This document provides information about several books that could be used for a 1st grade reading and activity unit focused on firefighters. It includes summaries of 5 books related to firefighters, as well as suggested activities to accompany each book. Some of the activities involve discussing fire safety tips, developing fire escape plans, and practicing stop, drop and roll techniques. The document also lists related educational standards and learning styles addressed by the activities.

2. Education 356

3. 1st grade

5. Activity When reading book, make sure that students state the letter Discuss the roles of firefighters and police officers Discuss safety tips to be prepared for a fire Have students make up a fire escape plan for their own houses Have students share their escape plans with the class Come up with a fire escape plan for the classroom Discuss the steps that you are supposed to take when there is a fire Crawl Stop, drop, and roll Check door knobs before opening the door Discuss ways to prevent fires at home Unplug electronics when not in use Keep trash and fabrics away from heat Do not play with matches or lighters

6. Cont… Practice the stop, drop, and roll technique Practice staying underneath the “smoke” Reread the book Standards Used: English 1.1.2 Identify letters, words, and sentences. Science 1.1.1 Observe, describe, draw, and sort objects carefully to learn about them. Gardner’s Intrapersonal Interpersonal Verbal Linguistics Bodily Kinesthetic Visual-Spatial

7. 10 Minutes till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book It's almost bedtime! At 1 Hoppin Place the fun begins when a family of hamsters — with ten offspring wearing jerseys numbered from one to ten — arrives at the door. There are only ten minutes left, and there's still so much to do! But with the help of the Hamsters' 10-Minute Bedtime Tour (guided by his own pet hamster), the little boy is able to get his toys put away, his pajamas on, his teeth brushed, and his bedtime story read — all in the nick of time. This lively introduction to bedtime rituals and the concept of counting backwards will have young readers eagerly awaiting their own countdown to bedtime.

8. Activities Read story Review what students already know about time Discuss what time within the school setting What time lunch? What time is recess? What time does school let out? Is lunch before or after math? How much longer until recess? Have students take turns to come up to the board and drawing “hands” on a clock that you have already drawn on the board Discuss bedtime routines Putting toys and books away Brushing teeth Pajamas Bedtime story reading Discuss the correct way to brush teeth

9. Cont… Standards used: Math 1.5.6 Tell time to the nearest half-hour and relate time to events (before/after, shorter/longer). English 1.7.8 Relate an important life event or personal experience in a simple sequence. Gardner’s: Interpersonal Intrapersonal Mathematical-Logical Verbal Linguistics

10. Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles, Think of That! By Leo& Diane Dillon Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book Clap your hands and tip your hat as the astonishing "Mr. Bojangles" gracefully leaps across each page and wins the hearts of people everywhere. With a simple rhyming text and bold, graceful illustrations, the Dillons have created a read-aloud picture book perfect for even the youngest children. Readers will be clapping and tapping along as they follow the dancer through the streets of old New York. As they arrive at the last spread of the book, they'll learn the name of this great talent — Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, the groundbreaking African-American tap dancer who was one of the most popular entertainers of the early 20th century. The Dillons have also included an afterword so that readers can learn more about this legendary performer.

11. Activities Read story Have students clap or stomp their hands and feet to the rhythm of the story How many claps/ stomps are in the phrase “Rap a Tap Tap, think about that?” Have students say “Rap a Tap Tap, think about that” when ever it is stated in the story Show students the clip from the “Little Colonel” of Shirley Temple and Bill Robinson tap dancing on the stairs Discuss other types of dancing Do any of the students know a certain kind of dance? Move desks for space in the center of the room, pair students up, teach them a simple square dance (or simply allow students to make up their own dance moves to the music being played.)

12. Cont… Standards: Dance1.1.1 Isolate various body parts through movement. Science 1.2.1 Use whole numbers, up to 100, in counting, identifying, measuring, and describing objects and experiences. Gardner: Bodily- Kinesthetic Interpersonal Musical Verbal- Linguistic

13. Farm Life by Elizabeth Spurr Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book In this exuberant rhyming concept book, barns of different colors hold surprises for young readers learning to count from one to ten. This farm is brimming with kittens, piglets, lambs, and many other barnyard animals. As Farmer Dan goes about his daily chores, readers get a special look at each barn and the creatures, crops, or equipment it holds. Preschoolers will have plenty of fun while learning numbers, colors, and animals.

14. Activities Read story Have students identify animals in illustrations while reading or after reading Count the animals that are shown throughout the book Discuss different animals that might live on a farm Have students draw a picture of a farm animal of their own choice Ask students if they have ever seen certain farm animals Before class begins, find a video clip(s) of various farm animals to show to students Discuss how to take care and feed certain farm animals Sing the “Farmer in the Dale”

15. Cont… Standards: Science1.1.1 Observe, describe, draw, and sort objects carefully to learn about them. Math 1.2.1 Use whole numbers, up to 100, in counting, identifying, measuring, and describing objects and experiences. Gardner’s: Verbal- Linguistics Visual- Spatial Logical-Mathematical

16. More Parts by Ted Arnold Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book People say the strangest things: Give me a hand. . . . Hold your tongue. . . . Scream your lungs out. . . . What if a kid wants to keep all of his body parts in place? Well then, he'll need to take some creative and side splittingly funny action. In this knee-slapper of a follow-up to the award-winning Parts, Ted Arnold brings to visual life some of our very silliest figures of speech. But be careful, readers: This clever book just might make you laugh your heads off!

17. Activity Read story Discuss the different parts of the body Sing and dance to the “Hokie Pokie” Before class collect one long paper for every two students, allow them to work together in pairs to trace half of their bodies to make them into one figure. Draw a line down the middle of the figure and let them draw half of themselves labeling each body part. Have them measure their legs and arms and then the height of their figures.

18. Cont… Standards: Math 1.5.1 Measure the length of objects by repeating a nonstandard unit or a standard unit. Gardner’s: Visual- Spatial Logical-Mathematical Interpersonal Verbal-Linguistics Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic

19. Painting the Wind by Patricia MacLachlan Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book What I have waited for all year long happens. Summer is here. On an island, surrounded by water and light, a young boy waits for the sun to shine, and for his friends, the painters, to return: The landscape painter and the painter of flowers. The painter of still lifes and the painter of faces. They all come to the island to paint when the days are long and their dogs can run free. The young boy watches and learns. This summer he will try to do what he has never done before. He will try to paint the wind. Newbery Medal-winning and bestselling author Patricia MacLachlan teams up with her daughter Emily for their first collaboration. Their delicate yet evocative prose is brought to life by the exquisite paintings of artist Katy Schneider. "Painting the Wind" is a beautiful story about holding on to those perfect moments that only summer in a place that you love can offer.

20. Activities Read book. Teach students the song “Let’s go fly a kite” from Mary Poppins. Allow students to paint “the wind” on their own sheet of paper. Discuss how the wind is seen, felt, and heard Talk about kites. Build a kite. One per student. Allow students to build the kite however they wish, but show them examples/ pictures of kites so that they have an idea. Play the song “Let’s go fly a kite” in the background. Take students outside to fly their kites. (Directions to different paper kites on next few slides)

22. tape or glue

25. tape or glue

28. Cut a notch at each end of both sticks. Make it deep enough for the type of string you are using to fit in to.

29. Cut a piece of string long enough to stretch all around the kite frame.

31. Stretch the string through the notch atone end of the loop at the bottom.

33. Yesterday we had a Hurricane by Deirdre McLaughlin Mercier Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book Yesterday We Had A Hurricane re-tells the experience of a hurricane as seen through the eyes of a young child. Young readers will learn all about these big storms that come from the ocean. They'll find out about the effects of wind and rain, as well as some of the more lighthearted and practical alternatives to doing without electricity. Author/Illustrator Deirdre McLaughlin Mercier brings a deft touch and an understanding of her readers to the tale. Her colorful collage illustrations make hurricanes non-threatening and bring them down to "child size" making this book a wonderful resource for parents and schoolteachers. Each page of the story provides an opportunity to talk about the storm and the feelings associated with it.

34. Activities Read story Discuss how the students think that the boy felt throughout the story Discuss the wind and its affects on the weather Discuss the hurricane that occurred in New Orleans, LO Discuss how a hurricane happens Discuss what to do to stay safe during a hurricane Discuss the various things that the boy did without electricity Have students write a story about what they would do if they had to go without electricity for a while.

35. Cont… Standards: Science1.2.7 Write brief informational descriptions of a real object, person, place, or event using information from observations. Gardner’s: Intrapersonal Interpersonal Verbal- Linguistics

36. The Bremen-Town Musicians by Ilis Plume Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book Because their owners plan to get rid of them, four animals run away to become musicians in Bremen-town. When they frighten robbers from a house, they decide to cut their journey short by staying in the house.

37. Activities Read Story Discuss the difference between the animals in the story and real animals that we see in our lives How animals in life don’t talk and the ones in the book did Discuss the different ways that the animals moved in the story and then how animals move in real life Can real animals really dance? Allow students to write their own story about animals that can talk, sing, or dance. Play some old folk music for students to listen to while they write.

38. Cont… Standards: Science1.1.2 Investigate and make observations to seek answers to questions about the world, such as "In what ways do animals move?" Science1.4.1 Identify when stories give attributes to plants and animals, such as the ability to speak, that they really do not have. Gardner’s: Verbal- Linguistic Intrapersonal Interpersonal Musical

39. Grandpa’s Quilt by Betsy Franco-Feeney Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book Grandpa is ready for bed, but something is wrong: his favorite quilt will not cover his feet! Grandpa's grandchildren make a plan to keep Grandpa's feet warm by cutting and reshaping Grandpa's quilt. The text of this book was written from a bank of 62 words. Rookie Readers® have provided entertaining, high-quality introductions to reading for more than a generation. Each title features full-color, often hilarious illustrations and engaging stories that always involve a young child figuring out concepts or solving problems on his or her own. Every new title contains a Word List and a color-coded reading-level key on the back cover.

41. Then cut the strips into six 1-inch squares.

42. Next, snip most of the squares in half diagonally to create triangles.

43. Now experiment with various quilting patterns by arranging the pieces on top of the poster board square.

45. Spring Has Sprung by Jennifer Waters Description from Scholastic.com: About This Book Provides information about the spring season and looks at the effects of warmer weather on people, plants, and animals

46. Activities Materials needed: Styrofoam cups Markers Potting soil Flower seeds Read book Discuss how we know that it is spring time Discuss what happens to the earth when it turns into Spring Discuss what warms the earth, us, and the air Discuss the affects that the sun has on the planet Allow students to get into groups of three (3) and plant a flower seed Allow students to decorate cups As a class discuss what needs to be done to grow the seed properly Allow students to place the plant near an open window For experiments sake, place a plant away from the window to later discuss the difference that this makes.

47. Cont… Standards: Science 1.3.3 Investigate by observing and also measuring that the sun warms the land, air and water. Science 1.1.3 Recognize that and demonstrate how people can learn much about plants and animals by observing them closely over a period of time. Recognize also that care must be taken to know the needs of living things and how to provide for them. Gardner’s: Visual- Spatial Verbal- Linguistic Bodily- Kinesthetic