Fire Safety Activities Across the Curriculum
Relationship to Illinois Early Learning Standards

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Arts and Aesthetics

*Constructing (26.A.ECd)

  • Construction of the fire extinguisher representation using boxes and junk
  • Construction of the fire truck representation
  • Construction of the model house with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
  • Construction of the smoke alarms using boxes and junk materials

*Creative Dance and Movement (26.A.ECb)

  • Practice stop, drop and roll in case your clothes are on fire

*Dramatizing (26.A.ECb)

  • Dramatize fire calls in the dramatic play room
  • Dramatize fire safety tips in a play that became an iMovie

*Memory Drawing (26.B.EC)

  • Draw fire safety items that experts brought to our classroom
  • Draw items used for fire safety on field experiences
  • Draw memory of fire experiences

*Observational Drawing (26.B.EC)

  • Draw the fire safety items that were shared in the classroom

*Painting (26.B.EC)

  • Finger-paint using red, yellow and orange then cut out a fire for pictures
  • Paint the fire truck representation
  • Paint the play dough fire memory creations
  • Paint then add salt to fire pictures

*Relating art to literature (26.A.ECd)

  • Draw pictures to relate to stories shared about fire safety

*Representations (26.B.EC)

  • Create fire extinguisher representation
  • Create fire truck representation
  • Create house representation with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
  • Create smoke detectors from boxes and junk material

*Responding to music (26.A.ECd)

  • Listen and add movements to the Chicago Fire Song
  • Write the "Snacky Song" to go with the tune of the Chicago Fire Song.

*Singing (26.B.EC)

  • Practice and sing the Chicago Fire Song


Language and Literacy

*Analyzing (5.B.EC)

  • Analyze information from the field experiences (videotape, expert interviews, photographs, building/home tours for fire safety equipment)

*Classifying (5.A.EC)

  • Classify questions that students asked to pursue in study groups
  • Sort and classify information in topic webs

*Comparing (5.A.EC)

  • Compare different fire extinguishers
  • Compare different fire helmets and jackets of the experts and students
  • Compare different smoke detectors

*Critical thinking (5.A.EC)

  • Decide on presentation material for culminating activity
  • Decide what material to include in the fire safety play
  • Predict, hypothesize or theorize the answers to questions
  • Predict what would be found on field experience

*Developing oral language (4.A.EC , 4.B.EC)

  • Add new vocabulary to the word wall
  • Brainstorm fire safety concepts and ideas
  • Categorize and label web topics
  • Design questionnaire about fire safety
  • Design survey for the home
  • Find ways to present findings from survey questions
  • Interview fire safety experts
  • Listen in small group and large group
  • Present material at the culminating activity
  • Report progress at large group

*Formulating questions (5.A.EC)

  • Develop questions for the experts
  • Develop researchable questions
  • Reflect on project and formulate more questions

*Integrating new vocabulary (4.B.EC)

  • Add new vocabulary words to word wall
  • Brainstorm and web ideas
  • Use new vocabulary during project
  • Use new vocabulary in story writing

*Making lists (2.A.EC)

  • Make list of fire safety tips for parent
  • Make list of items needed to transform dramatic play into fire station
  • Make list of materials for representations
  • Make list of new knowledge
  • Make list of questions to be asked
  • Make vocabulary list

*Planning (5.A.EC)

  • Develop culminating activity
  • Develop list of fire tips for parents
  • Develop play about fire safety
  • Plan the fire station

*Presenting (5.C.EC)

  • Explain new knowledge to family at culminating event
  • Share boxes and junk creations of fire safety materials
  • Share new facts on fire safety at group
  • Share personal memory stories with group
  • Share progress on each step of project
  • Share stories written about fire safety

*Reading (2.B.EC, 3.A.EC, 3.B.EC, 3.C.EC, 4.A.EC, 4.B.EC, 5.A.EC, 5.B.EC, 5.C.EC)

  • Brainstorm for topic webs
  • Create a list of fire safety instruments
  • Dictate memory stories
  • Dictate "What I've learned during fire safety project"
  • Read books about fire safety
  • Read experience stories
  • Read fire calls on the wall in dramatic play room fire station
  • Read signs posted by children around the room on fire topic
  • Read words to the songs shared about fire safety
  • Reflect on what they have learned
  • Respond to literature through discussion at large group
  • Use references and resources


Investigative Skills-Science

*Exploring (11.A.ECa, 12.A.ECa, 12.C.EC, 13.A.EC, 13.B.EC)

  • Explore the questions:
    • How do you build a model house?
    • How do you put out a fire?
    • How long before the flame goes out on a candle?
    • How to create a fire pole that everyone can use?
    • How to turn the dramatic play room into a fire station?
    • What equipment does a fire fighter use?
    • What starts on fire?
    • Where do you find smoke detectors and fire extinguishers?
    • Where do you place the fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in the model house?

*Experimenting (11.B.ECb)

  • Answer questions:
    • How can a fire pole be created?
    • How can we build a fire station at school?
    • How long before a flame extinguishes itself?

*Investigating (11.A.ECb)

  • What equipment is used for fighting fires?
  • What is needed for a candle to continue to burn?
  • What starts on fire?
  • Where do we find smoke detectors and fire extinguishers?

*Observing (11.A.ECb)

  • Observe and photograph smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in the home
  • Observe fire fighters place fire safety equipment on and how long it takes to dress
  • Observe fire in a fireplace
  • Observe the colors in the flame
  • Observe the fire fighters leave the station on a fire call
  • Observe the fire trucks
  • Observe the fire station
  • Observe the flame on the candle
  • Observe the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers found in the building

*Predicting (11.A.ECb)

  • Predict how many tires are needed for the fire truck representation
  • Predict what is needed to complete a fire station in the dramatic play room
  • Predict what starts fires
  • Predict what the fire station looks like
  • Predict what will be found at the fire station

*Reporting (11.A.ECb)

  • Report fire calls during dramatic play
  • Report progress on each phase of fire safety project
  • Report results from experiments


Numeration and Problem Solving

*Counting (6.C.ECa, 6.C.ECb)

  • Count and tally results to survey question "Does a clock start a fire?"
  • Count how many seconds it took Fire Fighter Mike to put on his equipment
  • Count number of smoke alarms and fire extinguishers from survey
  • Count the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in the building

*Estimating (7.A.ECa)

  • Estimate how long before the flame goes out on the candle
  • Estimate how long it takes to get out of the building when alarm goes off
  • Estimate how many refrigerators at the fire station

*Measuring (7.A.ECa)

  • Measure fire pole for dramatic play room fire station
  • Measure height of tires on fire truck while at field experience
  • Measure how long it takes for flame to go out on candle
  • Measure the length of fire equipment-helmets, coat and ladder

*Organizing, analyzing and communicating data (10.A.ECa)

  • Develop bar graphs to display the results of home survey on fire extinguishers and smoke detectors
  • Develop bar graphs to display results to the survey question "Does a clock start a fire?"
  • Explain results at culminating event about smoke detectors and smoke alarms found in the home

*Surveying (10.B.EC)

  • Does a clock start a fire?
  • How many fire extinguishers are in your home?
  • How many smoke detectors are in your home?


Social, Emotional Growth and Dispositions

*Communicating (31.A.ECe)

  • Ask questions skillfully
  • Engage in group discussions
  • Listen to others
  • Negotiate roles, take turns, problem solve
  • Report on progress of investigations to the large group
  • Share research
  • Use new vocabulary such as helmet, shield, fire fighter, aerial ladder, etc.

*Cooperating and collaborating while working with others (32.B.ECa, 32.B.ECb, 32.B.ECc, 32.B.ECd)

  • Create fire station in dramatic play room
  • Create the fire pole to use in dramatic play
  • Follow directions of fire chief
  • Go out on fire calls together and report back to teacher
  • Perform together as fire fighters on duty
  • Study in teams collaboratively

*Empathizing with others and their needs (32.A.ECa, 32.A.ECb, 32.A.ECc, 32.A.ECd)

  • Appreciate work of peers by noting effort, care in work and originality
  • Share materials, ideas, space and time
  • Share words of encouragement and appreciation of peers

*Enjoying (32.A.ECa, 32.A.ECb, 32.A.ECc, 32.A.ECd)

  • Build representations as a group or individually
  • Go on fire calls and role play fire fighters
  • Listen to experts talk about fire safety
  • Practice new skills for fire safety

*Gaining confidence in abilities to do the following (31.A.ECd)

  • Investigate
  • Make presentations to an audience
  • Observe and draw the details of fire equipment
  • Represent fire safety equipment using play dough, boxes and junk or clay
  • Use a variety of mediums to express ideas about fire safety

*Helping peers (32.A.ECa, 32.A.ECb, 32.A.ECc, 32.A.ECd)

  • Discuss problems for better understandings
  • Joint clean up of work areas
  • Problem solve when creating representations-house, truck, extinguisher, fire pole
  • Represent fire and fire safety equipment

*Initiating (32.A.ECd)

  • Choose appropriate materials
  • Experiment with fire and candle
  • Predict and manage time
  • Research to find answers to questions

*Persevering (31.A.ECc)

  • Add detail to observational drawings of fire extinguishers and smoke detectors
  • Create fire safety representations that looked realistic
  • Role-play fire calls and saving people
  • Work on representations

*Problem solving (31.A.ECd)

  • Find a way to make a fire pole that held everyone
  • How to light a candle and stay safe
  • How to make a fire truck representation
  • How to present material to family at culminating event
  • What colors to add to the fire truck
  • Where to place fire extinguishers and smoke alarms in the house representation

*Risk taking (31.A.ECd)

  • Play a fire fighter in the dramatic play room fire station
  • Read fire stories to the group
  • State disagreements in conversations or at large group meetings
  • Support opinions
  • Verbalize estimations, predictions and hypotheses
  • Work with someone new
  • Work in a new area of the classroom

Physical Development and Health
(19.A.ECa, 19.A.ECb, 19.C.EC, 21.A.EC, 22.A.EC, 24.C.EC)

  • Practice crawling out of a building if there is a fire
  • Practice stop, drop and roll if clothes are on fire
  • Practice touching a door before opening it to see if it is hot
  • Understand that fire/matches and lighters are not toys

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