Fire Safety Science Project

During Fire Safety Week, we like to discuss the three things fire needs:
heat, air, and fuel.

The other day when I was on Pinterest I found this great idea to demonstrate these three things. It is from a homeschool mom's blog. This is such super cute blog and she has some fabulous activities to do with her kids. It made me wish I had a little homeschool class! Click {here} to go to her blog.

I REALLY wanted to do this with my class today and then I thought, "Why not try to make it a science project?" Maybe it could be our class project?!?!

You will need the following materials:

three balls of clay

 three birthday candles

 lighter

 spray bottle (full of water)

 drinking glass

baking sheet

stop watch

 recording sheet

First, I had them record their hypotheses.

Next, we tested to see if fire really needs heat.

I lit the birthday candle and had a student spray it with water. I had another student time to see how quickly the fire went out {or if it didn't.}

Then, we tested to see if fire really needs air.

I lit the birthday candle and put a drinking glass over it to take the air away. I had the same student time this again.

Last, we tested to see if fire really needs fuel.

I lit the birthday candle and we waited until it burned down all of the wax. Once again, the same student timed it. This one takes the longest but it will go out. The kids were getting really nervous. One asked me if I had asked the principal's permission to do this experiment. I was like, "I AM a grown-up, you know! It's okay!" However, I did mention that I could just put the glass over it or I could use the fire extinguisher if need be.

We recorded the data collected on our recording sheets and afterwards we discussed how fire DOES need these things and that it is important to learn about something so dangerous. Especially if they were ever to consider playing with lighters or matches. You never know!

Fire Needs Recording Sheet

Also, I didn't think to include the tracers for my fireman writing project yesterday, DUH!

Here ya go!

Firefighter Tracers 2

One more thing, don't forget to check out Rebecca's blog, Teaching First. She was really cool and gave away a copy of her spider unit to 10 followers yesterday. This fantastic unit is available on TPT, so make sure to head on over to her blog and check it out!

Thanks for reading my blog!

It is so nice to have teachers helping teachers!!!!

Fire Safety Week! and Big Alan

Sound the alarm, Fire Prevention Week is coming!

Technically, fire prevention week is October 9-15, but I'm a little early {I'm either late or early, what's new?}

I love talking about fire safety and prevention with my kiddos. It amazes me every year, how little they know or are prepared for a fire! One video that I like to show my kids is from Discovery Education/United Streaming called, "Sound the Alarm: Firefighters at Work."

Then, we completed a Tree Map about Firefighters.

Some of their answers were pretty funny. One little guy remembered the "jaws of life" and another stated that they have to be "physically fit." Which almost led to a completely different conversation about weight. I had to steer it back to firefighters! So many stories to share, ha!

 Throughout the whole lesson, I would refer to the Essential Question: Do you have a plan? I told them that when they go home they should have a talk with their family members about fire safety and to ask about what to do if there is a fire in their home. Where is the safe meeting place? What about the animals? Etc.

They were completely engaged. "What if my room is on fire? What if the front of the house is on fire? What if? What if?" Holy moly! Lots of "What if's!"

Tomorrow, I plan on having them make this little guy:

Isn't he cute?! I got the idea from the ladies of The Lemonade Stand. Great blog!

We will write about ways to protect your family from fire:

* Having a fire escape route

*Practice fire drills,

*Checking smoke detectors,

*making sure the stove tops are clean,

*don't play with matches or lighters,

*check to make sure doors and windows can open easily,

*know who to call in an emergency.

If you want some more information or lessons click {here} to go to the National Fire Protection Association's website. It is really helpful and a good source to send home to families.

Also, I found this neat-o blog with oodles of information about fire safety. Click {here}

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Update: I had to move this lesson on adjectives from last week to this week because I simply had too much to do with apples and I ran out of time!

We call him, Big Alan. This lesson was a great way to culminate our apple study. We discussed what describing is and then we came up with lots of words to describe apples. I wrote them down and we covered Big Alan with these adjectives. I was super happy when  Lilleigh said, "delicious." What a fancy word!

Happy Monday!