Suggested Topics to Teach Preschoolers About Fire Safety

Suggested Topics to Teach Preschoolers About Fire Safety

Fire Safety Week is an important time for preschoolers to learn about staying safe in the event of a fire. Not only will students learn more about basic fire safety rules and procedures, but they will also learn more about important helpers in our community-Firefighters! Below you can find several suggested topics to teach preschoolers about fire safety along with some suggested activities!

Teaching Preschoolers About Fire Safety

On our site, you can find several suggested fire safety activities on our free fire safety theme planning page, as well as printable fire safety resources to add to your learning centers and to compliment your fire safety lessons!

There are several preschool appropriate books about fire safety, as well as educational videos on youtube to assist you in teaching about fire safety such as this Fire Station Tour from Blippi, or the Sparky's ABC's of Safety.

Be sure to call your local fire station (non emergency #) to arrange for a tour! If you cannot take a field trip, they may be able to visit your program, and even offer additional educational materials to assist you in teaching about fire safety in your program.

Introducing Fire Safety

• Before starting your lesson, begin by asking the children a question, and allow for a brief discussion to gauge their prior knowledge of the topics. Some questions could include: Do you know what to do if there is a fire in your home? Can you name a fire hazard? What should we do if we see a fire?
  
• Explain that students will be learning about fire safety today and what they can do to stay safe in case of a fire.
  

Fire Safety Vocabulary

You may want to introduce students to some of these new vocabulary words and terms about fire safety in your lessons :
Firefighter, Fire Truck, Fire: Stop, Drop, and Roll, Smoke Alarm, Emergency, Hazard:, Extinguisher, Escape Plan, Safety Gear, Flame, Crawl Low in Smoke, Fire Drill, Matches and Lighters, Burn, Cautious, Evacuate, Spark, Fire Safety Rules, Rescue

Firefighters are brave community helpers!

• Preschoolers love learning about firefighters! Show the children pictures of firefighters in their gear and explain that firefighters are the people who help us when there is a fire.
  
• Discuss the role of firefighters and their importance in the community.
• Show pictures or videos of firefighters in action.
• Teach Students the importance of 9-1-1 and how we can call this number in an emergency. Discuss what is and isn't an emergency.
• Set up a Fire Station Dramatic Play invitation where students can dress up as firefighters, and perform some of their many jobs

Stop, Drop, and Roll

• Introduce the "Stop, Drop, and Roll" technique.
• Demonstrate it, and practice the technique through a fun game or song.
  
• Discuss situations when this technique might be necessary.

Fire and Fire Hazards

• Teach students about fire, and fire hazards. Ask questions such such as: What do you think fire looks like?, Where have you seen fire before?
• Discuss safe places students may have seen fire (in a fireplace, campfire, candles on their birthday cake)
• Discuss what students should do (like telling a grown-up right away) or not do (get close, touch) if they see a fire.
• Discuss why it's important to be safe around fire and steps we can take to be safe (Never touch matches or lighters; they're tools for grown-ups. Stay away from things that can catch fire, like the stove, and talk about the importance of making sure fires are put out completely).
  
• Create a collage of pictures showing safe and unsafe items regarding fire.

Home and Classroom Fire Drills

• Discuss the importance of fire drills at home and school. Explain that if there is a fire, we need to get out of the house quickly and have a designated meeting place outside.
• Conduct a simple fire drill in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of staying calm.
• Encourage children to share their experiences during fire drills.
  
• Lastly, remind the children that if there is a fire, they should never hide under the bed or in a closet. They should always get out of the house as quickly as possible.
  

Fire Extinguishers

• Show a fire extinguisher or pictures of fire extinguishers and explain how they work. Explain that only adults should use real extinguishers in case of a fire.
• Set up a pretend play activity where students can "use" a squirt bottle "fire extinguisher"
  

Smoke Alarms

• Explain the purpose of smoke alarms. Discuss how important it is to have working smoke detectors in our homes.
• Show a real smoke alarm (if possible) and demonstrate the sound it makes (this will help ease some fears during an emergency if it's a sound students are familiar with).
  
• Discuss the importance of testing smoke alarms regularly.

Wrapping up your unit

• Review what the children have learned about fire safety and ask if they have any questions.
• Encourage parents to discuss fire safety at home (drills, identify a meeting spot, and test smoke detectors) as well as share any related experiences.
  
• Remind them that staying safe is very important and that we should always be prepared in case of an emergency.
  

---

You Might Like

Fire Safety Lesson Planning Page 
Shaving Cream Flame Painting

Fire Station Preschool Dramatic Play Pack

$5.00

Shop

Fire Safety Preschool Activity Pack

$7.00

Shop