Fire Prevention Week is coming up October 6 through October 12. Each year, students across the country participate in fire safety activities.
Our Job as Teachers
Teachers from Pre-K through 6th grade will review basic concepts during their Social Studies block. Most districts schedule local firefighter visits to elementary schools around this week. When they visit, they touch on the basics. Then, we fill in the gaps on the topics of the importance of human life, smoke detectors, and fire safety.
People Over Possessions
The most important fire safety lesson we need to teach is that every toy, electronic, and item of clothing can be replaced. The only thing that cannot be replaced is people. Small children need to hear this again and again. It needs to become a mantra this week.
Kids live for their possessions. We need to take them out of that head space. Here are some ideas for fire safety activities to do that:
- Read and discuss Chair For My Mother. The story shows the community helping to refill the apartment after a fire.
- Read Fire! Fire! by Gail Gibbons
- Discuss how physical things get old, break, and are forgotten, but people can change and grow.
Smoke Detectors
A working smoke detector reduces the chance of dying by fire by 50%. because of this, teachers cannot stress enough the importance of smoke alarms. Research online for links to get free alarms. This might be a game changer for your families.
Some families need help getting a smoke alarm:
- You can sign up online for a visit to local Red Cross to get one
- Most local Fire Departments give out free or reduced alarms
- There are agencies that will help give fire safety activities in Spanish
Home Connection
We need to make sure the fire safety learning is discussed at home. It is not enough to send the brochure or coloring books home. You can give your kids topics to discuss and report back to school.
Here are some fire safety activity ideas:
- send a home fire escape plan for show and tell
- give extra credit for home fire drills
- Take a survey of smoke detectors and make a graph
I hope you got a few useful ideas for teaching in October. If you like what you read, and would like to see more, check out my Social Studies blog.
Jacque Jones
Loves everything Gilmore Girls, Pikmin, & Kindle
Taught K-2. Teacher Author