Storytime: Community Heroes

The fire departments of DeWitt and Jamesville
brought their trucks for the kids to see inside!

Kids get really excited when they hear the sound of a fire truck coming down the street. The brave men and women who wear uniforms and help keep us safe are big parts of our community. Going along with this year's CSLP theme of "Every Hero Has a Story," I planned a Community Heroes storytime. This is a great way to introduce children to police officers, firefighters, and paramedics; you can even invite them to your library so kids can see the types of uniforms they wear and the vehicles they drive!

BOOKS:



Keeping You Safe: A Book About Police Officers by Ann Owen
My Truck is Stuck! by Kevin Lewis
I’m Brave! by Kate McMullan
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling

RHYMES & SONGS:

Action Rhyme: Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck

Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
(place hands on imaginary steering wheel)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(lean to the right)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(lean to the left)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(lean to the right and left)
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
(pretend to climb ladder)
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
(pretend to spray hose)
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Slowly, slowly, back to the station
(lean slowly to the left and right)
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(ring bell)

Source: Collaborative Summer Library Program manual

Fingerplay: Five Brave Firefighters

Five brave firefighters
Standing in a row
Ring goes the bell
And down one goes….

Source: Read, Rhyme and Sing

I gave scarves to the kids, and I used jingle bells to sound the "bell." When the "bell" went off, the kids waves their scarves around. It was super fun!

Song: "Obsessed By Trucks"
by Justin Roberts (from CD Jungle Gym)

This is a fun song for the kids to dance to. Put out a bunch of instruments and have them "drive" around the room.

CRAFT:

Officer Buckle Hat

I found a template for a police hat here, and cut out all the pieces ahead of time. The kids assembled their hat with a glue stick. I gave the parents construction paper bands that they fit around their child's head. I love when I can connect a craft directly to a book!