F is for Fire, Friendly Firefighters and Fast Firetrucks

This was a fun week.  We finished up our Things That Go theme by learning about the letter F and fire, fire trucks and fire fighters.  We also used this week as an opportunity to talk about fire safety.  Of all weeks, June Bug got her first burn too. :-(  She touched a pan after I pulled it out of the oven and got a little blister.  Her understanding of "HOT" is much more complete now. It is certainly ironic how what we are learning about seems to tie in so closely with our weekly experiences.  June Bug loved getting dressed up in the fire fighter outfit we put together.  Leila loved yelling out, "Stop! Drop! Roll!" and acting out the movement routine at random times throughout the day. Too funny!  We also talked about how God is our Rescuer just like fire fighters rescue us from the danger of fire. It was a good conclusion to a really fun six weeks of learning about Things That Go.

Next week we will start our new theme, Fall Fun.  Our first week we will learn about apples.  The following weeks we will learn about falling leaves, scarecrows and pumpkins.  I am super excited and hope to plan some fun outings as well!  Stay posted!

BOOKS OF THE WEEK:

At the Firehouse
By: Anne Rockwell







See How They Go! Fire Truck
By: DK Publishing





Here Comes the Fire Trucks
By: Peter Spier






First Look at Rescue Vehicles
By: Laura Gates Galvin and Susan Eaddy

BIBLE VERSE:
"Call out to God in times of trouble, and He will rescue you."
Psalm 50:15
(Easy- to- Read version)

LETTER OF THE WEEK: F

     
    - F is for fire.
      (Glue piece of tissue paper to create flames)
   
    - F is for fire hydrant.
      (Glue construction paper shapes)

    - F is for fire truck.
      (See ART CONNECTION below)

    - F is for firefighter.
      (Print an image of a firefighter and color)

MUSIC CONNECTION:

Firefighter Song (from Kinder Korner)
(tune: I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little firefighter on the go.
Here is my helmet
Here is my hose.
When I see a fire,
Hear me shout:
"Turn on the water
and put the fire out!"

ART CONNECTION: Fire Truck Collage
(adapted from the blog, Arts and Craft Ideas and Inspirations Blog)

        What you will need:
            - white paper
            - cut up pieces of red, orange and yellow tissue paper
            - red and black construction paper to create a truck and wheels
            - Elmer's glue and water
            - paintbrushes
            - pipe cleaners
            - a piece of yarn (I used black felt with sticker on the back for the hose and the wheels.)
            - blue ribbon, cut up
         
         How to Make:
            1. Have your tot help rip up pieces of red, orange and yellow construction and tissue paper. 
                Then have your tot place pieces of paper strips on their paper and paint in place with
                Elmer's glue mixture to create a fire collage.
            2. Once the collage is dry, have your tot glue red shapes to create a fire truck and black circles
                for tires. 
            4.  Bend pipe cleaners to create a ladder.  Help your tot glue these onto her paper.
            5.  Use the piece of yarn to create a hose.  Have your tot glue this in place.
            6.  Have your tot glue pieces of blue ribbon to create water.
         

CRAFTY CORNER: Styrofoam Cup Firefighter Dog Craft for Kids

This craft was pretty challenging for the girls.  I had to cut and paste most of the project.  The girls did peel back the sticker paper on the black felt and put the spots on the ears.  They did also enjoy playing with their puppy puppets upon completion!

What you will need:
            Styrofoam cup
            Red construction paper, cut out to be a hat
            White construction paper, cut out to be ears
            sticky black felt for spots
            Small black pompom
            Black Marker
            Wiggly eyes
            Glue

        How to make:
        Cut helmet on red and dog ears on white construction paper (see picture above).  With a black             marker color black dots on the ears and glue to the front of paper cup.  Glue pompom for its                 nose and wiggly eyes to the front and let dry.  Add glue to the helmet flap and attach to the top
        of the head. Add a mouth with a black marker. Insert your hand into the cup and use as puppet.

MATH CONNECTION:  Counting Fire Detectors...
I printed off the My Fire Inspection Checklist found at Sparky.org and after we counted fire detectors we went around inspecting the house.

MOTOR SKILLS: Dramatic Play
(adapted from the Totally Tots blog)

We pretended to be firefighters and we practiced the “stop, drop, and roll” routine.  We also made fire fighter hats out of foam board.  (See instructions here.)
 

FOOD FUN: Fresh French Fried Potatoes

I found this idea on the blog, Seasaltwithfood.  They turned out great!  The girls loved breaking the "chips" apart and dipping them in ketchup.  Yum! I will definitely be making these again!

Ingredients

6 medium-sized potatoes
2 - 3 garlic cloves, thinly chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
1-2 Tbsp butter, chopped
sea salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 425˚F. Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals.

Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.