View more preschool fire safety and firefighter activities, lessons, and crafts

Lesson

Have a discussion with children about what to do if clothing catches fire. Explain and demonstrate (or have a volunteer demonstrate) how to stop, drop, and roll. Emphasize that it is very important to roll more than once until the fire is out. After the discussion, show children the sequencing cards and sequence them together as a group.

Initiate a role-play activity where several or all of the children are given the opportunity to act out the stop, drop, and roll sequence. Take the children outside. Attach small inflated balloons to the back of several smocks. Allow a few children at a time to put on the smocks so that the balloons are on their backs. Instruct them to practice the stop, drop, and roll sequence until the balloon pops or the activity is ended.  Give each child an opportunity to practice the exercise.

Variation: For children who are afraid of the balloon popping, attach some red/orange felt flames or pompoms with double sided tape to their arms or backs. Let them act out the stop, drop and roll sequence until the "flames" are off their clothing.

Rhymes and Songs

Show children a lighter and a book of matches. Explain that matches and lighters are not toys because they make fire. Explain that if any child ever finds either one, it is very important that he or she should give it to an adult right away so that it can be put away in a safe place. Then, sing the following song with children:

Matches and Lighters Are Not Toys
(Tune: Have You Ever Seen a Lassie)
By Erin Lassiter

Matches are not toys, not toys, not toys
Oh, never play with matches,
‘Cause matches make fire.

Lighters are not toys, not toys, not toys,
Oh, never play with lighters,
Cause lighters make fire.

Fire Safety Rules
Discuss the following fire saftey rules with children:

• Matches and lighters are not toys. Do not play with them. Give them to an adult.
• Do not hide during a fire. Let the firefighters see you.
• Stay low and crawl towards the nearest safe exit if you see and smell thick smoke.
• Get out and stay out of burning buildings.
• Stop, drop, and roll if your clothes are on fire.
• In case of an emergency, call 911 for help when you are in a safe place.

A Fireman
Author Unknown

This brave fireman is going to bed
(Hold up right thumb.)
Down on the pillow he lays his head
(Put right thumb onto left palm.)
And plans to sleep this way all night
(Close eyes.)
But the fire alarm rings! He opens his eyes!
(Open eyes.)
Quickly he’s dressed and down the pole he slides
(Right hand slides down left arm in a grip from elbow to wrist.)
Then he climbs on the truck to go, go, go!
(Hands steer imaginary steering wheel.)

Extension
Matchbook and Lighters Are Not Toys lesson and game (Available in our KidsSoup Resource Library)

Fire safety drill lesson and printables (Available in our KidsSoup Resource Library)