Summary
My “Firefighter Follies” project originated from brainstorming for my “Reflective Friends” visit. The children had been learning about national symbols and their origins, Veterans’ Day, veterans, and hometown heroes. The children took a real interest in learning about the services firefighters provide for us. They also became quite excited about researching the origins of national symbols. In order to develop and facilitate a learning environment where students are engaged, “Firefighter Follies” project took off! The children researched and collected data using a variety of resources including the internet, Pebble Go, and books. As the children became even more excited about firefighters, I contacted the fire chief of a local firehouse. A visit was planned. Prior to the visit, the children brainstormed questions they wanted answered. These questions were compiled into a class book. The big day arrived! Fire Chief Todd, Firefighter Scott, and Firefighter Austin arrived with all their equipment and the ladder truck! The firefighters were from Station 12, a local firehouse right up the road from our school. With the knowledge the children acquired from their research and the firefighters, Pixie slide shows were created to share the knowledge as well as Pixie certificates to give to the firefighters. The children wanted to create a “tribute” and decided that a “quilt” would be a good idea. The children had the opportunity to discover safety equipment that was present in our school. As a culminating event, we visited Station 12 and gave our “tribute” to the firefighters in person!
TIPC Ratings
The children used books, Pebble Go, and various websites to collect and synthesize information about national symbols and their origins, Veterans’ Day, hometown heroes, and firefighters. The children’s interest led them to an in depth study of firefighters. Information was also gathered from the visiting firefighter’s presentation as well as the student generated questions. (“I wan to learn about the firetruck.” “How does the hose work?” “Do firefighters have nightmares?” “What is in the fire house?” “How do you go inside the house when it’s on fire and the doors are locked?”) These are a few examples of the student generated questions. Once the information was assembled, the children created Pixie slide shows using the digital pictures taken during the firefighter visit. The voice recordings explained the various fire safety equipment the firefighters use. Samples of the slide show were published on the first grade blog allowing parents, family members, other students, and even the firefighters to view and enjoy.
In preparing for our visit with the firefighters, the children discussed what they wanted to learn from the firefighters. During their discussion and collaboration, the students recorded their questions for our visitors. The students were quite attentive as the firefighters answered their questions. A class book was made of the questions. The children enjoy perusing the book and reflected on the information learned. In addition, my first grade class collaborated with a kindergarten class to utilize a digital tool allowing the kindergarteners to create a Pixie slide show. At a later date, my QR code “experts” enjoyed collaborating with and teaching their first grade friends how to scan with the ipad as they assisted their friends on a scavenger hunt. 4th and 5th graders assisted my first graders with the scavenger hunt as well as the other station activities the students completed. The children communicated their recently acquired knowledge with community members to include parents, firefighters, and other students by creating and sharing their digital products (Pixie slide shows) via the first grade blog.
The students excitement for their study of monuments, memorials, and firefighters drove them to create a solution to an authentic problem: How do we show our appreciation for our hometown heroes, the firefighters? Their research of monuments and memorials led them to develop the “Thank You For Your Service”, Pixie certificates book as well as slide shows explaining what they learned about community service providers.
The students used the skills and knowledge they acquired to create Pixie slide shows about firefighter equipment. The children also created “certificates” to thank and honor the firefighters. My class had researched and learned that tributes are created in honor of a person and/or event. Therefore, the children decided to make a “Thank You For Your Service” quilt as a tribute to take to the firefighters on the day of our visit to Station 12.
