Employment Opportunities: Turning Classroom Jobs Into a Vocabulary Lesson
Introduce work-force vocabulary and assign classroom jobs at the same time.
Grades
3–5
Shake up your classroom job system and introduce new vocabulary with this list of twists on old job titles.
- Administrative Assistant: Passes out and collects papers; keeps track of "appointments" (such as items on the class schedule).
- Assembly Line Manager: Leads the line when the class goes to lunch, outdoors, and so on.
- Board Hygienist: Erases the chalkboards.
- Botanist: Waters the plants.
- Catering Specialist: Collects lunch ticket money; organizes food for snacks or special celebrations.
- Census Taker: Takes daily attendance.
- Circulation Supervisor: Organizes the classroom library; retrieves and returns books to and from the school library.
- Class Emissary: Delivers messages to and from the office or other classrooms.
- Class Historian: Writes a brief account of the important events of the week (at the end of the year, you'll have a complete book).
- Computer Technician: Turns on and shuts down classroom computers; helps other students with technical difficulties.
- Environmentalist: Keeps track of recyclable materials; organizes classroom recycling center.
- Fire Chief: Leads students outdoors for classroom or school-wide fire drills.
- Human Resources Director: Assists in organizing classroom jobs, rotating the display board, and so on.
- Inventory Chief: Keeps track of classroom supplies; organizes supply shelves.
- Meteorologist: Records daily weather; reminds students to put on weather-related gear (such as coats, mittens, or sunscreen) when going outdoors.
- Paramedic: Walks students to nurse's office; carries first-aid kit to recess time.
- Postmaster: Collects and drops off incoming and outgoing mail.
- Sanitation Engineer: Leads students in cleaning up after craft projects or snacks.
- Veterinarian: Cares for class pets.
- Window Dresser: Helps brainstorm ideas for bulletin boards and/or window and door decorations.
