Stormey Wright and Jessica Myer

ELED 570
Community Resource List
Jamestown VS.3
Jamestown Representative- Bringing in a worker from the historical Jamestown site out of
Williamsburg, Virginia will engage students as the representative will dress and act as a
colonist during the time of English settlement in Jamestown. Not to mention, it will make
learning about history so much more fun! It will also provide students with meaning, as they
will be able to relate and connect the information they have been learning in the classroom to
a real person. Additionally, this expert would serve as a motivational force as students will be
required to present a product to the representative. In return, the representative would give
students his input, and the students will gain deeper insight into colonial life during
settlement in Jamestown. Students will be able to reflect and use the information received by
the representative to revise their products. At the end of the unit, the students could attend a
field trip to this historical site to further their understanding of colonization.
Native American Heritage Organization Member- Like the colonial representative from
Jamestown, students will be able to relate to Native Americans during English colonization
by having a representative come into the classroom. The representative would be from a tribe
in the area of Jamestown during colonization. Depending on the class, there might even be a
relative of a student who falls into this category! A Native American representative will serve
as a connection between the classroom and the real world. Unlike the English settler
representative, this person will be a modern day Native American, who can connect the past
to the present. The representative can explain the effects settlement had on his/her tribe and
his/her own life, as giving a personal narrative! This authentic audience could join the class
as the students present their journal entries that take on the perspective of Native Americans
during the time of English colonization.
Life Processes 3.4
Gamekeeper/game warden- With an invitation to have this community resource come to
class, students will have the opportunity to receive feedback on their projects and ideas from
someone who studies and preserves animals for a living. These community workers will be
able to give insightful information on not only animals that are living in specific habitats
today but will gain insight on their behaviors and adaptations over time, especially with
human/manmade developments popping up all around them.
Wild life management expert- This community resource offers many of the same benefits
of the gamekeeper, however it is always helpful to have as many opinions and engage in as
many conversations on a topic as possible. The students may also find the presentation of
information and feedback to be more helpful in one or the other.
Local hunter/farmer- With a visit from a local farmer and hunter, the students will see the
importance of the preservation of our natural resources and why there is such an emphasis to
not overuse and pollute. Students will also have a chance to see and discuss how humans use
physical adaptations to blend into their hunting environment. This can be used for hunting
for food, hunting to protect livestock, and simply observing wildlife that may be roaming
around the farm.

Field trip to a Zoo- As we take a trip to the Zoo, students will be able to hear from
professionals about how animals have adapted. This will help them with their Zoo
Dilemma project at the end of the unit. Students will also have a visual, real life connection
to make to their in-class learning. This trip can also incorporate other content areas with
measurement of habitats, the history of the animal behavior, migration, and story writing.
JMU professor (Dr. Barnes)- Students would receive wonderful feedback on their project
and ideas, as well as be presented with engaging pictures, activities, and information
provided by a wonderful scholar from James Madison University.

Social Studies:
Relative, friend, community member that practice different religions- Bringing experts
on different religions into the classroom will not only allow students to listen to personal
accounts of religion (allowing them to relate to the content), but it will also prevent bias
teaching on the teachers behalf. Over the course of the year, different people can be brought
in to deepen students understanding, empathy, and respect for different cultures. This will
help create an atmosphere where diversity is accepted.
Frontier Culture Museum Representative- When discussing cultural universals, bringing
in a representative from the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia would be
engaging and very informative for the students. The students could be assigned to do a
project on a specific cultural universal. When the representative comes into the classroom,
he/she can provide information on how that cultural universal is seen at the different sites at
the Frontier Culture Museum. In addition to the cultural universals, students will see how
humans and their tools have changed over time to adapt to their environment.
Mayor of Harrisonburg- The Mayor of Harrisonburg can be brought into the classroom as
the students are learning about government. Prior to the visit, the teacher could have the
students come up with a law for Harrisonburg, divide the class up into three groups
representing the branches of government, and have the students simulate their role in
making/passing the law. The students can present this simulation to the mayor during his
visit. Ask him to describe what his role would be in this law making/passing process, plus the
other duties he possesses.
Farmers Market Vendor- Having a vendor from the local farmers market will be
extremely relatable to students, as it is an important part of their community. This guest could
come into the classroom when the students are learning about the economy, trade, exchange,
consuming, producing, etc. This will make a difficult topic more meaningful to the students.
New Market Battlefield Representative- When discussing the Civil War, a worker from
New Market will visit the classroom. This site is relatively local; therefore, it will be
meaningful to students. Because of the proximity, they will also be able to make connections
between history and their own lives.
Science:
Doctor- When studying the body systems, a local doctor could be invited to the classroom to
see students models of the different body systems. The guest could provide students with
deeper information and stories that he/she has encountered to make it more interesting!

Navy Corpsman- A navy corpsman would be a very interesting person to bring into the
classroom when studying topographical maps, oceans, and compasses. This expert could
provide thoughtful insight and real life experiences to these content areas.
Botanist/Nursery Worker- A botanist or nursery worker could be brought into the
classroom to further students understanding of plant life, specifically the plant life cycle.
Apple orchard owner/worker- Apple picking is popular in the Shenandoah Valley, so
bringing in a person whose job is to plant and maintain apple trees and the fruit they produce
would be a great way to meaningfully engage students in the apple tree life process. The
project students present to the worker could be different representations of the apple life
cycle.
Guitar player- A guitar is a great example to use when discussing sound (5th grade SOL).
Therefore, a guitar player could come as a guest in the classroom to play for the students and
discuss characteristics of sound, such as pitch and amplitude. Because the guitar is a
commonly played instrument, you may have a students relative or sibling come into the
class. It would be a fun and engaging way to deepen students understanding of sound.

Math:
Carpenter/contractor- Carpenters and contractors build for a living. Therefore,
measurement is an essential part of their job. This type of guest could be brought into the
classroom to show students how measurement is used in the real world.
Architect/Interior Designer- Patterns are an important mathematical concept taught
throughout elementary school. What better way to show the importance of patterns than
bringing in a community member who uses patterns in their everyday life. Architects and
interior designers use patterns in their designs, whether for construction or for visual appeal.
Bank Teller- A bank teller could visit the classroom, specifically the younger grades, as
students learn about currency. The teller could provide students with real life examples and
explain the value of money.
Language Arts:
Frozen audiobook voice- It is interesting to note that the voice of the Frozen audiobooks
lives in Harrisonburg! Since Frozen is a popular movie, it would be a great way to engage
students in the language arts. Perhaps, the students could perform the book for the guest, as
they learn read with fluency and expression (prosody).
Theater person: director, actor, etc.- Writing a play is a great way for students to explore
their language arts abilities. Therefore, after the students have written a play, a local theater
person could come into the classroom and watch the students perform! It would be a great
way to motivate students to put their best effort forward.
Newspaper Representative- In order to enhance students writing skills, students could
pretend they are a newspaper journalist and write an article based on an event occurring in
Harrisonburg. The students could present their articles to the representative, and he/she could
provide students with effective feedback and great resources. Perhaps, the reporter could
share some of his/her own pieces from the local Harrisonburg newspaper.