Developed by: Jennifer Jones

Level: K-2

"What's My Bag?"

Standards Learning Expectations	This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standards: 4.  Career Awareness and Employment Readiness 5.  Career Information and Career Goals The student will: 4.2  Define work and recognize that people work 5.1  Identify jobs within the classroom 5.2  Identify jobs of workers in the community
General Approach	The students will investigate what different workers do by identifying the various totes and tools that they use.
Activity Steps	1.  Come up with at least two different kinds of "bags" that workers in the community might use: for example, a briefcase, a mailbag, a medical kit, a purse, a diaper bag, or a toolbox.      2.  In each bag, put safe items that relate to the tasks associated with a particular job.  If the "real" items can't be found, substitute toys or even colored pictures of them.            Here are some links for medical tools . Stethoscope Thermometer Band-Aid           Here are some links for construction tools. Tools 1 Tools 2      3.  Gather children in a circle, and lead them through a discussion.           a.  Start by noting, "Workers carry all kinds of bags.  I have some different bags here with me."           b.  Note the bags individually, and discuss what kind of worker might carry them and what kinds of tools might be in them.           c.  Give the students chances to guess and to discuss.           d.  Pass at least one bag around to allow the students to take out items, and to discuss what they are and how they are used.           e.   Go beyond the present bags, inquiring, "Who do you know that carries a bag with them to work?  What kind of work does that person do?  What kinds of tools does that worker have in their bag to help them?"  Note some non-traditional "work" bags, like a diaper bag or purse, and how those are used.            f.  Engage the students' own interests by asking, "What kind of work would you like to do?  What kind of bag and tools would you need for that work?"      4.  Give each child crayons and paper, and instruct them to color the bag and tools that they would like to use in their work.  Here is a worksheet to hand out to the students.           You could also pre-select some coloring pages for students to use.  Here are some links to web sites with applicable coloring pages. Ivy's Domain Preschool Coloring Book School to Work Electronic Coloring Book      5.  When they finish coloring, gather the students back into a circle to show and discuss what they colored.
Time Required	Altogether, this activity could take about forty-five minutes.  It could be broken down into two sessions of approximately twenty minutes each: one in which the students go through the bag, and the other in which they color their bags and tools.
Resources Needed	1.  At least two bags 2.  Three tools for each bag 3.  Paper, Worksheet, or Coloring Pages 4.  Crayons
Performance Indicators	Students will be able to: Describe jobs within the school and the community. Identify personal likes and dislikes. Recognize that work has different meanings and that all jobs are important.