A guide for using our resources

Children will compare the jobs of fire dogs long ago and today.

Vocabulary: alarm, calm, engines, firefighters, sirens, snuggles

Social Studies Focus: technology changes over time

Health and Safety Focus: fire safety

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

Paired Text: Dot the Fire Dog by Lisa Desimini

  • Dot lives at the firehouse. She keeps the firefighters company.
  • Then, DING! The fire bell rings. Follow Dot and the firefighters as they come to the rescue!

Poem: Count on Spot!

  • Hold up one finger for each dot as you recite this counting poem:


I have a fire dog named Spot.

Fire Dog Spot has got one dot.

He grew one more—now what’s he got?

Let’s count! There are two dots on Spot!
 

(Repeat, inserting two and three on the next verse, three and four on the next, and so on.)

Class Brainstorm: All About Fire Dogs

  • In the center of a web, write fire dogs.
  • At the ends of the spokes, write things children learned about fire dogs, such as: keep firefighters company; used to run in front of fire trucks; used to keep horses calm; live at the fi rehouse; snuggle with firefighters; and so on.
  • Invite children to look at the web for ideas when completing the handson activity (below).

Hands-on Activity: Make a Fire Dog

Skill: art, writing

Materials: Make a Fire Dog! skill sheets, paper plates, crayons, glue

  • Give each child copies of both skill sheets, along with a paper plate. Have children cut out the hat, ears, and bone on the skill sheet.
  • Next, have kids glue the ears to the sides of the plate and glue the hat on top. They can draw the dog’s face in the middle of the plate and draw spots on the ears. Then they can write their name on the badge and color the rest of the fi re hat red.
  • Have children write one fact they learned about fire dogs on the bone. They can tape the bone to the bottom of the plate, so it looks like the dog took a bite! Post kids’ work for an informative and adorable display.