Firefighters are community helpers and are important first responders when trouble arises. It’s no wonder that children love to consider this career when they grow up.
Explore how amazing they are and the different responsibilities firefighters are tasked with in these fantastic activities. These will provide an excellent learning opportunity for children while having fun.
Children will have a blast putting out fires and doing target practice with this game. This activity will improve children’s letter recognition, eye-hand coordination, and control skills.
This is a great outdoor activity for National Fire Prevention Week.
Start by making the alphabet fires. Use yellow, orange, and red index cards for this activity. Cut these out to the shape of fires. Use the marker to write the letters of the alphabet. Children can work on just the uppercase, lowercase letters, or both.
Use the masking tape to attach these fires randomly and spread them out on a wall outdoors or a fence. Next, alert the firefighter to an emergency with an alarm.
Have them wear their costumes and fill their tools with water. Name a specific letter that is on fire. The firefighters must rush and shoot the correct letter on the wall. Repeat this process until all alphabet fires have been put out.
For this activity, you will need:
- Colored index cards
- Markers
- Scissors
- Masking tape
- Water shooter
- Firefighter’s costume
- Pail of water
For more information on this activity, go to PlaydoughToPlato.com.
This life-saving game teaches children how to respond appropriately when a fire is ongoing. This activity helps children improve their listening skills, attention, and following directions.
With a lesson on fire safety, explain the need to stay calm and the differences between the three instructions-“stop, drop, and roll,” “stay low and go,” and “cool and call.” Demonstrate each of the movements or actions for children to mimic.
If possible, provide short video clips for children to visualize the different scenarios when a fire happens.
Next, sound the alarm to call the children’s attention to a pretend fire. Describe the scene before giving the command. For example, tell the children, “The room is filled with smoke, and it is difficult to see the way out. Stay low and go!”
Say, “Oh no! Your dress or shirt caught fire! Stop, drop, and roll!” or “You made it out of the fire, but your arm has burns. Cool and call!”
For this activity, you will need:
- An alarm or bell
For more information on this activity, go to VeryWellFamily.com.
Children will love to wear their firefighter’s hats in pretend play areas and as a prop for role-playing. This craft will help enhance children’s fine motor skills and coordination.
Use this craft with the book “Firehouse!” by Mark Teague, which tells the story of a dog who wants to become a firefighter and is given a chance to experience it. Their hats resemble the craft and make a great costume when retelling the story.
To make the hat, paint the back part of the paper plate red. Let this dry. Next, cut out a letter C shape on the inner circle of the plate. Trim the edges to get the right shape of the firefighter’s hat. Refer to the picture on the site for the step-by-step procedure.
Cut out a shield shape from the yellow foam sticker and use the marker to write a number. Peel off the backing and attach it to the hat.
For this activity, you will need:
- Paper plate
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Marker
- Yellow foam stickers
- Scissors
For more information on this activity, go to AllKidsNetwork.com.
Fire extinguishers are essential when a small fire breaks out. This craft is a wonderful addition to the pretend play area and to use as props for stage plays. Discuss a fire extinguisher’s purpose in increasing children’s vocabulary.
The site suggests using this craft with cut-out flames that children can put out as practice.
Extend this activity by writing number symbols on the flames. Allow children to squeeze their fire extinguisher in the same number as a practice to improve their counting skills and strengthen their hand and finger muscles.
Ensure the spray bottle is clean and label-free so that the duct tape will adhere well. Cut strips of duct tape in different colors and wrap them around the spray bottle. Repeat this step to cover the bottle fully and for the colors to pop out.
Using colors resembling a real fire extinguisher is recommended to make it more realistic.
For this activity, you will need:
- Spray bottle
- Colored duct tapes
- Scissors
For more information on this activity, go to BrilliantLittleIdeas.com.
This cup-stacking challenge is a terrific outdoor activity that lets children learn critical thinking skills as they build a sturdy pyramid resembling a fire. Stacking the cups will improve children’s hand-eye coordination, control, and focus.
With this activity, children can pretend as firefighters hosing down a deadly and colossal fire.
Provide the cups and the water gun for the children and explain the aim of this activity. Doing this outdoors, where water mess is not a concern, is recommended.
There are several challenges for children to take on. First, they need to figure out how to stack the cups. Demonstrate this step if necessary.
Next, children will have to attempt to make the highest stack of cups they can. Another challenge is to test out various designs of stacked cups.
Children will need to investigate which designs will be easily knocked down by the water gun and which can withstand the force of water.
For this activity, you will need:
- Red solo cups
- Water gun
For more information on this activity, go to RoyalBaloo.com.
The adorable firefighter crafts are perfect for children to explore how valuable firefighters are in the community.
This is a great craft to make on fire safety month when children will learn more about how to prevent fires and stay safe if a fire breaks out.
Assembling this craft will allow children to improve their fine motor skills. The printable can be used to teach the letter F, as a decoration, or as a stick puppet to retell stories about firefighters.
Download and print the firefighter template from the site. Cut out and trace the pieces on the colored cardstock. Cut these out and assemble them. Use glue to attach the pieces.
Another option is to keep the template in black and white and have children use markers or crayons to add colors. This will help strengthen their hand muscles and practice coloring within the lines.
The site suggests using this craft to discuss fire safety plans in the area.
For this activity, you will need:
- Printed firefighter template
- Colored cardstock
- Scissors
- Glue
For more information on this activity, go to CraftyBeeCreations.com.
A Dalmatian dog is a familiar sighting in firehouses. These dogs are strong and have good stamina, perfect for a demanding job. Use this craft to discuss the history of why firefighters prefer this dog breed.
Children will improve their fine motor skills as they make this craft. Make several of these with varying spots for children to practice their counting skills. Vary the number symbols on the hat to help children with number recognition.
Squeeze some black paint in a palette or a small container. Dip the cotton swab in the paint and apply it to the cup to make the nose and black spots. Next, cut out the ears from black construction paper.
For the hat, cut out the red and orange paper. Attach the ears and hat to the cup. Use the marker to write the number on the hat and to draw the mouth. Lastly, add googly eyes to complete the craft.
For this activity, you will need:
- White paper cup
- Paint
- Palette
- Cotton swabs
- Googly eyes
- Construction paper
- Craft glue
For more information on this activity, go to MadeToBeAMomma.com.
8. Emergency Services Roll and Cover Math Game
The firefighter number board game can be single or multiplayer. This printable game board features an illustration of a firefighter with different numbers from one to six.
Children will learn to use the die and improve their number recognition and eye-hand coordination skills.
For multiplayer, use a different color of counters for each player. The players will compete to cover the most numbers on the game board. Playing with an opponent will also teach children patience while waiting their turn.
Download and print the firefighter game board from the site. Laminate this for durability. Prepare the counters. The site suggests using readily available materials, such as buttons. Explain the rules of the game.
Have the child throw a die and read the number shown. The child must find the same number on the board and cover it with a counter. Repeat this until all the numbers are covered by counters.
For this activity, you will need:
- Printed game board
- Counters
- Die
For more information on this activity, go to RainyDayMum.co.uk.
Turn an egg carton into an awesome fire truck that children will love to play with. Use this truck in pretend play areas as children pretend to respond to a fire. Discuss the different parts of this vehicle to help build children’s vocabulary.
Cutting, painting, and assembling the craft will help improve children’s fine motor skills, coordination, and creativity.
To make this fire truck, separate the bottom and top parts of the egg carton. Next, cut part of the lid and trim the edges of the egg carton tray. Set aside the cut-off parts. Paint these red while and paint the flaps white.
Use the marker to draw lines for the ladder and the bumper. Use a heated metal skewer to poke a hole in the bottle caps and on the egg carton tray. Insert the bamboo skewer in the tray and attach the bottle caps for the wheels.
Next, assemble the pieces. Cut the toilet paper roll in half and wrap the shoelaces around it. Place these and the ladder on the back of the fire truck.
For this activity, you will need:
- Egg carton
- Paint
- Glue
- Bamboo skewers
- Toilet paper roll
- Shoelaces
- Bottle caps
- Scissors
- Metal skewers
For more information on this activity, go to TheCraftTrain.com.
This scavenger hunt game will help save children from future accidents. It teaches children the fire safety guidelines by enabling them to identify hot and cold objects.
Children will learn critical thinking skills as they choose objects around their house that are hot and cold. Peeling and sticking the sticky notes will help improve their fine motor skills.
Start this activity by teaching children the concepts of hot and cold. Explain that some things they can find in their homes can turn hot quickly. Next, make a list of these things that are hot and cold.
Provide colored sticky notes for children. Explain that they need to place a red sticky note on things that can turn hot and blue on cold things.
Help children process the ideas by asking them why they placed the colored sticky notes on an object. Doing this will help develop their reasoning and oral language skills.
For this activity, you will need:
- Red and blue sticky notes
For more information on this activity, go to TheEmpoweredProvider.com.
Challenge children to make a firefighter climb up the ladder with this STEAM activity. They will learn critical thinking skills while solving the problem. Cutting and pasting will help improve their fine motor skills.
Using the twine to manipulate the firefighter will help improve their hand-eye coordination and control.
Download and print out the free firefighter template from the site. Cut this out and color. Cut the drinking straw in half and attach these to the back of the firefighter. Use sticky tape to adhere them well.
The site suggests attaching craft sticks to the firefighter’s arms to keep them stabilized. Cut a long piece of twine and insert it into the straws. Refer to the picture on the site for this step.
Next, draw a ladder on the cereal boxes and cut it out. Cut out sections for the steps. Repeat this step and attach these to make a tall ladder. Attach the ladder to a door.
Place the loop of the twine on a door knob. Let the children practice pulling the twine in alternate motions to make the firefighter move up.
For this activity, you will need:
- Printed firefighter template
- Drinking straws
- Twine
- Craft sticks
- Sticky tape
- Cereal boxes
- Crayons or markers
For more information on this activity, go to JDaniel4SMom.com.
Conclusion
Firefighters play an essential role in the community. They rescue, respond to emergencies, and help people when disaster strikes. Honor these wonderful community helpers with these fantastic activities that are engaging and exciting.
Choose from any of these eleven highly modifiable activities. Thank you for reading. Come back and check out our other activity articles soon.
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