Stop, Drop and Roll

During Fire Prevention Week, we had a great time pretending to be firefighters and fighting fires.

A firetruck, fire hats and hoses helped us with our dramatization. 

Reading Fire Fighters by Norma Simon, helped us know how to be firefighters.

We took a look at a real fire extinguisher and talk about how and when to use it. 

Then we did some science experiments to show what a fire needs to burn- heat, oxygen and fuel. We talked about never, ever playing with fire or matches and what to do if we ever find a match 

(tell a grown-up).

We lit three candles. 

One we squirted with water to remove the heat. 

We put a glass over the second one. We let the third one burn down to eliminate the fuel (candle).

We let the third one burn down to eliminate the fuel (candle).

Given a big red rectangle, we glued on different shapes to make a firetruck collage. 

Not only was this a great activity for creativity 

(each firetruck was totally unique), 

but as we created, we talked about the shapes we were adding to our creations and the purpose of each shape (windows, doors, wheels, ladders... Some of us used markers to add people and other details). 

Outside in our play yard, we had a ladder obstacle course to practice climbing to put out a fire and ring a bell. 

As we climbed, we sang: 

Hurry, hurry drive the firetruck.
Hurry, hurry drive the firetruck.
Hurry, hurry drive the firetruck.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

Hurry, hurry, ring the bell...
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder...
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

Hurry, hurry squirt the water.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

The ladders provided us with some great eye-foot coordination drills along with lots of fun! 

We also practiced what we would do if there was smoke in our house (we'd get way down on the ground and crawl). Or if our clothes caught on fire- we would stop, drop and roll!

We had a fire drill like we do every month. 

When Ms. Susan yelled "Fire! Get out of the house", We practiced running out the front door to the mailbox which is our meeting place. We know not to stop for coats, shoes or anything else. We just got out and ran!

Outside, we had pretend fires to put out with a fire extinguisher (squirt bottle). Houses and other buildings with fire were drawn on the cement. We squirted them until the "fire" disappeared.

As you can see, we were quite the little firefighers!

As a reminder to not work too hard, we read Even Firefighters Hug Their Moms by Christine Maclean.

We need to talk with our mommies and daddies about what to do if there's a fire at home. We need to pick a special meeting place and practice the things we've learned.