every month we practice getting out of the building by pretending there is a fire in the classroom.

during f week, we also talked a bit about the work firefighters do, having a special meeting place, etc.

:: :: :: ::

fire drawing is so satisfying!  there are different techniques used (one crayon at a time or all three at once) and i wait for the first person to ask for or go get the color blue.

we had fire in our journals and a house that really needed the help of fire fighters.

:: :: :: ::

a little fire fighter poem that ms carol helped color in (look at you work, ms carol!)

five little firefighters sleeping in a row

the first one said, i think it’s time to go

the second one said, that’s the bell i hear

the third one said, there’s nothing to fear

the fourth one said, we are on our way

the fifth one said, we’ll save the day (verse changed by the class)

oooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooo went the siren

quick went their feet

we’ll go find find the family at their place to meet!

:: :: :: ::

inspired by our poem, we played a big body game indoors.  while the firefighters slept, i put a cluster of “fire”-three feathers (red, orange, yellow)-somewhere in the room.

when the bell rang (“ding, ding, ding”), the firefighters got up and HURRIED to find the fire.

the feathers were small so it took a while.  once the fire was found, hoses were sprayed.

they were tired firefighters again, so back to bed they went.

:: :: :: ::

we read about that silly monkey, george, who gets himself into some trouble at the fire station.

but then, oh joy, he helps save the puppy.

:: :: :: ::

we’ll keep our firefighter props out until the interest fades.  until then, i expect sirens and quick feet to be heard.

first stuff a paper bag (we used “large” lunch sacks)

then twist and scrunch the top shut

then paint it all orange with washable paint

then go wash your hands (and then wash the bathroom and the floor)

then let dry (unless you find some green streamers and add vines to each one during clean up time:)

then use duct tape to make a sturdy stem

then play with the pumpkins and wait to add black and yellow shapes for faces later this week

(or penants or bunting…i wasn’t sure what to call them for the kiddos).

we made some with duct tape and triangle paper.

the children could make any pattern, make them as long as they liked.

we read the colors, counted the flags, added upper and lower case E letters, and lined them up to see how far they would reach.

cross your arms, cross your legs, cross your hands, cross your eyes…

we tried it all during exercise week!

show and tell for these days was “some kind of BIG BODY toy.”

even though it was cold and drizzly both days (only 2 days of school this week), we went outside for show and tell time.

we had a chance to see how we use certain things to exercise with.  and then, of course, used our bodies alone to get a good work out!

i’m almost embarrassed to admit i had some sore muscles the next day.  lame.