Were you ever holding storytime when the fire bell sounded?
It happened at our storytime last week, and although it was a scheduled fire evacuation practice, storytime should have just/almost have finished when the alarm was scheduled. We did have some notice, not enough to re-schedule, but sufficient to change the theme to fire engines. We started off very promptly and set off at a clip, after giving them fair warning of what was to happen.
Song: Hello, How are you? (now my favourite opening song)
Rhyme: 5 Little Fire Engines (adapted from So Tomorrow's 5 Little Fire Trucks)
1 fire engine [thumb up]
2 fire engines [index finger up]
3 fire engines [middle finger up]
4 [ring finger up]
5 fire engines all in a row [pinkie finger up]
Back to the fire station they all go! [Thumb into palm with fingers folded over the thumb].
Action Song: Hurry, Hurry Drive the Fire Truck (a Barney favourite from Kiddles suggested by Storytime Katie)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck, [pretend to steer]
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck,
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck,
Ding, ding, ding, ding!
... turn the corner [lean to the right & then to the left]
... Climb the ladder [pretend to climb ladder]
... spray the water [pretend to spray hose]
Slowly, slowly, back to the station [pretend to steer slowly].
Song: If you want to read a book, clap your hands (do this every time)
Action Rhyme: I Wiggle my fingers (do this one everytime too)
Story: Meeow and the big box, Sabastien Braun
Cute black cat makes his own fire engine from a cardboard box and household items. This went down well and was borrowed after, so yeah!
Cute black cat makes his own fire engine from a cardboard box and household items. This went down well and was borrowed after, so yeah!
THE BELL RANG NOW!!!!
I cleared the library, saw them out of the building, apologised to the participants. They all went home (so I thought) and Staff and diehard customers walked to the rallying point. After the 'all clear' we returned to the library. All the storytime mums were waiting for us - they hadn't changed their books! They were eager to do some more, so we continued ...
I cleared the library, saw them out of the building, apologised to the participants. They all went home (so I thought) and Staff and diehard customers walked to the rallying point. After the 'all clear' we returned to the library. All the storytime mums were waiting for us - they hadn't changed their books! They were eager to do some more, so we continued ...
Song: The Wheels on the bus
Story: The journey home from Grandpa's, Jemima Lumley
A story/song about a variety of vehicles seen on the journey to Grandpa's house, including a fire engine. We didn't sing it, I was still in shock from seeing them all again so soon! I wasn't happy with all the repititon (the more the merrier usually), so I skipped quite a few of the lines. It would have been much better to sing it (note to self).
A story/song about a variety of vehicles seen on the journey to Grandpa's house, including a fire engine. We didn't sing it, I was still in shock from seeing them all again so soon! I wasn't happy with all the repititon (the more the merrier usually), so I skipped quite a few of the lines. It would have been much better to sing it (note to self).
Action Rhyme: Fireman, Fireman Turn Around (adaptation of Teddybear, teddybear)
Fireman, fireman, turn around
Fireman, fireman, touch the ground
Fireman, fireman, show your big work boot [no scanning here!]
Fireman, fireman, that will do
Fireman, fireman, climb the stair
Fireman, fireman, jump in the air
Fireman, fireman, turn out the light
Fireman, fireman, say good night.
Fireman, fireman, turn around
Fireman, fireman, touch the ground
Fireman, fireman, show your big work boot [no scanning here!]
Fireman, fireman, that will do
Fireman, fireman, climb the stair
Fireman, fireman, jump in the air
Fireman, fireman, turn out the light
Fireman, fireman, say good night.
Closing Song: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (as per usual)
Extra song we didn't do (the age make-up of the group was too young, and we had to drop something). Actually this would make a good flannel, but I didn't have enough red felt.
Five Little Firemen (From Early Years Experience)
Five little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 3 4 5 lets go.
Jump on the engine with a SHOUT,
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Four little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 3 4 shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Three little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 3 shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Two little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 shhh shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
One little firemen standing in a row,
1 shhh shhh shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
1 2 3 4 5 lets go.
Jump on the engine with a SHOUT,
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Four little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 3 4 shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Three little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 3 shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
Two little firemen standing in a row,
1 2 shhh shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
One little firemen standing in a row,
1 shhh shhh shhh shhh lets go.
Jump on the engine with a Shout
As quick as a wink the fire is out.
I used some of the items for my Rising 3's group later in the week, and we read the books: Touch and feel fire engine, and The journey home from Grandpa's. They really enjoyed the Hurry, Hurry song, although none of them (nor the teachers) were familiar with it previously.
I have never heard of a fire drill at a library before! Here, they are just in schools.
ReplyDeleteWe don't do fire drills at my library, but I did have the fire alarm go off just after storytime ended once! It was (thankfully) a false alarm.
ReplyDeleteI love how you incorporated the drill into a fire engine theme! It's like the ultimate activity to do during storytime. :)
Thanks! Not knowing just when the bell would ring was a bit stressful though! Pass on my regards to Quacky http://fallingflannelboards.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/storytime-ducks/
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