One of the best ways for children to be exposed to lots of information and to connect them with their community is to invite community members to come into our classrooms. Some community agencies, like the police and fire departments have community resource staff who go out into the community to educate people and children. You might see them at a community parade or health fair hosting a booth with written information about safety available for the public. We can invite other professionals to come and share their knowledge as well, like dentists, doctors and nurses. Usually this will be easier to arrange if we have a parent in our classroom that is one of these health or safety or nutrition professionals. Another option is to plan a field trip. There are community locations where children can pick fresh fruit or veggies. community gardens where you can tour, some grocery stores will give children a tour behind the scenes. Even local restaurants sometimes offer field trips! Your post this week will be a community connection for a class of preschool-aged children. 3-5 years of age. Think about how you will prepare the presenter for the normal behavior of preschool children. Think about: The attention span of the children The fact that they learn best through hands-on experiences Consider how you will limit the passing of germs during the experience If you are going on a field trip, what items will you bring? This post is an introduction to a discussion we will have about planning field trips! This week: You will research a community connection related to health, safety or nutrition. This can be a community member who will come to the classroom to speak with the children or a field trip location in the community, You need to post specific information about the agency or field trip location. I want to post an original community connection, not post the same idea as you can already see in the discussion board. This will require you to be creative and do some community research! Remember this must be a community connection related to health, safety or nutrition. Include the following in your post: What is the name of the community agency, person or field trip location? How do you contact them? Telephone number, website, etc If there is a cost, how much is the fee? For a field trip, what are the directions to the location? How will you get there? Private cars, public transportation? School bus? What will the children learn from this experience? What are your objectives and purpose for planning this experience? If a person is coming to your classroom, how will you help prepare them for their presentation? What questions will you ask them so that you will have what they need ready for them