If you’re just joining us you may want to read the “How to set up a co-op preschool” post. Each week I’ll be sharing ideas for introducing your preschoolers to the letters of the alphabet. Not all of these ideas will work for everyone. As the year goes on, you’ll figure out what works for your group of kids. To start the alphabet, check out ideas for the letters A and B or just bookmark this page for all my preschool ideas.
E is for Emergency
This can be a very fun week for kids. Typically it’ll fall during October when most fire stations are heavily promoting fire safety. More on that next week. But for this week, let’s talk about other emergencies that can happen at home and who can help us.
Music:
Here We Are Together
The Alphabet Song
Books
Check out some non-fiction books (call numbers 628 and 629) with pictures of emergency vehicles and emergency workers. Talk about what each person does and how they can help us if we have an emergency.
Emergency Vehicles – a DK book with great pictures
Big Frank’s Fire Truck by Leslie McGuire
Coloring Pages:
Saluting Police Officer
Phone for dialing 911
Search and Find 911 (better for kids who know their numbers)
Letter E Workseet
Practice Sheet
Snack Idea:
Pretzel sticks — show the kids how to make the letter E with their food.
Eggs (hard boiled)
Free Play: Puzzles — do you have one of these Melissa and Doug Emergency Vehicles Puzzle? Basic puzzles can be fun at this age. Just be sure there’s enough for everyone to have one. Here’s a few of my other favorite puzzles: Melissa and Doug Alphabet Art, See Inside Alphabet, Farm Sounds. If you’re looking for more puzzles try garage sales or consignment/resale shops (I like Once Upon A Child).
Field Trip Idea: Visit a Police Station. We visited a small police station in a neighboring community. One of the Officers was the PR guy who showed the kids around the station. They got to see the lady who answers the phone (they all thought this was important — so they’d know who they might be talking to); big meeting room; and holding cell (all the kids called this the jail). It was a small room with an uncomfortable looking mattress. No one wanted to spend the night there. Then the kids got to see the DARE car and even sit in it. Some of the kids were nervous about sitting in a police car but could be convinced to pose for a group photo.
Note: If you have sensitive kids in your group, you may need to downplay some of the roles of emergency personnel. I’d stress that emergency workers are trained to help people. If someone in the group has had a visit to the ER, ask them about the visit. Focus on how nice the staff was and how they knew what to do and how to help the child.
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