FamilyFamily

Resource Unit for PreschoolResource Unit for Preschool

By Barb HolmgrenBy Barb Holmgren

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

IntroductionIntroduction State Content Standards ObjectivesState Content Standards Objectives Content Content Lesson Objectives & ActivitiesLesson Objectives & Activities VocabularyVocabulary EvaluationEvaluation Instructional ResourcesInstructional Resources

IntroductionIntroduction

This resource unit is designed This resource unit is designed to help children learn about to help children learn about families. By exploring different families. By exploring different aspects of their own families and aspects of their own families and sharing with others, the children sharing with others, the children will learn about some of the will learn about some of the similarities and differences in similarities and differences in family structures, homes, work, and family structures, homes, work, and foods. foods.

Objectives: State Content Objectives: State Content StandardsStandards

Develop a sense of belonging to different Develop a sense of belonging to different groups (e.g., family, groups of friends, groups (e.g., family, groups of friends, preschool class, boys or girls).preschool class, boys or girls).

Describe and represent the inside and Describe and represent the inside and outside of familiar environments such as outside of familiar environments such as home and school (e.g., playground).home and school (e.g., playground).

Gain information through participation in Gain information through participation in experiences with objects, media, books and experiences with objects, media, books and engaging in conversations with peers.engaging in conversations with peers.

Represent ideas through multiple forms of Represent ideas through multiple forms of language and expression (e.g., drawing, language and expression (e.g., drawing, dramatic play, conversation, art media, dramatic play, conversation, art media, music, movement, emergent writing).music, movement, emergent writing).

ContentContentObjective: To foster and affirm the Objective: To foster and affirm the

children’s sense of belonging to and children’s sense of belonging to and knowledge of their own families while knowledge of their own families while promoting awareness of cultural promoting awareness of cultural similarities and differences.similarities and differences.

The children will have various The children will have various opportunities to learn about their opportunities to learn about their own families and the families of their own families and the families of their peers. They will participate in music, peers. They will participate in music, art, and drama activities to support art, and drama activities to support their learning. their learning.

Lesson 1Lesson 1

Objective: To learn about similarities and differences Objective: To learn about similarities and differences in family groups.in family groups.

Make a family bulletin board. Have each child bring in a Make a family bulletin board. Have each child bring in a photograph or draw a picture of their family. Label the photograph or draw a picture of their family. Label the photo or drawing with names and family relationships.photo or drawing with names and family relationships.

In the block area or doll house area have multi-ethnic In the block area or doll house area have multi-ethnic play figures available for the children to use in their play figures available for the children to use in their play. During supported play, encourage the children to play. During supported play, encourage the children to represent a number of different family groups.represent a number of different family groups.

Make a class book about “Our families”. Have a page for Make a class book about “Our families”. Have a page for each child with a photograph or drawing. Tell about the each child with a photograph or drawing. Tell about the child’s family. Ex: This is Brenna’s family. She lives child’s family. Ex: This is Brenna’s family. She lives with her mom, grandma, and brother.with her mom, grandma, and brother.

Read children’s books representing many different Read children’s books representing many different families. Include multi-ethnic and interracial books families. Include multi-ethnic and interracial books routinely.routinely.

Lesson 2Lesson 2Objective: To learn about similarities and Objective: To learn about similarities and

differences in family homes.differences in family homes.

During circle time, share photographs of During circle time, share photographs of different homes in your community. Make different homes in your community. Make sure that you have a photo representing sure that you have a photo representing each child’s situation. Talk about different each child’s situation. Talk about different types of homes. Encourage the children to types of homes. Encourage the children to describe their homes. describe their homes.

Using magazines, photographs, and real Using magazines, photographs, and real estate advertisements have the children estate advertisements have the children make a home collage.make a home collage.

Have each child paint a picture of their Have each child paint a picture of their home. Write a caption telling what the child home. Write a caption telling what the child says about their picture.says about their picture.

LessonLesson 3 3

Objective: To learn about similarities and Objective: To learn about similarities and differences in what families eat.differences in what families eat.

Ask the parents to provide a list of favorite Ask the parents to provide a list of favorite family foods.family foods.

Once a week, have the children help Once a week, have the children help prepare a favorite family food. Include prepare a favorite family food. Include foods eaten by every child’s family. Choose foods eaten by every child’s family. Choose a variety of foods including meats, fruits, a variety of foods including meats, fruits, and vegetables. Parent volunteers might and vegetables. Parent volunteers might like to help with this activity.like to help with this activity.

Encourage the children to try new foods. Encourage the children to try new foods. Teach children how to decline new foods Teach children how to decline new foods politely.politely.

Lesson 4Lesson 4

Objective: To learn about similarities and Objective: To learn about similarities and differences in the work that family differences in the work that family members do.members do.

Children need to understand that work is Children need to understand that work is what family members do to take care of what family members do to take care of people and the house. With the children, people and the house. With the children, make a list of all the different kinds of work make a list of all the different kinds of work that family members do.that family members do.

Make a book about work that includes Make a book about work that includes photographs or magazine pictures photographs or magazine pictures representing each job.representing each job.

During playtime, have materials available During playtime, have materials available so that the children can act out the jobs so that the children can act out the jobs that they have been talking about.that they have been talking about.

VocabularyVocabularyfamilyfamilyfamily relationship words: mom, dad, family relationship words: mom, dad,

aunt, grandma, etc.aunt, grandma, etc.homehometalltallshortshortcountrycountrycitycityworkworkfood words as neededfood words as needed

EvaluationEvaluation

Teacher observation and anecdotal logs Teacher observation and anecdotal logs should be used to document progress. should be used to document progress. During circle activities, a checklist can be During circle activities, a checklist can be used to evaluate comprehension of used to evaluate comprehension of vocabulary and concepts. Use the vocabulary and concepts. Use the camera to help document play camera to help document play interactions. (Ex: Take pictures of interactions. (Ex: Take pictures of children acting out different types of children acting out different types of work.) Related art projects may be kept work.) Related art projects may be kept in a portfolio or photographed. Make sure in a portfolio or photographed. Make sure that all children are able to participate in that all children are able to participate in classroom activities in some way.classroom activities in some way.

Teacher resourcesTeacher resources

Derman-Sparks, L. (2001 chap. 7). Derman-Sparks, L. (2001 chap. 7). Anti-bias Anti-bias curriculum tools for empoweringcurriculum tools for empowering young children.young children. Washington, D.C. National Association for the Washington, D.C. National Association for the Education of Young Children.Education of Young Children. Seefeldt, C. (1993). Seefeldt, C. (1993). Social studies for the Social studies for the preschool-primary child. New York: Merrilpreschool-primary child. New York: Merril Wellhousen, K. (2003). Be it ever so humble, Wellhousen, K. (2003). Be it ever so humble, Developing a study of homes for today’s diverse Developing a study of homes for today’s diverse society. In C. Copple (Ed.), society. In C. Copple (Ed.), A world of differenceA world of difference (pp.83-85). Washington DC: National Association (pp.83-85). Washington DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.for the Education of Young Children. Wilson, G.L. (1985). Teaching pre-schoolers Wilson, G.L. (1985). Teaching pre-schoolers about work: A complex task. about work: A complex task. Interracial books Interracial books for children bulletin, 16(4),9-13.for children bulletin, 16(4),9-13.

Books About Families Books About Families

I Love My Daddy I Love My Daddy by Sebastien Braunby Sebastien Braun A simple story about a father bear and his son. Wonderful A simple story about a father bear and his son. Wonderful pictures help illustrate how they spend their day together.pictures help illustrate how they spend their day together.

Climb the Family Tree, Jesse Bear! Climb the Family Tree, Jesse Bear! by Nancy Carlstromby Nancy CarlstromTells the story ofTells the story of Jesse Bear at a family reunion. Great for Jesse Bear at a family reunion. Great for introducing family relationship words.introducing family relationship words.

I Got A Family I Got A Family by Melrose Cooperby Melrose CooperA rhyming book describing all of the ways that family members A rhyming book describing all of the ways that family members make a young child feel loved.make a young child feel loved.

The Baby Sister The Baby Sister by Tomie de Paolaby Tomie de PaolaThis book tells about Tommy and his family preparing for a This book tells about Tommy and his family preparing for a new baby. A focus of the story is Tommy’s relationship with new baby. A focus of the story is Tommy’s relationship with his grandmother.his grandmother.

Daddy make the Best Spaghetti Daddy make the Best Spaghetti by Anna Grossnickle Hinesby Anna Grossnickle HinesThis story depicts a father as the main caregiver in the family.This story depicts a father as the main caregiver in the family.

More Books About FamiliesMore Books About Families

Peter’s Chair Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keatsby Ezra Jack Keats

A classic story about a little boy's feelings when a new baby A classic story about a little boy's feelings when a new baby arrives.arrives.

Great Aunt Martha Great Aunt Martha by Rebecca C. Jonesby Rebecca C. JonesA delightful story about what happens when an elderly aunt A delightful story about what happens when an elderly aunt comes to visit.comes to visit.

Mama, do You Love Me? Mama, do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Jooseby Barbara M. JooseA child living in the Arctic learns that a mother’s love is A child living in the Arctic learns that a mother’s love is unconditional.unconditional.

The Biggest House in the World The Biggest House in the World by Leo Lionniby Leo LionniA snail learns that bigger and more is not always best.A snail learns that bigger and more is not always best.

Families Families by Ann Morrisby Ann MorrisThis book looks at all kinds of families from all over the world.This book looks at all kinds of families from all over the world.

What Aunts Do Best & What Uncles Do Best What Aunts Do Best & What Uncles Do Best by Numeroffby NumeroffA fun book about extended family relationships.A fun book about extended family relationships.

Still More Books About FamiliesStill More Books About FamiliesThe Family Book The Family Book by Todd Parrby Todd Parr

This book represents a variety of families. It explores the This book represents a variety of families. It explores the differences and similarities of families.differences and similarities of families.

Families Are DifferentFamilies Are DifferentAn adopted Korean girl discovers that her classmates have An adopted Korean girl discovers that her classmates have different types of families.different types of families.

The Kissing Hand The Kissing Hand by Audrey Pennby Audrey PennA reassuring story about love for children facing challenging A reassuring story about love for children facing challenging situations.situations.

Career Day Career Day by Lizzy Rockwellby Lizzy RockwellEach child in a class brings a visitor to tell about their work.Each child in a class brings a visitor to tell about their work.

Lots of Dads Lots of Dads by Shelley Rotnerby Shelley RotnerA picture book with simple text showing lots of different dads.A picture book with simple text showing lots of different dads.

Lots of Moms Lots of Moms by Shelley Rotnerby Shelley RotnerA picture book with simple text showing lots of different moms.A picture book with simple text showing lots of different moms.

Even More Books About FamiliesEven More Books About Families

One Hundred Is A Family One Hundred Is A Family by Pam Munoz Ryanby Pam Munoz Ryan

Groups making up many different kinds of “families” introduce Groups making up many different kinds of “families” introduce

the numbers from one to ten and then by tens to one hundred. the numbers from one to ten and then by tens to one hundred.

A nice math connection.A nice math connection.

Mama and Daddy Bear’s Divorce Mama and Daddy Bear’s Divorce by Kathy Parkinsonby Kathy Parkinson

A book about the feelings of a young child when her parent’s A book about the feelings of a young child when her parent’s

divorce.divorce.

Mama’s Little Bears Mama’s Little Bears by Nancy Tafuriby Nancy Tafuri

A story about a mother’s love for her young cubs as they A story about a mother’s love for her young cubs as they

become independent.become independent.

* There are many wonderful books about families. Provide books * There are many wonderful books about families. Provide books specific to the needs of your classroom and also expand their specific to the needs of your classroom and also expand their horizons with books depicting families that are not represented horizons with books depicting families that are not represented in your classroom.in your classroom.