First graders explore God’s call to love others through maps, playdough, and real-life connections.

Hilton Head Christian Academy (HHCA) first graders are discovering what it truly means to be a good neighbor—through reading, hands-on projects, and serving others. As part of their “My Neighborhood” exploration, students combined literacy, Bible study, and real-world experiences to see that neighborhoods aren’t just places—they are communities where people care for one another.

By weaving together reading, service, and faith, first graders are discovering that neighborhoods aren’t just places—they are opportunities to show kindness, gratitude, and love.

In class, students studied what Scripture says about loving your neighbor, then created their own neighborhood maps with buildings they named using consonant-vowel-consonant words. They followed a recipe to make playdough and shared it with their Kindergarten “neighbors,” helping the younger students form letters they are learning.

They also read stories about community helpers—like 👮 policemen, 🩺 doctors, and 💁‍♂️ grocery workers—and learned how each person’s God-given talents can make a difference. To bring the lesson full circle, community helpers will visit the classroom to share about their work and how faith shapes the way they serve others.

We want our students to see that being a good neighbor is more than knowing the people who live nearby—it’s about loving others and using the gifts God has given us to serve.

- Miss Peters, HHCA First Grade Mentor

Discover more HHCA Lower School Inquiry in Action features here.