Themes 1st Semester (Aug-Nov)
Mini City
Themes | TK-K
- Make sure that the “Wow!” moments of the projects are clear in the beginning of the Summary
- Make sure you list all the required materials
- Make sure that the Financial Literacy skills that will be developed and assessed are clear
- Make sure you explain and justify the deliverable
Summary:
Planning a “mini city” project for tk and kindergarten students is a fun, creative and engaging way to teach them about various aspects of the world around them.
Learning goals:
- Community Awareness
- Identify and name different places within a community, such as a grocery store, bakery, post office, and bank.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of various community members, such as shopkeepers, customers, and service providers.
- Basic Math Skills
- Practice counting and recognizing numbers by handling play money during transactions.
- Understand the concept of “more” and “less” through shopping and exchanging items.
- Social Skills
- Develop communication skills by interacting with peers in various roles within the mini city.
- Learn to wait in line, take turns, and engage in polite conversations during role-playing scenarios.
- Financial Literacy
- Introduce the concept of money as a medium of exchange by using play money for transactions
- Understand basic ideas of buying and selling, cost, and value.
- Imagination and Creativity
- Engage in imaginative play by taking on different roles and creating scenarios within the mini city.
- Use creative thinking to solve problems that arise during role-playing activities.
- Fine Motor Skills
- Develop fine motor skills by handling small items like play money, stamps, and envelopes.
- Enhance hand-eye coordination through activities like placing items in shopping baskets or using a play cash register.
- Language Development
- Build vocabulary related to community places, roles, and activities.
- Practice verbal communication by describing their roles and experiences to peers and adults.
- Social Studies Concepts
- Understand the importance of various community services (post office, bank, bakery) and how they contribute to daily life.
- Recognize the interdependence of different community members and places.
- Teamwork and Cooperation
- Collaborate with peers while engaging in role-playing activities.
- Understand the value of working together to create a functioning mini city environment.
- Reflection and Communication
- Express thoughts and feelings about their experiences in the mini city through discussions and creative activities.
- Reflect on what they learned about different roles and community dynamics.
Skills and Standards:
Skills:
- Financial Literacy > Consumer skills >
- Recognize the different payment types and know when they can be used
- Prepare a shopping list
- Financial Literacy > Money in our lives
- Recognize the price of items.
- Creativity, originality and initiative > World Economic Forum – Skill 5
- Be able to explore different possibilities and scenarios.
- Propose new ideas to a group.
Standards:
- Kindergarten: Counting & Cardinality > Know number names and the count sequence.
- Kindergarten: Counting & Cardinality > Compare numbers.
- Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.
- Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals.
- Kindergarten (L): Language Standards > Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
- Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.
- Kindergarten (SL): Speaking and Listening Standards > Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
- Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.
- Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.
- Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.
Deliverable
Host a mini city showcase event where children can demonstrate what they’ve learned to parents, teachers, and other students.
Milestones
- Milestone 1: Define the Learning Objectives
- Milestone 2: Set the Stage
- Milestone 3: Pre-Project Introduction
- Milestone 4: Role Assignments
- Milestone 5: Create Currency
- Milestone 6: Mini City Zones
- Milestone 7: Shopping Experience
- Milestone 8: Role Play and Scenarios
- Milestone 9: Social Interactions
- Milestone 10: Reflection and Discussion
- Milestone 11: Creative Activities
- Milestone 12: Parent Involvement
- Milestone 13: Showcase Event
Planning suggestions:
Milestone 1
Define the Learning Objectives
Determine what you want the children to learn from this project. For example, you might aim to teach them about community roles, money, social interactions, and basic math skills.
Milestone 2
Set the Stage
Transform a designated area into the “mini city” with different zones like a grocery store, post office, bank, bakery, etc. Create simple props and decorations to make each zone look realistic.
Milestone 3
Pre-Project Introduction
Introduce the concept of a mini city to the children. Show them pictures or videos of real stores and explain how they function. Discuss the different roles people have in a community (e.g., shopkeepers, customers, cashiers).
Milestone 4
Role Assignments
Assign roles to the children for various positions in the mini city, such as shopkeepers, customers, bank employee, and post office workers. Rotate roles to give everyone a chance to experience different parts of the mini city.
Milestone 5
Create Currency
Introduce a simple form of currency (Falcon Dollars can be play money, tokens, buttons) that the children can use for transactions within the mini city.
You can craft Falcon Dollars with cardboard and markers with the students.
Milestone 6
Mini City Zones
Set up each zone in the mini city with appropriate props and materials. For example:
- Grocery Store: Display play food items, shopping baskets, and cash registers.
- Post Office: Provide envelopes, stamps, and a mailbox for pretend mail activities.
- Bank: Create a space with play money, deposit slips, and a teller counter.
- Bakery: Showcases play dough baked goods and a sales counter.
Milestone 7
Shopping Experience
Allow the children to take turns as customers and shopkeepers. They can “buy” items, interact with others, and practice basic math skills by counting and exchanging play money.
Milestone 8
Role Play and Scenarios
Encourage imaginative play by creating scenarios. For example, a customer might need to buy groceries for a family dinner or a birthday cake from the bakery. This helps the children understand the purpose of each zone.
Milestone 9
Social Interactions
Guide the children to interact with each other respectfully and politely during their mini city activities. Teach them about manners, waiting in line, and taking turns.
Milestone 10
Reflection and Discussion
Gather the children to discuss their experiences. Ask questions like:
- What was your favorite part of the mini city?
- What did you learn about different roles in a community?
- How did you feel while buying items or playing a role in the mini city?
- Did you use all of your money?
Milestone 11
Creative Activities
Extend the project with related activities like creating art projects, writing stories about their experiences in the mini city, or designing their own mini city buildings.
Milestone 12
Parent Involvement
Invite parents to visit the mini city and participate as customers. This can foster community involvement and allow parents to see the learning process firsthand.
Milestone 13
Showcase Event
Host a mini city showcase event where children can demonstrate what they’ve learned to parents, teachers, and other students.
Golden Tip:
Remember, the learning goals are just a starting point. You can customize them to match the developmental levels and goals of your tk and kindergarten students. Observing their progress and adjusting your approach as needed will ensure a successful and meaningful learning experience.
