Sometimes I think that just because my kids are in elementary and middle school that I don’t have to go overย the basics with them.
But this weekend I realized I was totally wrong.
You guys, even our ‘big kids’ need to be reminded aboutย what to do if there’s a fire in the house, just like they need to be reminded about stranger safety andย bike safety.
And right now, because National Fire Prevention Week is right around the corner, there’s no better time than now to hit your kids with a little fire safety reminders.
Really.
I am thrilled to be teaming up with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and We Are Teachers to share some pretty cool–actually the best I’ve found!–resources for fire prevention week. These resources can be used naturally at home or at school.
We’ve even got an awesome giveaway for you: an iPad mini 2 so that you can check out these resources and games with your own kids.
For real.
Here’s the skinny. . .
Fire Prevention Week–Best Resources for Home and School:
Owen and I took a long time going through these resources this weekend while Maddy and Cora were out and about, and what we realized is that he and I both did not know a lot about the history of fire safety. And we both appreciated the refresher on fire prevention. It was really cool.
We commented about the fact that the games were totally worth playing so that we remember the important how-to’s and what-to-do’s if and when a fire occurs.
Lessons From History: ย Seriously cool background information on fire prevention.
1. Video: author Lauren Tarshis
I love that this is ‘lessons from ย history’ vs ‘history lessons’. Owen and I were in awe watching this video and reading through the resources.
Lauren Tarshis is one of our favorite authors ever. (You totally know her–she writes the I Survived. . . series!) Check out this quick video on what she learned about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 while researching for I Survived The Great Chicago Fire of 1871:
I learned so much!
2. Great Chicago Fire of 1871 printables & more!
The Sparky School House site has so many resources and printables, it’s nuts.
We went right for the resources on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, though, since we had just watched the video. It’s a great combo with the video above, and if you’re not sure how to bring up the topic of fire safety with your kids, then maybe start with the video.
Show them the video.
Print out the printable.
Talk about it.
- Talk about how the fire changed history.
- Talk about how it impacted city and building design.
- Talk about how Lauren Tarshis did her research and what she learned.
- Talk about how reliable those resources were and how first-hand accounts can help in ways that data and numbers cannot.
3. Sparky’s Brain Busters App
We’ve looked at other Sparky apps in the past, but this one–Sparky’s Brain Busters–is new.
It’s free. And you can grab Sparky’s Brain Busters at the iTunes store for ios or Amazon for Android users.
The fun thing about this app is that it’s more like a game show, which Owen really loved. The goal is to answer as many questions correctly as possible in a given amount of time, and in each category.
The super cool thing is that you can play with multiple players–which is something that my kids really love since they don’t play many games this way. Any way they can sneak in a little healthy competition with each other, they’re game.
And when they’re playing with questions dealing with fire safety, fire prevention history, math, and more, it’s a win in my book.
4. Tons and tons of resources for school and familiesย
Head to the Sparky School House site and scroll all the way down to check out all of the printables and resources. ย Or use the navigation bar at the top of the screen to search that way.
Either way, you will be amazed at how much is there and what an amazing age range it spans.
There is something for home and school, no matter the child’s age, maturity level, or need: videos, games, apps, printables, and more. Yay!
Definitely share the link with teachers and administrators–every activity is aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS), so it’s really worth checking out. I truly believe that these are resources worth passing along!
5. Next steps for school and family: plan and share
Honestly, our next step is to get a fire safety plan in place for our home. ย At our next Family Meeting, this is number one on the ‘must discuss’ list.
Most schools, by law, must have fire drills on a regular, monthly basis, but I am embarrassed to say that our family has not talked about a fire escape plan once.
Am I alone, or has your family made a fire escape plan? I’d love to know.
Until then, I’m sharing these resources with everyone I know. I’d love if you did the same.
Okayโnow letโs get to the giveaway!
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GIVEAWAY: One iPad Mini 2 (32GB), retail value $319!
Do you want to win an iPad Mini 2 (32GB), retail value $319, so that youย can enjoy the Sparky Brain Buster app with your family on a new device!??!ย ย Yes, yes you do.
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Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to throw your name in the hat:
This giveaway ends Friday, October 9, 2015 at midnight ET and is open to folks here in the US only.ย Winner will be chosen by โRafflecopterโ and will be notified on or around 10/09/15.ย Winner must respond within three (3) days of notification or forfeit the prize, in which case an alternate winner will be selected.ย Allย ย Official Sweepstakes Rules apply.
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fyi: This post was written as a partnership with NFPA and WeAreTeachers, but as always, my opinions are my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator.
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