In this field trip, kids will learn about community helpers, who they are, and how they help take care of a community.
Community
Beaver, Naked mole-rat, Western lowland gorilla, Meerkat
Lessons and Activities
Check out fun and easy classroom activities to help kids, families, and teachers explore the topic of community and community helpers with the Smithsonian!
Gorilla Families ›
Join keeper Lauren and Pinky Jackalope as they introduce you to the Western lowland gorilla family at the National Zoo! With six gorillas living together, each one has an important job that helps keep their family happy, healthy, and strong.
| Resource Description | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Video |
| ELOF Standards: | IT-ATL 7; IT-SE 13; P-ATL 11; P-SE 11 |
| Video Length: | 3:19 |
| Best for Ages: | 2+ |
Firefighting Dogs Storybook ›
Did you know that dogs not only help people as loving friends and pets, but they also help firefighters? In this storybook, you’ll explore the history of dogs working alongside firefighters and learn about the community helper roles they perform today.
| Resource Description | |
|---|---|
| Type: | |
| ELOF Standards: | IT-ATL 7; IT-SE 13; IT-LC 11; IT-LC 12; P-ATL 11; P-SE 11; P-LIT 5 |
| Project Time: | 5+ |
| Best for Ages: | 2+ |
Helpers in Human and Animal Communities ›
This resource explores what community helpers are and how animals, specifically Naked mole-rats, live together in community groups, just like we do! The activities, videos, read-aloud suggestions, and conversation starters can help deepen community helper units.
| Resource Description | |
|---|---|
| Type: | E-Course |
| ELOF Standards: | IT-ATL 7; IT-ATL 9; IT-ATL 13; IT-C 1; P-ATL 11; P-ATL 12; P-SE 11; P-SCI 1; P-SCI 2; P-SCI 3 |
| Project Time: | 15+ |
| Best for Ages: | 3+ |
Smithsonian Community Helpers ›
Community helpers are people who do important jobs to keep communities safe, healthy, and running smoothly. Here at the National Zoo and the Smithsonian, there are many different kinds of community helpers who keep all the animals and the museums safe and sound. In this video, discover a few of those community helpers and get a glimpse of the work they do often behind the scenes.
| Resource Description | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Video |
| ELOF Standards: | IT-ATL 7; IT-ATL 9; IT-ATL 13; IT-C 1; P-ATL 11; P-ATL 12; P-SE 11; P-SCI 1; P-SCI 2; P-SCI 3 |
| Video Length: | 12:34 |
| Best for Ages: | 2+ |
Naked Mole-Rat Community Helpers ›
Have you ever wondered why Naked mole-rats look the way they do? Or what a Naked mole-rat family structure, or colony, is like? With the help of Keeper Mimi and Pinky Jackalope, discover more about these hairless creatures and how they are great examples of community helpers!
| Resource Description | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Video |
| ELOF Standards: | IT-ATL 7; IT-SE 13; P-ATL 11; P-SE 11 |
| Video Length: | 4:34 |
| Best for Ages: | 2+ |
Mail Connects Communities ›
Mail is an important way to stay connected with our family and friends -- our communities -- both near and far. Help your young learners explore, create, and send mail with this engaging activity from the National Postal Museum!
What Makes My Neighborhood Special? ›
Who are the people in YOUR neighborhood? The National Museum of American History and the National Portrait Gallery use Sesame Street to inspire young children to explore and celebrate their own neighborhoods with these fun activities!
Letter to Families
Print or send this letter home with your students to help them share what they learned during the "Community Helpers" virtual field trip and how families can continue the learning at home!
Explore More Programs
Caring About Conservation ›
What is conservation? Why is it important? Caring About Conservation explores the meaning of "conservation," some of the animals Smithsonian scientists are trying to save, and what we can all do to protect wildlife.
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 3-5-ETS1-2
Conservation, sustainability, animals, wildlife, science
Cause and effect, systems and system models, structure and function, and stability and change
Free
Valen-TINY Mammals ›
What makes an animal a mammal? Valen-TINY mammals gives students an up-close look at mammal traits from some cute and tiny zoo animals.
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-2, 1-LS3-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 5-PS3-1, 5-PS3-1
Mammals, animal groups, adaptations
Patterns, cause and effect, energy and matter
Free
Music and Sound All Around ›
In this field trip, children will learn about the importance of music and sound for both people and animals. What sounds do animals make and why? What objects can make sounds, and how can you play them to create music?
Music and Sound
Siamang, Kunekune pig, Gorilla
Explore the Rainforest ›
Fly, leap and swim along on an adventure through the Amazon Rainforest to explore the sights and sounds of plants and animals living in this unique ecosystem.
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS2-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS2-1
Amazon, rainforest, biodiversity, rainforest layers, animals
Patterns, cause and effect, scale proportion and quantity, and systems and system models
Free
Saving Endangered Species ›
What does it mean when an animal is endangered and what can we do to help? Meet one of the National Zoo’s most endangered species and learn how staff care for these special animals.
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 5-ESS3-1
endangered species, conservation
Free
Big, Small, Let's Measure Them All ›
In this field trip, children will practice identifying what is big, medium, and small. In addition, kids will become familiar with other measurement terms such as longer, shorter, taller, bigger, and smaller.
Size and Measurement
Asian elephant, Black and rufous elephant shrew
Discovering Amphibians ›
Join us as we celebrate Amphibian Week. Learn about amphibians, get an up-close look of some of them and chat with an amphibian expert.
K-5
Supports NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1
amphibians, adaptations, habitats, life cycles
Free
Happy Birthday! ›
Join us as we celebrate Head Start's birthday and America's 250th birthday!
Birthday
Bald eagle, California sea lion, Eastern screech owl