Our  Community   -  2nd Grade   Our Community explores the interdependent roles of workers in a community, the work they perform, and how communities work. Five required, volunteer-led activities. The key learning objectives listed beside each activity state the skills and knowledge students will gain. A Correlation Between  Pennsylvania Academic Standards and Junior Achievement's    "Our Community" Program       Description   Key Learning Objectives   Activity One: How Does a Community Work? Students study a poster illustrating a community to identify typical jobs. They develop an awareness of how people live and work together in a community.          Objectives: The students will: -identify a variety of jobs in the community -recognize how people live and work together in a community -become aware of a wide range of job opportunities Concepts: community, interdependence, job, wants and needs Skills: decision making, following directions, making observations, matching     Activity Two: Sweet “O” Donuts Students, individually and in teams, use different production strategies to simulate producing donuts.               Objectives: The students will: -define production -compare unit and assembly line production methods -explain that different strategies are used to produce different types of products Concepts: defect, production/ productivity, quality, specialization and division of labor Skills: following directions, interpreting data, making observations, making predictions, role playing, teamwork     Activity Three: The Role of Government Students learn about the economic role of government in a community by identifying services that government provides to its citizens. The students also recognize that government must collect taxes from everyone to pay for these services.     Objectives: The students will: -recognize government jobs in the community -understand why taxation is necessary Concepts: government, taxes, goods, services, benefits Skills: critical thinking, following directions, making observations, matching, role playing   Activity Four: A New Business Students determine the best use for the empty store on the How Does a Community Work poster. The step-by-step decision-making process helps students understand how group decisions are made.     Objectives: The students will: -define choices -use a decision-making model -recognize the need to make informed decisions -take personal responsibility for decisions Concepts: business, choices, resources, trade-offs, vote, ballot Skills: decision making, identifying choices, developing ideas, listening responsively, problem solving, teamwork   Activity Five: Money Moves Students learn about an economy's circular flow of money.     Objectives: The students will: -identify circumstances of money being exchanged for goods or services -recognize how money flows through a community's economy Concepts: bank, economic institutions, circular flow of money, goods, money, services, skills Skills: listening responsively, developing ideas, role playing, making observations, following directions

Comments from Teachers about the program:            

• Our volunteer was wonderful.  The children really looked forward to the lessons.  This program definitely supported our second grade unit on economics.
• Overall, the program went right along with our Social Studies units.  The students really enjoyed participating in the activities.  My volunteer was enthusiastic, but needed to be more prepared and she would have done an even better job.
•  Our volunteer was enthusiastic and professional.  She was able to deal with antsy 2^nd graders and still teach them the concepts they needed.  (She didn’t even grit her teeth when she had to repeat and repeat and repeat . . .:) The activities and concepts tie in exactly with our social studies–communities, worker, needs, earning, taxes, businesses, production, producers and products, services.
• Our volunteer did an excellent job.  She presented her lessons to the students each week and at the beginning of each new lesson she reviewed what they did in the previous lesson.  The students and I loved her!!! Thank you!  I would love to do it again!
• Our volunteer was completely prepared with activities and materials each time she came.  She had outstanding class control.  The kids loved JA.  What a great program!
• Incredible!!!
• Well done!  Our volunteer is a great presenter and knows how to connect with the students.  Always rewarding and a very important part of our curriculum.
• Our volunteer was very knowledgeable about the second grade program.  This fits so well with our second grade curriculum.
• Excellent job!  It was obvious that our volunteer has done this in years past.  She worked very well with the children and was well prepared.
• Very organized, well prepared---presented goals for each lesson---established positive interactions with student---used a variety of questions and reinforced concepts—clearly stated directions for activities and helpful in individuals (as needed)to complete tasks.
• The JA program is very appropriate for second grade.  The materials presented help to reinforce our Social Studies Curriculum.  I know the students look forward to the visits by the volunteer and also like the materials used during the lessons.
• Our volunteer is an excellent JA presenter.  She makes the lessons fun for the students.  She has an excellent grasp of the second grade JA curriculum.
• Our volunteer was very organized and taught extremely good lessons using the materials provided.  The children enjoyed the lessons and learned a great deal about the community.  I have had Junior Achievement lessons in my classroom for the last few years and am extremely pleased with the lessons and materials.
• She did a fantastic job.  She is a natural and the students learned a lot.  It was a great beginning to our study of the Carlisle community.
• Our volunteer was enthusiastic and timely for all presentations.  The students enjoyed having her come.  Her company provided several items that the students used during their JA lesson and then were allowed to keep.  What a treat for them.  She did a great job—but I would suggest that more age-appropriate vocabulary be used.

Comments from Volunteers about the program:                

• The entire experience was great!  Loved every minute of it . . . hope I am able to be involved in it again next year!
• The program, as designed, was very complete and provided everything I needed.  I also knew that if I needed any materials/directions that the JA staff would be available to help me.  The experience was terrific and I would encourage other volunteers to participate.  The “Our Community” lesson plans were very engaging and the second graders really enjoyed the activities.
• This was my first time working with a class of this age level, and it was a treat.  The level of interest and enthusiasm was tremendous.
• The support materials are always excellent and the information is clear.  I am appreciative that I have this opportunity to be a part of my child’s learning experience and JA give me this opportunity.  Thank you.
• Rewarding and worthwhile.  I love to see this program in the elementary level and not just at the junior high school level (where I was first introduced.)  Way to go!
• I enjoyed having the fourth class (voting) actually on an election day.  The students could relate to how important their decisions were and compared that with their parents’.
• I enjoy doing the classes and working with the teacher.  She and I have been paired up for a number of years and I love it.
• I gained so much from this experience; I really enjoyed my time with the kids.