Siren! Here Come the Firefighters

Children rest at the fire station, and when the siren sounds they race to the fire (a cone with a red scarf), put it out with a hose and walk back. It works on starting on a signal, running, and active recovery.

How to play

1. We mark the fire station and spread cones with red scarves around the playground as the fires (2 min).
2. At the station, the firefighters sleep, put on their helmets or play cards while they wait (1 min).
3. The teacher makes a siren sound, "Wee-ooo!": everyone races to the fire the teacher points at (3 min).
4. There they spray the fire with a pretend hose until the teacher taps the drum, and the scarf is put away: fire's out (3 min).
5. The firefighters walk slowly back to the station, since there's no hurry now, and sit down to wait for another siren (4 min).
6. At the end we line up and salute the teacher, who hands out brave firefighter medals (2 min).

Rules

• Only leave when the siren sounds.
• The whole crew goes to the fire the teacher points at.
• Walk back to the station.
• Firefighters help each other: nobody gets left behind.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: they can be the fire chief who sounds the siren, or ride to the fire in their wheelchair with a classmate.
• Hearing impairment: the siren comes with the teacher waving a red scarf over their head.
• Autism: make the siren soft and give a hand signal right before the sound.

Learning goals

• Take off running as soon as the signal comes.
• Alternate fast running and calm walking.
• Work together as a team on a shared task.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 5
• red scarves: 5
• hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Keep the fires away from walls and benches, and have everyone run to the same fire; when kids run in crossing directions, they collide. Kids will ask for this one again and again.

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