Firefighters Asleep at the Station
Children are firefighters asleep at the fire station; when the drum alarm sounds, they get up, put on pretend helmets and boots and run to put out a fire at a cone. It practices getting up fast from lying down and a sequence of actions after a signal.
How to play
- Talk about what firefighters do when the alarm rings and practice the gestures: boots on, helmet on, grab the hose (2 min).
- Everyone lies down to rest at the station (a marked area); at the drum roll they get up, dress super fast and run to a fire cone (3 min).
- At the fire, they spray with the hose going "Shhhh" and the teacher says "It's out!"; they jog back to the station to sleep (3 min).
- Change how they sleep: on the tummy, on the side, or sitting on the station bench, and the alarm goes off when they least expect it (3 min).
- Final rescue: instead of a fire, each hoop has a pretend kitten up a tree; they bring it down gently and head home (2 min).
Rules
- I really sleep until the alarm sounds.
- I dress fast without bumping into other firefighters.
- Several of us put out each fire together.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, fires are close by and we only put on helmets.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, helmet and boots, and the fires farther away.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, at the alarm the teacher shows the fire number with fingers and they go to the cone with that number.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair is the fire truck driver: at the alarm they start the engine and lead the firefighters to the fire.
- Hearing impairment: pair the alarm with a light (a flashlight turning on) or a red scarf the teacher waves.
- Autism: warn that the drum will be loud or use a soft roll; let the child always sleep in the same spot.
Learning goals
- Get up quickly from lying down at a sound signal.
- Link several actions in a row after the start.
- Run to a target and back to the starting point.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Cones: 5
- Hand drum: 1
- Hoops: 5
Teacher tip
Place the fire cones far from the station and spread apart so they don't all crowd one. If a child won't lie down, they can be fire chief with the drum for a round.
PatioLab has "Firefighters Asleep at the Station" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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