A Handful of Fire Safety Tips

Here's a unique art project that my students do every year during our fire safety unit.  After talking about various fire safety tips, each child makes this fun painted campfire.  

Before the activity, my staff and I cut a 3 x 6 inch piece of brown construction paper.  Then we draw a line down the middle of it.  The children use their cutting skills to cut it apart and glue it in the shape of an X at the bottom of their paper to serve as the firewood. They then glue the fire safety tips as described below to the top of the page.  Next, they dip one hand in red tempera paint and the other in yellow.  They put their hands on the page to start their campfire painting. Lastly, they rub their hands together to making orange paint, which is the final touch to the campfire.  

My Class's Handful of Fire Safety Tips are:

1. If you see a fire, dial 9-1-1.
2. If your clothes catch on fire:  STOP, DROP, & ROLL.
3. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors once a month.
4. Help your family make a fire escape plan with two possible exits.
5. Decide on an outdoor meeting place in case your house catches on fire.

Not only is it a fun project to end our Fire Safety unit, but it also serves as a science experiment  -- “What color did you make when your red hand mixed with your yellow hand?” 

Teacher's Tip:  For students who do not like to have paint on their hands you can have them use sponges that are cut in the shape of hand prints, or try having them wear rubber gloves.  

Instructor's Insight:  I learned from a parent, who attended the STAR center, Sensory Therapies and Research Center, have a wet wash cloth right next to the space where the students are painting.  If children see there is a way to remove the paint from their hands quickly, they are more likely to give it a try.  It seems like a silly fix but when I gave it a try with a little guy who hated to get his hands messy, it worked like a charm.