Why Fire Safety Education Matters
Fire safety education is crucial for homeschoolers, providing them with the knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to fire emergencies. At Minooka Fire Protection District, we are dedicated to offering comprehensive resources that empower families to create safe learning environments. Our program emphasizes practical learning through interactive activities, ensuring that children understand the importance of fire safety in everyday life. Visit our Fire Safety Fun Zone Kids Page for more safety tips.
First Grade
Math
Illinois State Standards– Mathematics
First Grade:
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Represent and Solve problems involving addition and subtraction.
1.OA.1 Use addition and subtraction withing 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
Measurement and Data
Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units.
1.MD.1 Order thee objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects, indirectly by using a third object.
Represent and interpret data.
1.MD.4 Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.
Worksheets (each link will open up in a new tab)
Sparky’s Measure Up! – 1st grade
Sparky’s Fire Safety Number Maze – 1st grade
Sparky’s Kid-free Zone Measure Marker – 1st grade
Science - Fire Safety
Illinois State Standards– Science
First Grade:
Physical Science: Matter and It’s Interactions
2-PS1-4:
Construct an argument with evidence that some changes caused by heating or cooling can be reversed and some cannot.
Engineering Design
K-2-ETS1-1:
Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation peope want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or imporved object or tool.
Health and PE Standards
22.A.1c Identify dangerous situations and safety methods to reduce risks
Objectives:
The student will demonstrate understanding of:
- The Fire Triangle
- Extinguishing Fires
- Protection and Prevention from Fire
Worksheets (each link will open up in a new tab)
Fire triangle worksheet
Family-Fire-Safety Activity
Videos
Sparky – The Science of Fire
NFPA “I Spy Sounds of Fire Safety” – Smoke alarms
Science - Lithium-Ion Battery Safety (K-2)
Illinois State Standards– Science
K – 2nd Grade:
Standards Alignment
This lesson supports early elementary safety education goals, including:
- Understanding safe use of everyday technology
- Identifying safe and unsafe behaviors in the home environment
- Demonstrating personal responsibility for safety with adult guidance
Lesson Goal:
Students will understand that some toys and electronics have rechargeable batteries that need to be charged in a safe place, and that they should ask a grown-up before plugging anything in.
Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Identify common toys and electronics that use rechargeable batteries
- Explain that batteries need to be charged to work
- Recognize safe charging places (flat, hard surface) and unsafe places (like a bed or couch)
- Ask a grown-up beofe plugging anything in
Materials needed:
- The image of child and older child plugging into an outlet
- “Safe or Not Safe” flashcards
- “Charge It or Not” activity sheet
- “Sparky Safe Charging” coloring sheet
- NFPA “Buy, Charge, Recycle” safety tip sheet for parents/caregivers
Worksheets (each link will open up in a new tab)
Lesson Plan
Image of child and older child plugging into an outlet
“Safe or Not Safe” flashcards
“Charge It or Not” activity sheet
“Sparky Safe Charging” coloring sheet
NFPA “Buy, Charge, Recycle” safety tip sheet for parents/caregivers
Second Grade
Math
Illinois State Standards– Mathematics
Second Grade:
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Represent and Solve problems involving addition and subtraction.
2.OA.1 Use addition and subtraction withing 100 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
Measurement and Data
Measure and estimate lengths in standard units.
2.MD.1 Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
2.MD.4 Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.
Worksheets (each link will open up in a new tab)
Greater, Less, or Equal – 2nd grade
Firehouse Coloring Math – 2nd grade
Science - Fire Safety
Illinois State Standards– Science
Second Grade:
Physical Science: Matter and It’s Interactions
2-PS1-4:
Construct an argument with evidence that some changes caused by heating or cooling can be reversed and some cannot.
Engineering Design
K-2-ETS1-1:
Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation peope want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or imporved object or tool.
Health and PE Standards
22.A.1c Identify dangerous situations and safety methods to reduce risks
Objectives:
The student will demonstrate understanding of:
- The Fire Triangle
- Extinguishing Fires
- Protection and Prevention from Fire
Worksheets (each link will open up in a new tab)
Video
Third – Fifth Grade
Science - Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
Illinois State Standards– Science
3 – 5 Grade:
Standards Alighnment:
4-PS3-4:
Energy conversion and device testing
4-ESS3-1:
Energy use, natural resources, and environmental impact
3-5-ETS1-1:
Real-world engineering problem-solving
Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will:
- Understand what lithium-ion batters are and where they are used.
- Explain why these batteries are powerful but potentially dangerous.
- Describe the concept of thermal runaway
- Identify key safety habits to prevent battery-related fires.
Materials Needed:
- Video: The Power and Danger of Lithium-Ion Batteries (link to video is below)
- Dominoes, wooden blocks, or other stackable items
- Markers or crayons
- Chart paper or whiteboard
- Printed handouts/worksheets:
- Lesson Plan
- “Safe” and “Damaged” Charging Cord signs
- Lithium-ion Battery chart
- What Happens in Thermal Runaway chart
- Exit Activity sheet
Worksheets (each link will open up in a new tab)
Lithium-Ion Battery chart
What Happens in Thermal Runaway chart
“Safe Charging Cord” sign
“Damaged Charging Cord” sign
Exit Activity
Video
Sixth – Eighth Grade
Science - Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
Illinois State Standards– Science
6 – 8 Grade:
Standards Alighnment:
NGSS MS-PS1-1, MS-PS3.3, MS-ETS1-1
Structure and properties of Matter, Energy Transfer, Engineering Solutions
Health and Safety Integration:
Evaluating risk and safe technology use
Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will:
- Understand how lithium-ion batteries work.
- Analyze the risk of battery misuse and how thermal runaway occurs.
- Apply battery-safe practices in real life
Materials Needed:
- Video: The Power and Danger of Lithium-Ion Batteries (link to video is below)
- Whiteboard or smartboard
- Access to internet
- Sticky notes or index cards
- Printed handouts/worksheets:
- Lesson Plan
- Lithium-ion Battery chart
- What Happens in Thermal Runaway chart
Materials needed for stations:
Station 1 – Battery Fire Articles (page 5 of lesson plan) or search for articles on the internet
Station 2 – Pressure Buildup Simulation (This experiment should have adult supervision)
- 1 sealable ziplock bag (quart-size)
- 2-3 tablespoons baking soda
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1 paper towel
- Safety goggles for each student
- Optional: tray or container to catch spills
Worksheets (each link will open up in a new tab)
Lithium-Ion Battery chart
What Happens in Thermal Runaway chart
Video
For All Ages
Physical Education
Illinois State Standards–Physical Education
State Goal 20 (IELDS 20) -Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness based upon continual self-assessment.
IELDS 20.A Achieve and maintain a health enhancing level of physical fitness
20.A.ECa Participate in activities to enhance physical fitness.
20.A.ECb Exhibit increased levels of physical activity.
20A Know and apply the principles and components of health-related and skill related fitness as applied to learning and performance of physical activities
Early Childhood/Pre-K
ECa Participate in activities to enhance physical fitness.
Grades K-2
20.A.2b Regularly participate in physical activity for the purpose of sustaining or improving individual levels of health related and skill-related fitness.
Video
NFPA Learn Not to Burn Program
Learn Not to Burn Lesson Plans (Pre-K - 2nd Gr)
Below are the links to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Learn Not to Burn Program lesson plans for preschool-2nd grade.
Video:
Sparky – Hot, Not Hot, or Sometimes Hot
*All links will open up in new tabs.
Fire Safety Resources
Here are some great resouces for Fire Safety for Kids:
NFPA Sparky School House
NFPA Sparky Kids
*All links will open up in new tabs.