Materials
several empty paper towel or wrapping paper rolls
tape
red and white paint
paintbrushes
stuffed animals or dolls with smooth heads
scissors
hair dryers (plugs removed)
empty, clean shampoo bottles
razors without blades or shavers (plugs removed if using old electric shavers)
empty, clean shaving cream and after-shave bottles
magazines and chairs for waiting area
Instructions
1. While learning about community helpers, invite a detective from your local
police force to visit the classroom. Ask him or her to explain what a detective
is and how detectives do their job. Remember to keep information
developmentally appropriate for your age group. If you cannot get a real
detective to visit, ask someone you know to pretend to be one.
2. Turn your housekeeping area into a "detective agency." Add two small tables,
chairs, and other props.
3. Put four trench coats and hats in the dress-up area.
4. Make an "open/closed" sign by writing OPEN on the front of a piece of poster
board and CLOSED on the back. Hang it at the entrance of the area.
5. Open the agency by flipping the sign to the OPEN side. Let four children be
detectives at a time. Encourage the other children to visit or call the
detective agency for help finding things.
6. Hide something in the room, such as a teddy bear. Ask the detectives to find
your lost bear. Encourage the "detectives" to ask the other children if they
have any information on the lost bear. Remind them to use cameras to take
pictures of the clues, and the clipboards and pencils to take notes.
7. For added fun, ask the center director or another classroom teacher to hide
something in the center. Have him or her come to the room and "hire" the
detectives to find the "lost" item. Remind the children to ask for details about
what was lost and to take notes on the clipboard. Supervise the group as
they look for the lost item in the center. Provide enough clues so they find
the item (but not too easily).
