Students become familiar with the area around the school in a short period of time. Use a large box, such as a television or sound system box, and create a diorama of the neighborhood to help first-grade students orient themselves to the area. Include corners where the crossing guards patrol, playground areas, bus loading and unloading zones and places where students find parents. Note any important landmarks such as the flagpole or where students gather during a fire drill.
Many community members offer services that create a healthy environment. Have first-grade students cut out figures of service providers, such as firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses or garbage collectors and place them in the diorama. Ask students to find pictures of these professionals doing their job, if possible. Ask them to explain what these people do and how they serve the community. Allow students to tell any stories they have about interacting with these professionals.
Communities use many signs that help people navigate safely and find necessary locations. Have the first-grade students create dioramas that include some of these signs, such as traffic lights, street signs and directional signs. Look at the shapes of these signs and point out facts, such as stop signs are always red and octagonal, uses of crosswalks and how to follow crosswalk or traffic lights. Use the dioramas to promote safety discussions. Help students use the dioramas to demonstrate the information provided by the signs and how to use them.
The community shelters more than people. Most contain many different kinds of wild and domesticated animals. Have the first-grade students identify the kinds of animals they see regularly, such as dogs, cats, birds, squirrels and insects. Include pictures of these animals in a diorama in the places they might often live, such as squirrels and birds in trees or dogs and cats in and round homes. Instruct students to watch for signs of other animals, such as frogs, snakes and lizards to add to the habitat.