Dramatic Play- Fire Station

Description

The dramatic play center provides opportunities for students to collaborate, engage in learning, and build language skills through conversations.  Children have the opportunity to role play real-life experiences by taking on different roles in imaginative play. Utilization of the space as a fire station allows the children the opportunity to take on the roles of firefighters, emergency dispatchers, and home owners. It encourages the child to think about the tools necessary to put out fires, how firefighters live in a fire station, and how firefighters help their communities.

Purpose

Safety skills for emergencies such as, dialing 911, stating your name and address, opportunities to write addresses and emergency information, exposure to environmental print related to fire stations and 911 reading opportunities with exposure to a variety of firefighter related books in center expression of feelings and emotions creativity, imagination, abstract thinking oral communication, vocabulary cooperation, sharing, taking turns.

Suggested Materials

Fire truck pop-up tent or fire truck made from large cardboard boxes (students can help create this) ;kitchen area for firefighters to share meals in the firehouse, play food and dishes, telephones, reading materials, (books about fire stations and firefighters, including nonfiction and fiction) bell, (for fire alarm) hoses, (cut up garden hose, tubing from home improvement store) fire hats, firefighter uniforms, firefighting gear, (boots, gloves, goggles, air tanks made from soda bottles or milk jugs) flashlights, toy fire extinguishers, walkies-talkies and a toy computer (or old laptop) for emergency dispatcher.

Questioning Examples

These guiding questions can be used to assist the teacher, instructional assistant, or parent volunteers in supporting children's development and learning during play.Where is the fire?  How do you get to the place where the fire is?Where any people or animals in the building that was on fire?  What type of care do they need?  How do you get help if there is an emergency?  What should you do if there is a fire in your home?  What are the firefighters eating for dinner?  How do you prepare that meal?

Considerations

This center can be set up with the following: fire station area including a cooking area with table and chairs, fire truck area, emergency dispatcher area with phone, and area for building (homes, offices, school, etc.) that are in need of help.  Labels should be placed on items and signs hung to encourage environmental print awareness.  A basket/tote with books about firefighters and fire stations should also be in the center for students to explore. In addition, writing materials for students to have the opportunity to record addresses and write down information about the emergency should also be included.  Providing recipe cards or cookbooks is another way to encourage print awareness.  Encourage children to try multiple roles in play at different times (firefighter, home owner, emergency dispatcher, etc.).  This center should allow for enough space for at least three students to play with the furniture and props.  The dramatic play center should be located in an area of the room that enables students to communicate without disrupting other children's work and play.

Literature Connections

Many literature connections exist for this topic and can be read to students before introduction of the center or during the play study of fire stations and firefighters. These books can also be placed in the center for independent exploration by the children. The following are a few suggestions: "A Day in the Life of a Firefighter" by Heather Adamson"A Day in the Life of a Firefighter" by Linda Hayward"Busiest Firefighters Ever" by Richard Scarry"Clifford the Firehouse Dog" by Normal Bridwell"Curious George and the Firefighters" by Margret and H.A. Rey"Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete" by James Dean"The Little Fire Truck" by Margery Cuyler

Downloadable Resources

These downloadable documents are meant to be printed and used within the center.  They are not for electronic use by students.Emergency response sheet Download: emergency_report_for_fire_station.pdfDeleteFire station signsDownload: fire_station_signs_for_center.pdfDeleteClipart from Creative Clips Clipart by Krista Wallden and Teaching in the Tongass223351-1.jpgcreative clips logoEdit ARIA descriptionhttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krista-Wallden-Creative-Clips1_Teaching_in_the_Tongass_Credit_Logo.pngTeaching in the Tongass logoEdit ARIA descriptionhttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Teaching-In-The-TongassFrame on the center signs is from www.mycutegraphic.com