Community Helpers Scissor Skills

Start with the straight line pages and move to curvy, zigzag and then shapes as children's cutting gets steadier. Use child-safe scissors and work in a small group so an adult can show how to turn the paper.

A cover and 12 pages that go from easy to hard. Three pages of straight lines, 3 of curvy lines and 3 of zigzag lines each have 3 or 4 strips, where a child cuts from the green dot to take a helper, such as a firefighter, librarian, pilot or bus driver, to a place like the fire station, library, airplane or school bus. The last 3 pages have shapes to cut out: circles with helper pictures, squares and triangles, and stars and houses. The straight line pages read: "Start at the green dot. Cut along the straight line to take each helper to work."

Yes. We made it for Preschool to 1st Grade community helpers, and it works the same at home or at school. Families print it for one child and keep it where they will use it every day. Teachers print a copy per student or one for the whole room, whichever the day needs.

Pick one setting, such as the fire station, post office or doctor's office, print its signs, labels and cutouts, and add a few real props. The badges and the job application form let children choose a role and take turns.

The Community Helper Counting to 10 Clip Cards have an answer key. The rest are open activities, signs and crafts.