JA Our Community Overview | Initial Release

JA Our Community® introduces students to the intersection of work readiness and early elementary grades social studies learning objectives, including how citizens benefit from and contribute to a community's success.

Following participation in the learning experience, students will be able to:

-- Describe a community.
-- Identify the variety of careers people have in a community and how each job requires specific skills.
-- Identify how business and government jobs help a community.
-- Explain how taxation supports government services.
-- Recognize voting as a way responsible citizens act.
-- Describe the flow of money in a community's economy.

JA Our Community is recommended for second-grade students. This volunteer-led, kit-based learning experience is available for classroom-based or remote classroom implementation. It includes five 45-minute sessions, with additional extended learning activities and optional digital assets offered throughout. Spanish translation is available for JA Our Community.

JA Learning Experiences support national and state standards in reading, mathematics, social studies, and work and career readiness. See below for more information on alignment with national and state standards.

Last updated: December 2022

Session	Overview	Objectives	Activities
People in a Community Work Together	Students learn what a community is and the variety of jobs people have in a community.	Students will: Describe a community. Identify the variety of jobs in a community, each needing specific skills.	Required: Present the Illustrated Key Term Flash Cards throughout the program. Perform a choral reading: Lilly Finds a Job. Distribute Job Cards and introduce the Sweet “O” Donut Baker Job Card. Tic Tac Toe, 3 Jobs in a Row! activity.
Sweet "O" Donuts	Students learn that workers who produce goods and services earn money for their work.	Students will: Define the terms produce, production, goods, and services. Apply innovation to the production process. Explain that people in a community earn money by performing work.	Required: Introduce the terms goods and services. Students make donuts and then draw and describe new donut flavors. Post the Sweet “O” Donuts Production Poster with Production Record Chart on the back.
Business and Government Jobs	Students explore how money earned for work moves through a community and the impact of that money on people, businesses, and government.	Students will: Locate businesses and identify government careers. Discuss how taxation supports government services.	Required: Adhere business stickers to the How Does a Community Work? Worksheet. Students get paid and pay taxes. Re-distribute the Job Cards used in Session One. Students with government jobs play a memory game with the class.
Let's Vote!	Students participate in a decision that benefits their school communities. They vote to express their choices and to determine the majority’s will.	Students will: Apply a decision-making tool. Recognize voting as a way responsible community citizens act and contribute.	Required: Discuss three ways to “Keep Our School Beautiful!”. Distribute ballots and have students vote for one idea; tally the ballots. Identify school staff who can help with the new initiative.
Money Moves in a Community	Students learn about money and how it moves in a community.	Students will: Identify coins and terms. Describe how money flows through a community’s economy.	Required: Student pairs identify coins and play the Money Matchup Card game. Students listen and perform the new “Money Moves” rap song with chorus. Perform the Business Table Tents and Quarter Card activity.

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