies for a neighbor and deliver them with a smile.
 * Make your bed--without anyone asking you to.
 * Help a friend who is hurt or sad.
 * Send a homemade card to a faraway friend or family member.
 * Say "please" and "thank you."
 * Invite a new friend over to play.
 * Collect some of your old toys and give them to a children's shelter.