police officer visit to preschool

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Community Helpers Police Theme for Preschool

Community Helpers Police : This preschool theme will help you to inform children about the role of the police.

Their job is to enforce the law.

They do this in many different ways, by patrolling the streets, getting to know the people who live in the town, helping people who have accidents, directing traffic to avoid accidents and more.

This theme page is filled with preschool lesson plans, activities and ideas for all areas of your classroom.

You'll find more themes to help you with your planning on my  preschool themes page .

Let the Theme Planning Begin!

You can either scroll down through this page to see all of the preschool activities for your theme or click the link below to go to specific preschool activity types you are looking for.

Community Helpers Police Theme Art

Paper Officers

Materials Needed: construction paper cut into different shapes (use the colors of you local police uniforms), circles (for faces), markers, wiggly eyes and glue.

Encourage the children to make their officers using the materials.

Fingerprint Pictures

Materials Needed: Washable ink pads, markers and white paper

Show the children how to use their fingertips in the ink pads and print onto paper.

Use markers to make faces on the prints. Many prints put together can make people, bugs, etc.

In advance, cut out badge shapes from manila folders (one for each child); provide aluminum foil, beads, markers, glue and safety pins.

The children decorate their badges and then you pin them to their clothing.

I'd suggest using craft glue as it dries quicker and is not as runny.

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Community Helpers Police Theme Block Center Ideas

Add boxes that are the police station and police cars to the block area.

Community Helpers Police Theme Circle Time Ideas

Circle Time is such a great time for children to learn the social skills of being together as a large group AND to learn more about your theme!

Irk! Stopped the Speeder

sung to Pop! goes the Weasel!

All around the busy town.

The police officer chased the speeder.

The siren sounded "woo, woo, woo."

And IRK! (brake sound), stopped the speeder.

Traffic Cop Song

sung to Do Your Ears Hang Low

Do you drive a car

With a flashing light on top?

When you hold up your hand,

Does the traffic have to stop?

Do you blow a whistle loud,

Standing straight and tall and proud?

You're our friend, the traffic cop!

Snack Recipe Ideas to Cook Up for Your Community Helpers Police   Theme!

Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation! Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific themed questions while making these fun snacks!

Badge Cookies

Use sugar cookie dough, roll it out and use a star shaped cookie cutter to make a badge. Bake as directed and frost!

Community Helpers Police Theme Ideas to Transform Your Dramatic Play Area

Police Station

Add the items you will need. Try talking to the children about what is in a police station.

Some suggestions: a desk, phone, uniforms, hats, badges, a box or area for a jail, etc.

Community Helpers Police Theme Ideas for your Easel--

More Than Just Painting (Although that is always THE favorite in our classroom!)

Provide large star shaped paper on the easel. The children can decorate their "badge" and paint their names on them!

Community Helpers Police Theme Large Group Games To Help Build Preschoolers Muscles While They Have Fun Together!

Follow the Officer

The children play this much like follow the leader. The officer tells them when to cross the street, or to hop across the room.

The difference is that they do what the officer says rather than follow the officer around.

Community Helpers Police Theme Ideas for Your Library 

Book Suggestions for the Library

(I LOVE Amazon, and some of the links below will take you to the Amazon website.  If you do choose to purchase yours through Amazon, they do send me a few cents--which supports my coffee habit! )

Community Helpers Police Theme Activities To Help Your Preschoolers Develop Their Math Skills and Their Small Muscles In Their Hands!

Emergency Vehicle Sorting

Provide many small cars and trucks. Have the children sort them by the type of community helper that uses each.

Police File Folder Match Game

Print out two pictures of items that go along with this theme such as a police hat, badge, handcuffs, police car, uniform.

Tape one of each inside a file folder. Laminate the folder for durability.

Laminate the matching pieces.

The children match and name each item.

VARIATION: Instead of placing one of each inside the file folder, trace out the shape of each for the children to match the laminated pieces to.

Community Helpers Police Theme Music and Movement Activities and Ideas to get your Preschoolers Movin' and Groovin'!

Safety Songs

This is a great theme to teach the children about when and when NOT to call 9-1-1 and how important this number is.  I know most teachers tend to avoid teaching this, but...it can save lives.

Community Helpers Police Theme Activities For Your Sand and Water Table!

Calling All Cars!

Add police and fire vehicles to your sand table this week!

Community Helpers Police Theme Science Activities--for your Preschool Scientists in Training!

Fingerprints   Thank you, Pam for this idea!

Materials needed: paper, index cards, pencils, clear tape, magnifying glasses

Each child’s hand is traced on a sheet of paper.

Children color heavily with a pencil on an index card to make a layer of graphite.

They rub a fingertip on the graphite; stick clear tape on that fingertip and press; pull the tape off and stick to the finger on the hand outline.

Look at the fingerprints with a magnifying glass, and talk about ways police detectives use fingerprints.

Writing Activity Ideas for Your Community Helpers   Police Theme!

Police Officer Maze

Find a maze activity online that has to do with police officers possibly getting to their car, directing traffic, etc. Make a few copies. Color and laminate. Place them in your writing center with dry erase markers.

Miscellaneous Activities for Your Community Helpers   Preschool Police Theme!

Field Trips

Set up a time to visit the local police station for a tour.

Go to main Community Helpers Page for more Community Helper Theme Ideas

Go to the MAIN Themes Page for more Theme Ideas!

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How to Explain a Policeman's Job to a Kindergarten Child

When telling a young child, such as a kindergartener, about topics he doesn't know about, it is best to talk slowly and use words he understands. It's easiest for his retention if you don't get detailed, as this will only confuse the child, and he will likely not understand or will forget what you said altogether. When discussing what a police officer does, highlight what role the officer plays in the child's life.

Show the child a photo of a police officer and tell her that the officer is usually dressed something like this. If possible, point a police officer out to her on the street so she knows what an officer in her region looks like.

Make sure the child knows that police officers serve and protect people. Tell him he can ask a police officer for help if he is in trouble.

Tell her that police officers try to stop bad people from doing bad things, such as hurting others and stealing items. Make sure she knows that the police officer puts the person into his car, takes him to the police station and then tries to figure out if he is responsible for the crime.

Let him know about the various types of police officers. For example, tell him that a person is only allowed to drive her car at a certain speed, and if she goes over the speed limit, she can get a ticket.

Explain where people who do bad things go when they are caught by the police. Tell her they have to go into a prison for a certain period of time, depending on the severity of their crime.

About the Author

Sheri Lamb has been a reporter since 2006 in community newspapers throughout Canada. While she has covered virtually every beat associated with community newspapers, Lamb specializes in sports. In addition to her skills as a reporter, Lamb holds a certificate in computer programming. She also runs a small catering company.

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Community Helper Printable Activity for Preschoolers About Police Officers

Admin Community Helper Printable Activity for Preschoolers About Police Officers

Most children are probably familiar with police officers, but how much do they know about these important community helpers?

• Community Helpers Theme
• Free Printable Worksheets

It is important that we make sure children understand these community helpers are very important because they are who we call or ask for in the event of an emergency. Children need to know how to communicate with the police and that trusting them is important in situations where it could save a life.

One great idea is to arrange for a police officer come to visit your preschool, childcare facility, or elementary school so that children can meet and listen to one. Most local police departments offer this community service and they come ready to discuss basic safety issues with young children. You might even be able to make arrangements to have a police dog visit--those are also great community helpers and kids love animals!

These printables are helpful for doing activities that help children learn about the role of police officers and how they help prevent crime

Printables: Police officer worksheet

This printable features a full-color version and a black-and-white version of this sheet so that kids can color them in if wanted. They need to find five differences between the pictures on the worksheet.

Here are two important safety tips:

1. Learn and memorize your street address and telephone number.

2. Write down your emergency contact number and keep them next to your phone.

Police officer worksheets

These two worksheets are very fun. One has you cut-out and glue together a police car and the other one is a color-by-number worksheet.

It is important that children understand what the law is and why it is important to follow it. Address this using simple terms about how rules keep us safe, and by following laws that keeps our communities safe!

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Home » Themes » People » Police Activities & Fun Ideas for Kids

Police Activities & Fun Ideas for Kids

You have come to the right place if you are looking for fun, engaging and exciting Police themed activities to do with toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners. Our activities are widely used by teachers, moms, dads, child care providers and more!

All our activities are available at no cost and are free to print and share .      

Police Games and Activities

Rub a pencil point several times on paper. Rub the child’s finger in the graphite and stick a piece of transparent tape over it. Then stick the tape onto paper.

After doing several of one child’s fingers, observe that each print is the same. But everyone’s prints are different.

Have child touch a metal box. Pour a line of powder at the edge of the box and “blow” gently. With a soft brush, very lightly brush over the box. Fingerprints will appear.

Allow children to use magnifying glasses to examine prints.

Police Songs, Poems and Finger Plays

Our Friend The policeman has many jobs. They never seem to end. But this you must remember: The policeman is your friend.

The Policeman There on the corner, in his suit of blue, The neighborhood policeman is there to help you. If you get lost, he knows what to do. Just tell him your name and your address too!

The Policeman Sung to ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ The policeman walking down the street, Down the street, down the street, The policeman walking down the street, I wonder who he’ll meet.

Police Officer Police officers are helpers wherever they may stand. (Stand with feet apart, hands on hips.) They tell us when to stop and go by holding up their hands. (Signal stop by holding up hand and go by pointing index finger.)

Police Officers fingerplay Five police officers standing by a door——- One became a traffic cop; then there were four. Four police officers watching over me—- one took home a lost boy, and then there were three. Three police officers dressed all in blue—- One stopped a speeding car, and then there were two. Two police officers—how fast they run! One caught a bad man, and then there was one. One police officer saw smoke faraway. He called the firehouse, and the firemen saved the day.

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Police Activities for Kids: A Police Officer Lesson Plan

• Jacqueline Chinappi
• Categories : Lesson plans & worksheets for grades 3 to 5
• Tags : Teaching grades pre k to 5

The Police Officer

1. Meet the Police

Speak to children about what a police officer is and what he or she does. Teach the students about how police help the community and fight crime. Make sure to teach the children that police officers are good and that children should not be afraid of them. Make sure to reintroduce 9-1-1 and speak about safety and strangers. First-School.ws offers some free downloads and great free stuff related to teaching children about police officers!

2. Read a Book

The Police Cloud by Christoph Niemann

A Day at the Police Station by Huck Scarry

Big Mike’s Police Car by Leslie Mcguire and Joe Mathieu

I Want to Be a Police Officer by Dan Liebman

My Police Car by Dina Anastasio and Luana Rinaldo

3. Coloring

Have children color a picture of the letter P and teach the child that ‘police officer’ starts with the letter P. A worksheet can be found below.

Print out police badges for the children. This download offers both police and EMT badges; print out the badges then allow them to

color them. Print them on cardstock and help the children cut out their creation.

5. Fun With Shapes and Colors

Have children learn about shapes and colors with the worksheets to the right.

6. Fun With Fingerprints!

Teach the children that no two fingerprints are alike…not even siblings, twins, mother & daughter, etc. Have children learn about fingerprints . The link includes an FBI fingerprint chart to print out so that the children can create their own fingerprints.

7. Song Time, Finger Play & Dramatic Play

Great site with finger play activities for not only police officer but firefighter, postal worker & health professionals.

8. Making a Book

Finish up the lesson by having the children look through magazines to find anything police officer/safety related. Allow them to cut and paste these pictures onto a police officer pictures page. By the end of the unit the children will have various collages of community helpers/workers that they can make into a book.

This post is part of the series: Community Helpers Lesson Plans: Units of Study for Labor Day

These series of lessons involve teaching students about Community Helpers such as Teachers, Doctors, Pilots, and Bakers! Plenty of educational material provided for free including alphabet worksheets, math worksheets, crafts, and recipe ideas!

• A Unit of Study Introducing Community Helpers
• Labor Day Lesson Plans: The Astronaut
• Activities for the Community Helper: The Baker
• Teaching Kids About the Community Helper: The Farmer
• Labor Day Lesson Plans: The Firefighter
• Labor Day Lesson Plan: The Police Officer
• Activities to Teach Kids About Doctors and Nurses
• Labor Day Lesson Plans: The Postal Worker Activity
• Airplane Lesson Plans: The Pilot
• Labor Day Lesson Plans: The Teacher
• Review Community Helpers & Hold a Career Day at School

10 Quick and Easy Police Crafts for Preschool Kids

Police officers are community helpers that help keep the whole community and us safe. They protect people, and they help provide peace and order. They implement the law and rescue us when we are in trouble. 

Children will love exploring police officers with these ten crafts that will introduce them to this wonderful job.

1. Paper Bag Police Puppet

Make a police officer puppet with brown paper bags and some creativity. This is perfect for pretend play areas and is used for retelling stories. Children will improve their oral language skills and comprehension as they do this. 

Putting together the craft requires children to cut, glue, and draw designs. These tasks will help improve their fine motor skills. This puppet is perfect to use for the community helpers unit. 

Cut a blue construction paper to cover the front part of the paper bag. Cut out a V on the bottom for the legs. Cut out a slit on top and fold to make flaps. These will become the collars. Glue this under the flap. 

Cut two blue rectangles for the arms. Next, cut two tan half circles for the hands and two tan ovals for the feet. Attach these to the paper bag. Glue the googly eyes on the flap of the bag. Use the marker to add the nose and mouth. 

Next, to make the hat, cut out a blue half circle and attach it to the top part of the flap. Use the marker to add details.

For this activity, you will need: 

• Brown paper bags
• Construction paper 
• Googly eyes

For more information on this activity, go to FantasticFunAndLearning.com .

2. Easy Paper Plate Police Car

Police officers need the police car to do their work well. It helps them reach their destination and patrol the area to keep it safe. This paper plate craft is inexpensive and uses readily available materials. 

Make the cars in different colors to teach children color recognition and patterns. Line up the cars and have children count the number of wheels, windows, and headlights to practice their counting skills. 

To make the police car, cut the paper plate in half. Let children choose the color of tissue paper to use. Let them cut this out into small squares and glue them on the paper plate until fully covered. Let this dry. 

Take a black cardstock and cut out two black circles for the wheels and a half circle for the headlight. Glue these on the car. 

Finally, make the windows by cutting out two triangles from the white cardstock. Trim the edges to make it curved. Stick these on the car.

• Paper plate 
• Tissue paper 

For more information on this activity, go to GluedToMyCraftsBlog.com .

3. Printable Police Officer Craft

This craft is a simple cut-and-paste activity to help children improve their fine motor skills. It can be used as a paper doll or puppet to tell stories. The site has a list of books to go with this craft that highlights the responsibilities of a police officer. 

Encourage children to explore these responsibilities to understand this community helper more meaningfully. This will help children with social-emotional learning as they become aware of the police’s role in the community. 

This free printable can be downloaded from the site. Print and let the children cut this out. For younger children, provide pre-cut pieces for them to work on. Assemble the craft using glue.

 Use this craft to show how police officers differ from other community helpers, such as firefighters or doctors . Let children note the similarities and differences in their uniforms and the tools they use to do their job. 

Doing this will help children think critically and pay attention to details. 

• Printed police officer template

For more information on this activity, go to SimpleMomProject.com .

4. Paper Plate Police Car with Handprint Officers

Children will love making this handprint craft while they learn more about police officers. They will improve their fine motor skills as they trace their hands, cut them out, and assemble the craft. 

Let children use this craft to practice their counting skills. It also goes perfectly with the nursery rhyme “Five Little Policemen.” Doing this will help improve children’s language and memory. Fold one of the fingers after a policeman falls off the bed. 

Take the small paper plate and cut it in half. Let the children paint this blue. Wait for the paint to dry. Let children trace and cut out their handprints on dark blue cardstock. 

Cut out five ovals and glue one to each of the fingers to make the faces, and use the marker to add facial details. Cut out hats from the remaining blue cardstock. Glue these on the police officer’s head. Attach the handprint to the back of the paper plate. 

Cut out one red half-circle for the siren, two black circles for the wheels, and a small half-circle for the headlight. Attach these to the car. Use embellishments such as glitter to make their crafts unique. 

• Small paper plate 
• Paintbrush 
• Embellishments 

5. Paper Police Hat Craft

With this craft, children will be able to explore the role and responsibilities of a police officer. This is great to use for role-playing and pretend play areas. The site suggests using this hat when discussing different careers in the community. 

This craft will help improve children’s fine motor skills as they cut out the template, write words, and assemble the pieces. Use pictures and videos to show what police officers look like and point out their hats. 

Download and print the free template from the site. Cut these out and trace them onto the corresponding color of cardstock. Trace the top part of the hat in blue. Use the gray cardstock for the brim. 

Trace the hat’s band on black and use the yellow construction paper for the badge. Cut out all these pieces and assemble them. 

Glue the top part and brim together. Attach the band in the middle. Use the marker to write “POLICE OFFICER” on the badges. Attach the smaller badge to the hat. 

• Printed hat template
• Clothespins 

For more information on this activity, go to ADabOfGlueWillDo.com .

6. Police Radio Craft

A radio is an essential tool for efficient communication in the police force. Make a replica using readily available materials that will be useful for children during role-playing in the pretend play area. 

Using this craft will lead to children improving oral language skills through spontaneous conversations or using a script. As they assemble this craft, their fine motor skills are enhanced. 

Ensure that the juice carton and the straw are empty, cleaned, and dry. Wrap the juice carton with black construction paper cut to size. Use double-sided tape to adhere the paper on the carton. Insert the straw in the hole. 

Next, cut out a circle and a rectangle from the aluminum foil. Attach the rectangle on the top front part of the carton. Add three colored dot stickers under the rectangle. If unavailable, use markers to add color to regular dot stickers. 

Add the circle foil under the dot stickers. Cut out a small strip of yellow corrugated paper and stick it on the side of the carton. Cut a thin strip of red construction paper and wrap it around the straw. Use a pushpin to make holes in the aluminum circle. 

• Small juice carton with a straw
• Double-sided tape 
• Aluminum foil 
• Dot stickers
• Colored corrugated paper 

For more information on this activity, go to YouTube.com .

7. Police Handcuffs

These handcuffs will help budding police officers arrest their suspects with ease. These will also complete their costume for role-playing and will be a great addition to the pretend play area. 

This is a beautiful craft for teaching children the circle shape. The handcuffs are made up of two different sizes of circles, perfect to teach children the concept of big and small. 

To make the handcuffs, cut the paper towel rolls into rings. Take three of the rings and cut to open. Attach these three to make one big ring using a stapler. Repeat this process to make two equal-sized rings for the wrists. 

Next, cut out six thin rings from the paper towel rolls. Have children paint these in silver and let them dry. Cut these open and attach them to each one to make a chain of paper rings. Use the stapler to secure them. 

Cut the rings on each end and attach them to the large rings for the wrist. Remind children to use these handcuffs gently during play since they will likely break and fall apart if the suspects are too strong.

• Paper towel roll
• Silver paint
• Paint brush

For more information on this activity, go to CreateYourOwnToys.wordpress.com .

8. Police Badge

A police badge is a known symbol that identifies a police officer. The iconic star on the metal shield shape helps people recognize that the person carrying it is one with authority. 

Make this craft to complete the little one’s outfit. This can be used for role-playing in pretend play areas. The site suggests creating a scenario or cases for children to solve, such as missing pets. Start by hiding a stuffed toy around the room. 

Children will need to conduct a police investigation to solve the case. They will pretend to interview witnesses and survey the area. This will help improve their oral language skills, observation, and attention to detail. 

Outline a shield shape and a star on cardboard to make the badge. Cut this out and glue the star on the shield. Once the glue dries, cover it with aluminum foil. 

Trace the star with a marker to give it an embossed appearance. Cut out a long yarn and use sticky tape to attach the badge. This will make it possible for children to wear badges on their necks. 

• Aluminum foil
• Sticky tape 

For more information on this activity, go to CreativeFamilyFun.net .

9. Toilet Paper Tube Traffic Lights

A police officer implements the law. On roads, they keep everyone safe by ensuring that people follow traffic rules. This craft is terrific to use for a transportation theme. 

Exploring traffic rules will allow children to be informed of the consequences of breaking the law and endangering others. Explain that a police officer may deal with a violator. 

Use the book “Red Light, Green Light” by Yumi Heo for children to understand the idea behind these devices. 

Explain the meaning of each color on traffic lights. Use different scenarios of violating the rules to help children understand the concept. This will also help them improve their oral language and reasoning skills.

To make the traffic lights, cut an orange construction paper to size and wrap it around the toilet paper roll. Use the glue to adhere the paper to the roll. Next, trace and cut out three circles of the same size from red, yellow, and green. 

Use a small coin or any circle object for this step. Stick the circles in order on the paper roll. 

• Toilet paper roll 

For more information on this activity, go to ThatKidsCraftSite.com .

10. Water Bottle Police Car

This car craft made from recyclable material is an excellent way for children to have fun while helping the environment. This craft is perfect for community helpers or transportation units. 

Teach children that some vehicles have unique sounds. Show videos of these to help children improve their auditory discrimination skills. 

Point out that the siren on the police car makes this easily identifiable. Show other emergency vehicles that use sirens, such as fire trucks and ambulances. Let children explore the similarities and differences between these vehicles. 

Use a clean and dry water bottle for this craft. Trace and cut out the bottom part of the bottle on blue construction paper. Attach this to the bottle. Next, cut to size the remaining blue paper to wrap around the bottle. Use glue to attach the paper. 

Cut out strips of white and yellow paper. Attach a pair of these on both sides of the bottle. Use a circle puncher to make four black circles for the wheels. Glue these on the bottle.

Use the box cutter to make a square-shaped opening on the bottle. Place the cutout paper inside the opening for the windshield. Add squares from colored paper for the headlights and a star using a puncher for the design. 

• Water bottle 
• Circle puncher 
• Star puncher 

For more information on this activity, go to In-Our-Spare-Time.com . 

Conclusion 

These fantastic crafts will provide an excellent opportunity for children to learn about police officers. It is a great way to introduce a future career for young learners. 

 As they make and play with these, they become aware of the roles and responsibilities of the police as law enforcers, investigators, and even emergency responders. 

Thank you for reading. Come back and check out our other craft articles soon. 

You might also find helpful:

• Light Activities for Preschoolers
• Weather Worksheets for Preschool
• Days of the Week Preschool Songs

Home » Preschool » Preschool Arts and Crafts » 10 Quick and Easy Police Crafts for Preschool Kids

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Community Helpers Preschool Themes- Police

An important community helper theme for preschoolers is the police man. They should learn what to say when they get lost and know some basic safety rules.

Personal Safety

Let them use a toy phone to practice dialing 9-1-1

Help your children learn to say their name, address, and telephone number.

Invite an Police Officer from your local police department to visit your group and explain safety rules for the children to follow. It is helpful to prepare a few in advance.

Traffic Safety

Talk with your children about traffic lights and what the colors red, yellow, and green mean.

Traffic Signs: Using appropriate colors of poster board and make a set of familiar traffic signs: a stop sign, a yield sign, a one-way sign.

Police Theme Crafts

Here is a police officer coloring sheet if you would like, it is a little small, but makes a useful tool in teaching kids how important it is to recognize a police officer if they are ever lost or in trouble.

Download this coloring sheet of a police badge for kids to put their names on if they want to be a cop themselves.

Dramatic play should help a lot with driving home the point that police officers are very helpful in bad situations, if you can practice with them and let them be the police officer I’m sure you could let them be the hero of the situation and they could find several items you may have lost, such as your pets, or your husband. Have a great day!

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Preschool Police Theme Activities

Preschool police activities are engaging and educational games designed to teach young children about safety and law enforcement in a fun and interactive way. These activities help children learn important concepts such as following rules, understanding the role of police officers, and practicing safety measures.

Preschool police activities create a positive and engaging environment for young learners as they explore themes related to law enforcement and community safety. By participating in these activities, children can develop a sense of responsibility, learn about the importance of rules and regulations, and gain knowledge about basic safety practices.

These activities often incorporate storytelling, role play, arts and crafts, and outdoor games, providing children with a well-rounded learning experience that contributes to their early development. Engaging in police-themed activities can also foster positive attitudes towards law enforcement and encourage children to become active and responsible members of their community.

In this Article You Will Read

Importance Of Teaching Preschoolers About Police

Teaching preschoolers about the role of the police is crucial in shaping their understanding of safety, trust, and community well-being. By introducing police-related activities at a young age, children can develop a positive perception of law enforcement, while gaining essential knowledge about promoting a safer society. This early exposure can help instill a sense of security and responsibility, fostering a culture of cooperation and respect for the police force. Below, we delve into the significance of teaching preschoolers about the police through various engaging activities.

Building Trust In Law Enforcement

Empowering preschoolers to familiarize themselves with the concept of law enforcement helps in establishing a foundation of trust. By showcasing the police as friendly helpers and problem solvers, children can perceive them as allies in times of need. Through constructive activities, such as role-playing scenarios or story-based lessons, educators can effectively communicate the positive impact of law enforcement, subsequently building trust and confidence in young minds.

Community Safety Awareness

Educating preschoolers about the role of the police in ensuring community safety is essential for promoting a culture of responsibility and vigilance. Encouraging discussions around basic safety measures, emergency procedures, and the significance of following rules can strengthen children’s awareness of their surroundings. Introducing interactive activities, like creating safety posters or learning about emergency contact numbers, can empower preschoolers to actively contribute to a secure community environment.

Incorporating Police Activities Into Preschool Curriculum

Police activities can be a valuable addition to a preschool curriculum, offering children the opportunity to learn about safety, community helpers, and the important role of law enforcement in our society. By incorporating police activities into the preschool curriculum, educators can create interactive and engaging learning experiences that encourage children to develop a positive perception of law enforcement while also instilling valuable life skills.

Learning Through Role-playing

Incorporating role-playing activities into the preschool curriculum enables children to actively engage in scenarios that involve the police. Through role-playing, preschoolers can learn about the responsibilities of police officers, emergency procedures, and the importance of following rules. These activities not only enhance cognitive development but also promote social interaction and problem-solving skills. By assuming roles such as police officers, children can gain a deeper understanding of the role of law enforcement in their communities.

Interactive Storytelling Sessions

Engaging preschoolers in interactive storytelling sessions focused on police activities can foster a better understanding of safety and community helpers. Through interactive storytelling, children can learn about the role of police officers, the importance of following safety rules, and the ways in which law enforcement helps the community. Incorporating interactive elements such as props, costumes, and open-ended questions can enhance children’s comprehension and critical thinking skills, making the learning experience both enjoyable and educational.

Fun And Educational Preschool Police Activities

Crafts and arts projects.

Engaging preschoolers with crafts and arts projects centered around police themes not only develops their creativity but also educates them about the importance of law enforcement. Creating police badge crafts or fingerprint art can be both fun and educational for the little ones. Let their imaginations soar as they design their own police cars using simple materials like cardboard, paper, and paint.

Sensory Play Stations

Introducing preschoolers to sensory play stations with a police twist can be both entertaining and educational. Setting up an obstacle course simulating a police chase can allow children to engage in physical activity while learning about the agility and swiftness required in law enforcement. Including sensory bins with miniature police figures and themed textures like shiny badges or slippery “crime scene” goo can captivate their senses and spark their curiosity.

Scavenger Hunts

Organizing scavenger hunts with a police theme can be an exciting way to teach preschoolers problem-solving skills while incorporating elements of law enforcement. Creating clues and hiding them around the play area can reinforce the idea of following clues to solve mysteries—similar to how police detectives work. Incorporating simple puzzles or riddles can also stimulate their cognitive abilities and encourage teamwork as they work together to uncover the hidden treasures.

Teaching Safety And Emergency Awareness

Preschool police activities are an engaging way to teach young children about important safety rules and emergency awareness. These activities help children understand the role of emergency personnel and how to respond in emergency situations. By integrating these activities into the preschool curriculum, educators can instill valuable safety knowledge in young minds.

Basic Safety Rules

When teaching preschoolers about safety, it’s crucial to start with basic safety rules that are easy for them to understand and remember. These rules often include concepts such as looking both ways before crossing the street, wearing helmets while riding bikes, and not talking to strangers. Through interactive games and role-playing activities, children can grasp the importance of these rules in a fun and engaging manner.

Identifying Emergency Personnel

Another essential aspect of teaching safety and emergency awareness is helping preschoolers identify emergency personnel . This includes learning about police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. Through storytelling, show-and-tell sessions, and visits from local emergency responders, children can gain a deeper appreciation for the vital role these individuals play in keeping communities safe.

Developing Respect For Authority

Preschool police activities play a crucial role in instilling important values such as respect for authority in young children. By introducing engaging and interactive activities focused on the role of police in society and respectful conduct towards police officers, preschoolers can develop a positive and respectful attitude towards authority figures.

Role Of Police In Society

Children can learn about the role of police in society through interactive activities that highlight the importance of law enforcement in maintaining safety and order. Teaching preschoolers about the responsibilities of police officers in protecting the community and enforcing laws can help them develop a positive perception of law enforcement.

Respectful Conduct Towards Police Officers

Engaging in activities that emphasize respectful conduct towards police officers can help preschoolers understand the significance of showing respect to authority figures. Role-playing scenarios where children interact with pretend police officers can teach them about using polite language, following instructions, and showing appreciation for the work of law enforcement personnel.

Fostering Positive Relationships With Law Enforcement

It’s never too early to start fostering positive relationships with law enforcement. Engaging preschoolers in police activities creates a bond between the community and the police, promoting trust and understanding.

Community Visits And Interactions

Introducing preschoolers to members of law enforcement through community visits and interactions fosters a sense of trust and familiarity. These visits are an opportunity for students to see police officers in a positive light, making their presence less intimidating and more approachable.

Friendly Police Storytime Sessions

Conducting police storytime sessions allows preschoolers to engage with law enforcement in a fun and educational way. Officers can read books, share safety tips, and answer questions, creating a friendly and approachable image of the police.

Engaging Parents In Preschool Police Activities

Engaging parents in preschool police activities is vital for creating a supportive learning environment and fostering a positive relationship between families and law enforcement. By involving parents in various events and workshops, we can strengthen the community bond and educate families about safety and police roles.

Family Participation Events

Preschool police activities can include family participation events that encourage parents to engage with their children in educational and fun experiences. These events may comprise interactive sessions where families can learn about safety protocols, role-play potential scenarios, and bond with law enforcement officers. Through these events, parents can actively participate in their children’s learning and gain a deeper understanding of how the police play a crucial role in maintaining community safety.

Parental Education Workshops

Conducting parental education workshops is an effective way to involve parents in preschool police activities. These workshops can cover topics such as safety protocols, educating children about emergency procedures, and clarifying misconceptions about law enforcement. By organizing these workshops , we empower parents to support their children’s learning and enhance their awareness of community safety measures.

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Frequently Asked Questions For Preschool Police Activities

How do you teach preschoolers about police officers.

Teach preschoolers about police officers through books, role-playing, and community visits. Discuss their role in helping and protecting. Highlight their uniform and vehicles to make it fun and relatable. Emphasize they are friendly helpers to build trust and understanding.

What Are The Four Responsibilities Of The Police For Kids?

The police have four main responsibilities for kids: protecting them from harm, providing support and guidance, enforcing laws to ensure their safety, and educating them about legal and ethical behavior.

How Are Police Officers Community Helpers?

Police officers are community helpers who maintain peace and safety. They enforce laws, respond to emergencies, and assist people in need. They also build positive relationships within the community.

What Are The Responsibilities Of Police Officers?

Police officers uphold laws, maintain public order, and protect lives and property. They enforce traffic regulations, investigate crimes, and provide assistance in emergencies. Police officers also educate the community about safety and crime prevention.

Incorporating police-themed activities in preschool curriculum can significantly boost children’s learning and development. These fun and engaging activities help kids learn about important topics like safety, community, and problem-solving, while also promoting social and emotional skills. By integrating hands-on and active play, preschoolers can develop a positive outlook towards law enforcement, develop critical thinking skills, and learn valuable life lessons in a safe and supportive setting.

With the right balance of play and education, preschool police activities can effectively prepare young children for the world ahead.

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Continuing with “Community Helpers” month we had a visit from a police officer. The children had the opportunity to climb in his police car, which seemed very exciting for the children. The police officer informed the children to be kind to other and stay in school. What great advice and thanks to Carlos dad!

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Police department visits with preschoolers

Taking the PD’s new K-9 officer to a preschool this week reminded Police Chief Eric Lyons how excited he was about being a policeman at that age.

Lyons and other officers paid a visit to the Stepping Stones Learning Center on Monday to teach students about law enforcement and what they should do during emergencies.

Several officers went to Stepping Stones to interact with the kids who were around 3 to 5 years old, Lyons after they reached out to the department and asked for the officers to set up some activities with the children.

“We told them about being police officers and things they could do to help themselves and their parents, such as seatbelt safety, calling 911 and asking for help,” Lyons said. “We showed them our cars with the blue lights and sirens. Children are always fascinated by that.”

Lyons said he and his fellow officers talked about their uniforms, telling the children all about the aspects of the uniforms.

“We also brought our new K-9 Officer, Met, a Belgian Malinois,” Lyons said. “…The kids of course enjoyed him, and we are looking forward to doing more events like this in the future.”

Lyons said his favorite part of the trip was interacting with the children, teaching them safety and seeing their faces when the lights and sirens came on in the patrol cars.

“It all reminded me of when I was a kid and how excited I was at that age,” Lyons said. “It’s what made me want to get into law enforcement myself. Hopefully, it’s the same for these kids.”

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President Biden consoles families of law-enforcement officers gunned down in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE – President Joe Biden reprised his familiar role as consoler-in-chief on Thursday as he met privately with the families of four police officers killed in a shooting earlier this week in North Carolina.

Biden was already scheduled to travel to Wilmington, North Carolina, to deliver a speech on rebuilding infrastructure and creating good-paying jobs. The White House added a stop to Charlotte to his itinerary.

Biden met with family members at the North Carolina Air National Guard base, situated at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where Biden stopped for more than two hours during his North Carolina swing. It was not immediately clear how long Biden met with the families.

The four officers were killed Monday when a gunman with a high-powered rifle opened fire on them from the second floor of a residence while a task force made up of officers from several agencies was attempting to serve a felony warrant in Charlotte. Multiple officers were hit, and the other task force members called in reinforcements.

As local police arrived and began to rescue the downed task force members, more gunfire came from the house and additional officers were struck, police said.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Killed were Sam Poloche, 42, and Alden Elliot, 46, both with the state's Department of Adult Correction; Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr., 48, of Mooresville, North Carolina; and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Joshua Eyer, 31.

Four other officers were wounded in the attack.

More: Investigators continue piecing together Charlotte shooting that killed 4 officers

The gunman, identified as 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr., exited the house with a firearm and was shot by police. He was pronounced dead on the front lawn.

In a statement on Monday, Biden described the fallen officers as “heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us.” The death of a police officer is “like losing a piece of your soul,” he said.

Biden's meeting with the families of the slain officers in Charlotte also included officers wounded in the shooting, along with other law enforcement officers and elected officials.

Biden has been forced to take on the role of consoler-in-chief multiple times during his presidency, comforting the families of hurricanes, tornados and other natural disasters, along with the victims of mass shootings in cities ranging from Buffalo to Las Vegas and Uvalde, Texas to Lewiston, Maine .

Contributing: Joey Garrison. Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @mcollinsNEWS.

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The History of the World: Nixon visits Moscow

The history of the world: sixth edition.

• May 22 nd 2013

22 May 1972 The following is a brief extract from The History of the World: Sixth Edition by J.M. Roberts and O.A. Westad.

In October 1971 the UN General Assembly had recognized the People’s Republic as the only legitimate representative of China in the United Nations, and expelled the representative of Taiwan. This was not an outcome the United States had anticipated until the crucial vote was taken. The following February, there took place a visit by Nixon to China that was the first visit ever made by an American president to mainland Asia, and one he described as an attempt to bridge ‘sixteen thousand miles and twenty-two years of hostility.’

When Nixon followed his Chinese trip by becoming also the first American president to visit Moscow (in May 1972), and this was followed by an interim agreement on arms limitation – the first of its kind – it seemed that another important change had come about. The stark, polarized simplicities of the Cold War were blurring, however doubtful the future might be.

Reprinted from THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD: Sixth Edition by J.M. Roberts and O.A. Westad with permission from Oxford University Press, Inc. Copyright © 2013 by O.A. Westad.

J. M. Roberts CBE died in 2003. He was Warden at Merton College, Oxford University, until his retirement and is widely considered one of the leading historians of his era. He is also renowned as the author and presenter of the BBC TV series ‘The Triumph of the West’ (1985). Odd Arne Westad edited the sixth edition of The History of the World . He is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics. He has published fifteen books on modern and contemporary international history, among them ‘The Global Cold War,’ which won the Bancroft Prize.

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Peace Through Strength? When Nixon Went to Moscow

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On May 22, 1972, Richard Nixon became the first American president to visit Moscow, the capital and largest city of what was then the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The nine-day summit came on the heels of Nixon’s more famous visit to China earlier in the year, when he and Chairman Mao reinitiated Chinese-American relations and began a long process of reintegrating the two societies’ political, cultural, and economic institutions. (Nixon, in 1959, visited Moscow as vice-president, something I’ll write about it July, so stay tuned!)

So why did Nixon, one of the most ardent anti-Communists in American politics during the late 1960s and early 1970s, go to Moscow at the height of the Cold War? How was he able to even pull it off? The counterintuitive answer is that it was because he was so hawkish. Only Nixon could go to the Soviet Union (and China earlier in 1972).

Nixon’s anti-Communist credentials were so sound that he could spend political capital making inroads with Communist enemies. His actions were viewed as safe by the American electorate because, for better or worse, the public saw Nixon as somebody who would not betray American values at the negotiating table with the Soviets. Nixon’s hawkishness provided moral cover for America’s withdrawal from Vietnam, and its peaceful overtures to the two most powerful and aggressively anti-capitalist regimes in the world (China and the USSR).

This dynamic plays out in a number of examples in the world today, too. Donald Trump comes to mind, of course, but so does Narendra Modi’s populist regime in India (relations between India and Pakistan have never been so peaceful). Xi Jinping’s China can also be viewed in this light. At home, Chairman Xi is a strident nationalist, but abroad, he and his policymakers have been vigorously building multilateral relationships with Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and even the United States using that hawkishness at home as one of its diplomatic cards at the negotiating table. In the past, Otto von Bismarck’s German federation achieved peace on the European continent through strength.

Anecdotally, Republicans from California tend to be a bit more hawkish than their national counterparts. Nixon and Reagan come to mind, but so do many of California’s GOP members in the House of Representatives today. This is due, in part, to the fact that California is so far to the left that GOP operatives have to distinguish their differences with Democrats in a more pronounced manner. California’s Democrats are, for better or worse, viewed as the standard-bearers for all things left-wing today: big government, open immigration (whether legal or not), and world peace. This is a caricature, of course, since people like Nancy Pelosi and Babs Boxer have easily traceable hawkish records on policies like foreign affairs, but that’s just the nature of electoral politics in one-party states and of the narrative of our media establishment. California’s Republicans, outnumbered and always under attack, have no other option but to oppose instinctively their counterparts’ public aura. If the Democrats there are in favor of peace with communists (even if their voting record says otherwise), the Republicans have to go to their constituents and say they are against it.

Nixon was the first president to visit Moscow. FDR had visited the Soviet Union in 1945, but the conference he attended, along with Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin, was held at Yalta, a resort town in present-day Crimea. The Moscow Summit itself was rather interesting, too. Nixon signed numerous accords with the Soviet Union while there, but he did so with numerous heads of Soviet bureaucracies rather than solely with Brezhnev. What this can tell us is that the Soviet Union was far more decentralized in 1972 than many hawkish (and ideological) observers claimed.

After Stalin’s butcherous rein, Khrushchev came to power and tried to eliminate the brutal elements of Stalin’s regime while simultaneously wielding the power Stalin had held. But power thrives on fear and violence, and reformers took advantage of Khrushchev’s less brutal approach to institute a number of reforms in governance, including the dismantling of the General Secretary’s omnipotent position in the USSR’s political hierarchy. What emerged by the time Khrushchev’s successor, Brezhnev, came to govern was a much more decentralized political structure that sought to realize a true union of Soviet socialist republics. The fact that this realization still failed to replace capitalism  as a superior producer of goods, services, and human freedom should not shroud the fact that reform was achieved in the Soviet Union. Indeed, the fact that hard-fought reform in Soviet civil and political life failed to achieve any of the USSR’s economic goals is a strength when pointing out socialism’s long list of failures.

Incidentally, one of the reasons I didn’t include Gorbachev in the l ist of dictators who “gave up” power is because he wasn’t a dictator. Gorbachev inherited a political system that was decentralized and dedicated to representativeness. If anything, the executive branch of the USSR was more decentralized than its American counterpart, a fact illustrated best by Nixon having to sign accords with a number of high-ranking Soviet officials.

So what can all this history teach us about today’s world? I look at hawks and doves. Hawks may make boorish claims, and they may say stupid things, but maybe, just maybe, we should give the hawks a chance.

Brandon Christensen is a weekly columnist at RealClearHistory and a contributor to the site's Historiat blog. He's also a member of the Notes On Liberty blogging consortium and currently writes from Texas.

Deceased suspect identified in fatal shooting of four officers in N.C.

Authorities on Tuesday identified the deceased suspect in the killing of four law enforcement officers who were shot trying to serve him with a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, was killed in an exchange of gunfire Monday after he allegedly fired a high-powered rifle at a U.S. marshals task force that included local law enforcement officers, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.

Hughes also allegedly injured four other officers in the shootout before he was fatally shot in the front yard of the home where officers had attempted to serve him.

The four law enforcement officers killed were Sam Poloche, 42; William "Alden" Elliott, 46, both 14-year veterans with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction; Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr.; and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer, authorities said.

Poloche's wife, Cielo Poloche, said that when she arrived home from work Monday, a sheriff's deputy was waiting to escort her to the hospital.

“I thought something had gone wrong. But when I got to the hospital, he was deceased,” she said. “He served warrants every day. Something was completely different yesterday, and it ended as a tragedy.”

In addition to his wife, Sam Poloche leaves their two sons, ages 18 and 21.

“He loved his job, and I know he was out there caring about what he did," Cielo Poloche said.

One of the injured officers, Christopher Tolley, underwent surgery for a gunshot wound and was in the hospital Tuesday.

Officers Michael Giglio and Jack Blowers were treated for gunshot wounds and released Monday. Officer Justin Campbell, who suffered a broken foot, was released Tuesday, authorities said.

Hughes had a lengthy criminal history dating back almost 15 years, including a conviction for breaking and entering in Person County in 2010, according to NBC affiliate WCNC of Charlotte.

He was arrested in 2012 after making a U-turn to avoid a checkpoint and leading police on a high-speed chase . At the time, he was wanted on several warrants in numerous counties for failing to appear in court, WCNC reported.

He was arrested on multiple drug charges in 2021 and was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest in connection with a Jan. 6 incident in Lincoln County.

Police said Tuesday that they recovered an AR-15 assault-style rifle, a .40-caliber handgun and additional ammunition from the scene.

Deon J. Hampton is a national reporter for NBC News.

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4 law officers serving warrant are killed, 4 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say

Four officers trying to serve a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and four other officers were wounded in a shootout in North Carolina. (April 30)

Four police officers serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and four other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home. (AP video by Erik Verduzco) (AP produced by Javier Arciga)

Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday in North Carolina. (AP video by Erik Verduzco) (AP produced by Javier Arciga)

Police in North Carolina say several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina, have been struck by gunfire Monday afternoon. The officers were from the U.S. Marshals Task Force.

Multiple law enforcement vehicles respond in the neighborhood where several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant were shot in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

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Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles gets choked up as she speaks at a press conference regarding a shooting in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. Several officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday in North Carolina, home, police said. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Members of FBI talk with each other at the scene of a shooting on Galway Drive in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, April 29, 2024, Multiple law enforcement officers were shot while serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm. (Khadejeh Nikouyeh/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings speaks at a press conference after multiple officers were shot while serving a warrant in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte fire department captain Brian Cunningham, right, hugs Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings at a press conference regarding a shooting in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. Several officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday in North Carolina, home, police said. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Police work at the scene of a shooting Monday, April 29, 2024, in east Charlotte, N.C. Officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force were conducting an investigation in a suburban neighborhood when they were fired upon, the CMPD said in a post on X. (Khadejeh Nikouyeh/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

A Charlotte neighborhood where an officer-involved shooting took place in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force were carrying out an investigation Monday afternoon in a suburban neighborhood when they came under gunfire. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

A law officer walks away from the scene of a shooting where multiple law enforcement officers were shot while serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, April 29, 2024. (Khadejeh Nikouyeh/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings, center, leaves the scene where multiple law enforcement officers were shot on Galway Drive in Charlotte, N.C. on Monday, April 29, 2024. Several officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday in a North Carolina, home, police said. (Khadejeh Nikouyeh/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings speaks at a press conference regarding an event where several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant were shot in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Multiple law enforcement vehicles respond in the neighborhood where several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant were shot in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (Khadejeh Nikouyeh/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department officers walk in the neighborhood where a shooting took place in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force were carrying out an investigation Monday afternoon in a suburban neighborhood when they came under gunfire. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

A Charlotte Mecklenburg police officer walks in the neighborhood where a shooting took place in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force were carrying out an investigation Monday afternoon in a suburban neighborhood when they came under gunfire. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

A Charlotte Mecklenburg police officer walks carrying a gun in the neighborhood where a shooting took place in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force were carrying out an investigation Monday afternoon in a suburban neighborhood when they came under gunfire. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

A Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department officer walks carrying a gun in the neighborhood where a shooting took place in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. CMPD says officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force were carrying out an investigation Monday afternoon in a suburban neighborhood when they came under gunfire. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

A Charlotte Mecklenburg police officer walks in the neighborhood where several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant were shot in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

LIVE UPDATES : Shootout that killed 4 law officers began as task force tried to serve a warrant, police say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Four law officers serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and four other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.

Some of the officers who rushed to the Charlotte neighborhood to rescue the first wave of downed officers were wounded as a second shooter began firing on them after they killed the wanted man, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said.

“Today we lost some heroes who were out simply trying to keep our community safe,” Jennings said at a news conference.

After a three-hour standoff, the suburban Charlotte home was torn open. Armored vehicles smashed into it, ripping off windows and entire doorways that were left broken. Several armored vehicles were parked across yards, some with tree branches dangling off them.

The U.S. Marshals Task Force was fired on by the wanted suspect as they approached the house and the man was killed in the front yard, Jennings said. His name was not released, but the chief said he was wanted as a felon illegally possessing a weapon.

A second person then fired on officers from inside the home where a high-powered rifle was found, Jennings added.

A woman and a 17-year-old male were found in the home after the standoff. The two are being questioned, Jennings said.

The Marshal’s Service confirmed one of its agents was killed. Two officers from the state Department of Adult Correction also were killed, said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. The governor was in Charlotte and was speaking to the families of the officers killed and hurt. Their names have not been released.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Joshua Eyer died a few hours later at the hospital, Jennings said. Eyer was named the officer of the month for the force for April a few weeks ago, the chief said.

“He certainty gave his life and dedicated his life to protecting our citizens,” Jennings said.

One other member of the task force, which is made up of federal agents and other officers from across the region was injured.

Three other Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers who responded to the scene were shot while trying to rescue the wounded officers.

Neighbors said gunfire lasted for several minutes.

WSOC-TV said their helicopter captured an armored vehicle driving through yards and knocking over recycling bins before officers removed a person with blood on their shirt who was then loaded into an ambulance.

After the home was cleared, the helicopter pilot said he couldn’t show the front lawn of the home because the scene was too graphic and disturbing.

“A lot of the questions that need to be answered, we don’t even know what those questions are now,” Jennings said, somberly briefing reporters less than four hours after the shooting. “We have to get a full understanding of why this occurred and also uphold the integrity of the investigation.”

Many roads in the area including Interstate 77 were closed so ambulances could get to hospitals faster. TV footage showed ambulances speeding to hospitals escorted by vehicles both in front and behind with their sirens wailing.

Rissa Reign was cleaning her house when she heard the first shots ring out. There was a pause, then a second set of shots and then a third. She stepped outside.

“When we came outside, there were no cops at all, then cops started rushing, rushing, rushing, rushing in,” she said, adding armored SWAT trucks quickly followed and they “were going over the grass, everything, and they started shooting again.”

The neighborhood, of one– and two-story, brick homes and small trimmed lawns, is very safe, said Alex Rivera, who lives on a street nearby.

“I see, like, 50 police cars zooming in, and then I hear gunshots,” he said on the front porch of the house he shares with his cousin. “I was scared, because there was so much going on.“

Another neighbor, William Cunningham, was moved to tears as he sat on his porch. He said he is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm but never expected such violence in his own neighborhood.

“Bless those officers and bless their families,” he said. “Nobody should get killed over a warrant.”

Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were placed on lockdown around afternoon dismissal, but that was lifted in the late afternoon, the district said.

Police urged people to stay away from the neighborhood and asked residents to remain inside their homes until the all clear was given.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting and spoke with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles to express his condolences and support for the community.

“They are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us,” Biden said in a statement late Monday. “We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded.”

The last marshal shot and killed in the line of duty was in November 2018. Chase White was shot in Tucson, Arizona, by a man wanted for stalking local law enforcement officers, the agency said.

The Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force is headquartered in Charlotte and comprised of 70 federal, state and local agencies. Fugitive task forces are collaborations between agencies to find and arrest suspects in crimes.

In six years, the regional task force has apprehended more than 8,900 fugitives, the U.S. Marshals Service said on its website.

In March 2007, two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers were killed while responding to a domestic dispute by someone not directly involved in the fight. Demeatrius Antonio Montgomery is serving a life sentence in the killings of officers Jeffrey Shelton and Sean Clark.

Contributing to this report were Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Rebecca Reynolds in Louisville, Kentucky; and Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Maryland.

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A Classical & Christ-Centered Education

Secondary Curriculum

The secondary school is divided into two stages… grades 7-8 (the Logic Stage) and grades 9-12 (the Rhetoric Stage).

In grades 7-8, the students take the mastered information from the Grammar Stage and bring it into ordered relationships. Students begin to apply logic, assessing the validity of arguments and learning to view information critically with more discerning minds.

In grades 9-12, students learn to articulate eloquently and persuasively, and to use the tools of knowledge and understanding acquired in the earlier stages. This is the point at which the strength of a classical education is made fully visible.

Click here for an overview of the Logos School secondary curriculum.

Click for our 2-page School Profile

The Knight’s Creed and Commitment

Class Schedules

Fall 2023 Finals Schedule    7th-12th grades only.

23-24 Fall Class Schedule     7th-12th grades only.

Senior Course Options: 

By the time students reach their senior year in high school, they have usually developed interests in specific areas. Therefore, they will be given the opportunity to pursue those areas through the following senior course options. These options are designed to allow students the opportunity to learn one or two subjects well. As Dorothy Sayers says, “Whatever is mere apparatus may now be allowed to fall into the background, while the trained mind is gradually prepared for specialization in the “subjects” which, when the Trivium is completed, it should be perfectly well equipped to tackle on its own.” (from The Lost Tools of Learning) These options should aid the transition from the completion of the Trivium to the more specialized study that is a part of a college or university education.

Option 1: College or Online Class

This is a 1 credit option in which a student enrolls in a college or online class. Approved subjects include math, science, theology, humanities, and fine arts. The class must be taken for credit and the student must submit a transcript to receive credit toward Logos graduation. Areas of study that do not qualify are recreational classes and/or self-guided courses with little accountability.

Option 2: Internship

The internship is a 1/2 credit option intended to provide seniors with the opportunity to study a career. Students must work a minimum of 2 hours per week on their internship. A variety of internships have been approved in the past (interning with an elementary or secondary Logos teacher, riding along with police officers, observing at a local vet clinic, etc.). Students are not allowed to be paid for the time they spend as an intern. Parents are responsible to provide oversight and any necessary supervision or screening (background checks, etc.) for this experience.

Procedures for Both Options

1. At least two weeks before the beginning of each semester, students must submit a written proposal to the principal, via email. Late proposals will not be considered. Proposals must describe the following:

a. the main purpose of and goals for the program

b. the work that the student will be doing weekly to achieve these goals (include the website link for online classes)

c. the number of hours per week that the student will be participating in the program

2. Students have two days to resubmit proposals that have been denied.

Guidelines for Both Options

1. Credit will not be granted for work completed before a proposal is approved.

2. Students will receive a grade of E, S, or U at the end of each quarter and semester.

3. Failure to make satisfactory progress in the first semester will disqualify the student from participating in these programs during the second semester.

4. Students may only request approval for one semester at a time.

Dialectic Speech Meet

The following is information for the Dialectic Speech Meet for the 7 th -9 th grade students. Most of the work and grading is done during English class. For the final meet onwards, the students will perform their pieces with students from other classes in the same category. That afternoon during 7 th period there will be an assembly to hear the top performances from each category.

• Mid-December – information goes home
• Mid-January – Selections are due
• Toward the end of January – Piece is presented for a grade
• Beginning of February – Speech Meet

Dialectic Speech Meet Guidelines Dialectic Speech Meet Judge’s Form Dialectic Speech Meet Selection Ideas

Rhetoric Speech Meet

The following is information for the upcoming Rhetoric Speech Meet for the 10 th -12 th grade students. Please note a few differences between the Dialectic Speech Meet of the 7 th -9 th graders and the Rhetoric Speech Meet:

• Poetry must be through the Poetry Out Loud program.
• Readers Theater and the Original Oratory categories are allowed.
• Children’s books and plays are allowed as sources for material.
• There is no memory check. Pieces will be presented once in class for a grade, and once at the meet for a test grade.
• Mid-September – Information goes home.
• Beginning of October – Selections are due.
• Mid-October – The piece is presented for a memory grade.
• Beginning of November– Speech Meet

Guidelines Judging Form Selection Ideas

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Dozens arrested at Columbia University as New York police disperse Gaza protest

NYPD officers move on to campus on Tuesday evening to clear out Hamilton Hall building taken over by protesters, with reports of more arrests at City College of New York

Dozens of students have been arrested after hundreds of New York City police officers entered Columbia University on Tuesday night to clear out an academic building that had been taken over as part of a pro-Palestinian protest.

Live video images showed police in riot gear marching on the campus in upper Manhattan, the focal point of nationwide student protests opposing Israel’s war in Gaza. Police used an armoured vehicle with a bridging mechanism to gain entry to the second floor of the building.

Officers said they used flash-bangs to disperse the crowd, but denied using teargas as part of the operation.

Before long, officers were seen leading protesters handcuffed with zip ties to a line of police buses waiting outside campus gates. An NYPD spokesman, Carlos Nieves, said he had no immediate reports of any injuries following the arrests.

“We’re clearing it out,” police yelled as they marched up to the barricaded entrance to the building.

“Shame! Shame!” jeered many onlooking students still outside on campus.

One protester at Columbia, who gave their name only as Sophie, told the Guardian that police had barricaded protesters inside buildings before making arrests. “It will not be forgotten,” she said. “This is no longer an Israel-Palestine issue. It’s a human rights and free speech and a Columbia student issue.”

The police operation, which was largely over within a couple of hours, followed nearly two weeks of tensions, with pro-Palestinian protesters at the university ignoring an ultimatum on Monday to abandon their encampment or risk suspension. On Tuesday, Columbia University officials threatened academic expulsion of the students who had seized Hamilton Hall, an eight-story neoclassical building blocked by protesters who linked arms to form a barricade and chanted pro-Palestinian slogans.

The university said in a statement on Tuesday it had asked police to enter the campus to “restore safety and order to our community”.

It said: “After the university learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were left with no choice. Columbia public safety personnel were forced out of the building, and a member of our facilities team was threatened. We will not risk the safety of our community or the potential for further escalation.”

The university reiterated the view that the group who “broke into and occupied the building” was being led by individuals who were “not affiliated with the university”.

It added: “The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are championing.”

The New York congressman Jamaal Bowman said he was “outraged” by the level of police presence at Columbia and other New York universities. He said on X: “The militarization of college campuses, extensive police presence, and arrest of hundreds of students are in direct opposition to the role of education as a cornerstone of our democracy.”

Bowman has called on the Columbia administration to stop the “dangerous escalation before it leads to further harm” and allow faculty back on to campus.

Columbia’s president, Minouche Shafik, has requested that police retain a presence until at least 17 May “to maintain order and ensure encampments are not re-established”. Earlier, Shafik said efforts to reach a compromise with protest organisers had failed and that the institution would not bow to demands to divest from Israel.

Separately, the New York Times reported dozens of arrests at City College of New York, part of the City University of New York system (Cuny), when some students left Columbia and moved north to the campus where a protest sit-in was still in effect.

One protester who offered their name as OS, told the Guardian: “We need to keep protesting peacefully and the truth needs to come out. This is a genocide happening in front of us, and the people in power are allowing this to happen.

“It’s scary to speak out because so many people are losing their tuition or being fired from jobs.”

An NYPD official confirmed that Cuny had requested that police enter the campus to disperse protesters.

An encampment at the public college has been going since Thursday and students had attempted to occupy an academic building earlier on Tuesday.

At a Tuesday evening news briefing, Mayor Eric Adams and city police officials said the Hamilton Hall takeover was instigated by “outside agitators” who lack any affiliation with Columbia and are known to law enforcement for provoking lawlessness.

Adams suggested some of the student protesters were not fully aware of “external actors” in their midst.

“We cannot and will not allow what should be a peaceful gathering to turn into a violent spectacle that serves no purpose. We cannot wait until this situation becomes even more serious. This must end now,” the mayor said.

Neither Adams nor the university provided specific evidence to back up that contention.

One of the student leaders of the protest, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian scholar attending Columbia’s school of international and public affairs on a student visa, disputed assertions that outsiders had initiated the occupation. “They’re students,” he told Reuters.

Hamilton Hall was one of several buildings occupied during a 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam war protest on the campus. This week, student protesters, displayed a large banner that reads “Hind’s Hall”, renaming it in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl from Gaza City who was killed by Israeli forces earlier this year.

A Columbia journalism student, Samaa Khullar, said on X that she and her journalism school colleagues were trapped on one block surrounded by police barricades. “All I can document right now are students getting put on one of the buses.”

On Tuesday night, Columbia’s student radio station reported that Jelani Cobb, the dean of the journalism school, was threatened with arrest if he and others in the building came out. “Free, free, free Palestine,” chanted protesters outside the building. Others yelled: “Let the students go.”

At Cuny as the police moved off, one student said: “We de-escalated, and now the police are leaving. We’re proud of standing up for something. All we’re saying is we’re not happy university tuition fees are being used to fund wars, and we want to see what we can do about it, but without violence.”

At least 1,000 supporters of the campus protests assembled at 1 Police Plaza to greet detained protesters as they were released by police one by one.

Many greeting them said the night’s events had not dulled their determination to continue, or had in fact increased it. “The solidarity and energy of the movement is strong,” said one Barnard student waiting for their friend to be released. “This will not end until our purposes are achieved.”

Members of neturei karta, the fringe anti-Israel orthodox Jewish group, also assembled. “I believe in freedom of speech and the cause of Palestine is a righteous cause, and criticism of Israel is not antisemitism,” said Rabbi Dovid Feltman.

Reuters contributed to this report

• US campus protests
• Universities
• US politics
• Israel-Gaza war

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