KS1 Topic: The Great Fire of London Block E: Fire Safety Then and Now

Session 1 Fireman Jim’s Account
National Curriculum / History: Pupils should be taught about changes within living memory; Pupils should be taught about events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally.
Teaching Objectives / To compare fighting today and in the 17th Century; To learn about fire-fighting during The Great Fire of London.
National Curriculum / English: Pupils should be taught to participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates, listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers.
Teaching Objectives / To understand stories that tell you about people and the past.
Resources
Putting Out Fires; Fireman Jim´s Account; Fire Equipment Then and Now; Sample Venn Diagram; Blank Venn Diagram; Empty spray bottles; Read and black tape; Labels; Water; Read and yellow paper; Scissors; Sticky tape. / Weblinks
http://www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/about-us/virtual-tour#.VEgDEhY9fDc - Virtual tour of a fire engine.
Whole class: Before this session you need to prepare the resources described in ‘Putting Out Fires’ (session resources).
Read ´Fireman Jim´s account´ (session resources). Ask chn to stand up and step into the story and imagine they are seeing The Great Fire of London through Fireman Jim´s eyes. Where the story indicates, chn can join in with actions (e.g. at ´he grabbed his fire-fighter hat´, ask chn to put on their imaginary hats. Now you have your fire-fighter hats you are just like Jim: ready to put out the flames!
Ask chn to pick up the ready-made fire extinguishers. Then, in groups, they search for the flames inside/outside the classroom. When chn have found the flames they can spray them with water using their extinguishers. Chn then return to class. How did you find that activity? Tiring? What do you think it would have been like being a fire-fighter during The Great Fire of London?
Show chn the Sample Venn Diagram on the IWB (session resources). Venn diagrams are visual organisers. You will now organise all the information that you heard from Fireman Jim´s account with your knowledge of fire-fighters and their equipment today. Guide the chn through the format and then had out copies of the Blank Venn Diagram (session resources). Now you will have a go on your own!
Medium/ Hard
The chn cut out pictures of fire equipment, and stick and label them on the Venn diagram. The chn should also add their own examples.
Teacher to focus on the Hard group. / Easy
The chn cut out pictures of fire equipment and stick them on the Venn Diagram to highlight the differences between fire-fighters today and in the 17th Century. They then label the pictures where they can (see session resources).
Plenary / What are the differences between being a fire-fighter then and now? Share the chn’s responses. How did you decide to sort the pictures? Select chn to show their work and describe their choices. Do all chn agree? Go on a virtual tour of a fire engine. Do you recognise all the equipment?
Outcomes / Children will
·  Compare fire- fighting today and the 17th Century
·  Learn about fire-fighting during The Great Fire of London
·  Listen to stories that tell you about people and the past
·  Participate in discussions

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