Activities & Lessons

Grades 3–5 Daily Reading Activities: Community Helpers

4 Min Read
Comm3

Welcome to Community Helpers. We'll provide five days of reading lessons designed to engage your child in an exploration of how we are helpers in our communities.

Day 1 Activity

Let’s Watch: Everyday Heroes

Watch the video Everyday Heroes to learn more about how average people can make a difference in the world.

Discuss the Video

How do you think everyday heroes are like the legendary heroes mentioned in the video? What are some ideas for how you can be a hero in your own community?

Let’s Read: My Summer Without Baseball and Other Disasters

Danny's summer is turning into a disaster, and it's barely even started! If he can't earn some money, he won't be able to go to baseball camp. But when he takes a job at his aunt and uncle's store, he quickly learns that he's not the only person with problems. Will Danny be able to help his new friends?

Download My Summer Without Baseball and Other Disasters

Quiz

How much do you know about My Summer Without Baseball and Other Disasters? Take the quiz.

Then, check your answers to the quiz. How did you do?

Family Support

Use this learning guide to walk your child through the lesson. Explore additional Review & Extend activities together.


Day 2 Activity

Let’s Reread: My Summer Without Baseball and Other Disasters

Danny's summer is turning into a disaster, and it's barely even started! If he can't earn some money, he won't be able to go to baseball camp. But when he takes a job at his aunt and uncle's store, he quickly learns that he's not the only person with problems. Will Danny be able to help his new friends?

Download My Summer Without Baseball and Other Disasters

Take It Further

Choose an activity to extend the fun.

Response Writing: Write a Description

  • Write about Danny. Tell what he is like.
  • Use details from the story to support your description.

Project: No Problem Too Big or Too Small

  • Design a poster for a business that solves problems.
  • Begin by thinking of a name for the business.
  • Then add the kinds of problems the business can solve.

Family Support

Use this learning guide to walk your child through the lesson. Explore additional Review & Extend activities together.


Day 3 Activity

Let’s Read: Keeping Up with Claire

Adrien thinks that watching his little sister will be a piece of cake. But four-year-old Claire is harder to handle than Adrien could have imagined.

Download Keeping Up with Claire

Quiz

How much do you know about Keeping Up with Claire? Take the quiz.

Then, check your answers to the quiz. How did you do?

Family Support

Use this learning guide to walk your child through the lesson. Explore additional Review & Extend activities together.


Day 4 Activity

Let’s Read: Keeping Up with Claire

Adrien thinks that watching his little sister will be a piece of cake. But four-year-old Claire is harder to handle than Adrien could have imagined.

Download Keeping Up with Claire

Take It Further

Choose an activity to extend the fun.

Project: Create a Babysitter’s Guide

  • Think of information that would be helpful for a babysitter. Use online or other sources to find tips.
  • Be sure to include important information about what to do in case of an emergency.
  • Create a booklet with your tips. Present the information in a way that will be helpful and easy to read.

Response Writing: Write an Email

  • Write an email from Adrien to Ricardo. Have Adrien tell Ricardo what happened when his parents found out about the ring.

Family Support

Use this learning guide to walk your child through the lesson. Explore additional Review & Extend activities together.


Day 5 Activity

Let's Review

This week you've read stories about kids helping their community and family. Today you’ll learn about someone who helps in their community by taking care of animals.

Let’s Read: A Rural Veterinarian

There’s no such thing as an ordinary day in the life of a veterinarian. Read about a day in the life of one vet who helps farm animals.

Download A Rural Veterinarian


Take It Further

Extend the fun with an activity.

Write About It

  • Write a friendly letter to a local vet. Include some of the information you have learned about being a rural vet. Ask the vet what steps he or she took to become a veterinarian.

Family Support

Invite children to be storytellers. Have them choose a person they read about this week or a person they know in their own community or family. Have them write or act out a new story about how that person is helping others. Encourage them to use descriptive words and actions.

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