Uncle Rocky, Fireman #1 - "Fire!"

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Story Time for Rocky Hill, Fireman: Fire! created by KT Brison of Lit Mama

Rocky Hill Fireman-Fire! Activities

 

Language

Sequencing is such good practice for littles learning how to understand what they're reading and preparing to write their own stories. This sequencing printable is all about getting dressed for a fire. And it's totally fun.

Science

Oh me. Oh my. Get your mommy gear on, because there is nothing we could do for science that better matches this book than making colored fire. It's like fireworks but not in the sky. It helps if you have a fire pit and can just build a small fire on a lovely summer evening. It doesn't have to be a big flame to entrance your littles. In fact, the best results occur in flames about 1 foot high. Make sure you wear safety glasses and fireproof gloves if you're doing the chemical sprinkling, and don't get too close to the flames. Safety first. The cool thing here is you can talk about fire safety before you get started. Show your littles how to keep water or an extinguisher nearby when you start a fire and talk about the dangers of getting too close or neglecting the fire before it's put out. Then get ready to have some fun. Because this. is. so. cool. You'll need a few household products:

• Borax
• Water Softener Salt
• Epsom Salt
• Table Salt

You'll end up with these colors:

• Light green flame: Borax
• Purple flame: Water Softener Salt
• Orange flame: Table salt
• White flame: Epsom salt

Start with sprinkling a small amount onto the flames. If all goes well, keep adding the product until the color changes. That's all there is to it, but it looks like magic. You can also make your fire spark with these products:

• Sugar: sprinkle onto the fire for tiny sparks
• Powdered coffee creamer: Throw a handful onto the fire for sparkly flashes

History

The History of Firefighting

If this book doesn't make your kiddos want to be firefighters, then I don't know what. Here's a free printable for them to learn a little bit about the history of firefighting. There are some fun activities to do as well.

Craft

Make Your Own Fireman's Helmet

What you need:

• Lit Mama's Fireman's Helmet Template
• Thin cardboard like a cereal box
• 1 yellow craft foam sheet
• Red craft paint
• Markers to decorate shield

What you do:

• Trace helmet's outer ring onto cardboard and cut it out
• Paint the entire front of the oval red

• While the paint is drying, trace shield onto foam sheet and cut out

• Decorate shield however you want

• Cut out inner ring and trace onto painted ring, ensuring that the tip of inner ring is about 1 inch from the back of the oval (this will be the back of the helmet)

• Cut out the wavy lines of the inner ring, leaving the straight line at the bottom attached
• Fold the attached line forward

• Glue shield to front of inner ring
• Fit the cut-out circle over your littles' head

Now your little can pretend to be Rocky!

Food

Fire Truck Sugar Cookies with Homemade Buttercream Frosting

These disappeared almost before I got to take pictures. This frosting? A.maz.ing. Plus, fire trucks. I mean... What you need: For the cookies:

• 1 stick butter (8 TBSP)
• 3//4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 TBSP heavy cream (you can use milk, but the cream makes them so much better!)
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder

For the frosting:

• 4 TBSP butter
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

What you do:

• For the cookies:
• Preheat oven to 350F
• Cream the butter
• Gradually add the sugar, beating as you go until light and fluffy
• Add the egg, vanilla, and cream and mix thoroughly
• In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt and baking soda
• Add to butter mixture and blend well
• Refrigerate 1 hour or more
• Turn batter out on a flour-covered surface
• Roll out till about 1/4 inch thin
• Cut into 2x3 inch rectangles
• Arrange on cookie sheets
• Bake 8-10 minutes until lightly browned
• Allow to cool completely

For the frosting:

• Cream the butter
• Stir in egg yolk
• Continue to beat, adding sugar 2 TBSP at a time
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour
• Divide in half
• Add 10-12 red food coloring to half the frosting (if it's not red enough, add more until you're happy)

For the decorations:

• Frost each cookie with red frosting
• With a small spatula, create windows near the top of cookie with un-colored frosting
• Use the edge of the spatula (or your fingers!) to make headlights near the bottom corners of each cookie with un-colored frosting
• Use a toothpick to trace uncolored frosting into 3 grill lines between headlights

 

Miscellaneous

I know! This Story Time never ends! But this book provides a great opportunity to practice emergency procedures with your littles.

Practice 9-1-1 Calls

We teach our kids to call 911 if a serious emergency happens, but have you ever let your kids practice making that call? Use this free printable script to help your littles practice.

Make a custom family fire escape plan

If you don't already have a plan in place in case of a house fire, use this free printable that your kiddos can fill out for themselves!