Fire Safety

One of the important lessons we teach the children over the course of the year is Fire Safety. While the teachable moment comes up each week at our Shabbat Party (when we light the Shabbat Candles, and the children know that this fire is for watching, not for touching,) we still choose to spend a week focusing on Fire Safety and empowering the children with the skills to respond in an emergency.

Through pictures, dramatic play and lots of discussion...the children are confident and know exactly what types of fires are ok to look at, and enjoy, and what types of fires we need to CALL 911!

The children actually came up with a whole list of fires that are ok... but we just need to be VERY CAREFUL, like not touch or place anything near it!

We looked at pictures of the examples they came up with.... menorah, birthday candles , bonfire,  BBQ

In addition to understanding that, we empowered the children to know exactly what to do, if they ever find themselves in a situation where there is a dangerous fire. 

Modeling what to do if there is fire on you.

Each of the children got fire on them...to practice...

What do you do if there is fire on you?

Stop, Drop & Roll!

 Our circle time segued into a grand role play of what we should do if there is fire in our house, or if we smell smoke...

#1. Call 911

#2. STAY LOW...crawl, because smoke rises...

#3. Try to get out of building. FEEL DOOR if it is hot, because there might be fire on other side

#4. LEAVE the house or building!

 

Throughout the week the children worked on various skills as they "put out fires!"

 It was a joy to watch our younger students fiddle with the water sprayer, not quite sure how to operate it...

 and then a short time later... to see the satisfaction and joy on their faces, as they spray the water on the "fires" in the water table!

 The older children "aimed" for the foam cut-out fires with the letter F on it. This was a wonderful and fun way for the children to learn recognition of the letter F, practice the phonics/sounds of the letter, and work on their fine motor skills (both operating the sprayer and the aiming component)

Loads of Role Playing...

 The children actually came up with the idea to make masks, from seeing the pictures of real fire fighters wearing masks! We cut foam bowls and tied elastic to hold on their faces!