PEOPLE-"Our Local Firemen and their Big Red Engine"

Our children's interest in transport prompted a visit from the local fire service. Leading up to their visit we have been looking at videos, pictures and dress-up.
The use of technology was extremely valuable in helping our children to gain prior knowledge of the role of the fire service. By downloading You tube videos that showed our children the role of the firefigthers helped develop an understanding of the role the fire service plays in our lives.
"Using computers with young children should be a process of exploration and discovery for both teacher and child" (Haugland, 1997, p.15).
In dramatic play our children began dressing up in firefighter hats and jackets and pretending to be firemen and women.

No fires today so our local firefighters were able to come to along with their truck and treat our children and teachers to a very exciting visit. The whole centre turned out, eager to have their turn exploring the firetruck. Happy faces eager to absorb everything the firefighters had to say. The fire men were very good at engaging the children and had them hanging onto their every word!

 First our firefighters gave us a tour of the truck, demonstrating all the different parts, tools and features found on the truck.

This was very exciting for the children and the teachers

The fireman explained how the cutters were used when they needed to gain access to a fire. "It's cuts the car" M told D quite proudly. Both boys looked up at the large cutters and agreed. they had seen a video where the firemen cut open a car to release a trapped person.

Inviting the fire service along to the centre helps children to make connections with events that happen in our centre such as our fire drills.

"Children develop an understanding of the links between the early childhood education setting and the known and familiar wider world" (Ministry of Education, 1996, p. 56).  

Practising our fire drills is an important part of educating our children to keep them safe in the event of a fire. Visits from our local fire service help our children to understand and make links with the centre, home and community.

The children eagerly waited for the demonstration with the hose. This demonstration received the loudest cheer, especially when he turned around and sprayed the water over the crowd.

Next we needed a volunteer to get dressed into the protect wear firefigthers need to have on when they are fighting fires. 

 M our toddler teacher, volunteered eagerly. Our firemen explained each piece of uniform and equipment as it was placed on M. 

I was surprised how patient and attentive our children were during the visit. Technology is all around us and as teachers we are able to readily access all forms of technology to help support our children's learning.
Using technology helped our children tie together and make sense of their world. Because we have been showing videos, books, pictures and dress up relating to the fire service, our children were very keen and excited to view the real deal!