Lesson Plans

Fire and Life Safety Educators are invited to speak at a variety of venues. Careful planning can make the difference between an excellent visit and a mediocre one. While some folks are intimidated by longer sessions, it is the shorter ones that can be the most difficult.

10-minute mini-lesson plansThe 10-Minute mini-lesson is a helpful strategy life safety educators can implement in a variety of settings. Worship services, gatherings at the local senior center, or service club meetings may all be potential opportunities to deliver short fire safety presentations with specific audiences. audiences.

• Calling 9-1-1 from a mobile phone (PDF) – Use this lesson at a team sports event.
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms (PDF)
  • Powerpoint slides (pptx)  Canary sound (wav)
• Cooking Fires (PDF)
• Creating a 10-minute mini-lesson (PDF, 230 KB)
• Get to Know Smoke Alarms (PDF)
• Hear the Beep Where You Sleep - WHEREVER That May Be! (PDF) - Use this lesson for audiences who may be using less traditional sleeping quarters.
• Home Fire Sprinklers (PDF)
• Importance of fire alarm systems and home fire escape planning in multi-unit dwellings (PDF)
• Plan Your Home Fire Escape (PDF)
• Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (PDF)
• Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years (PDF)
• Smoke Alarms (PDF)

30-minute lesson plan
A 30-minute lesson provides the instructor an opportunity to address information related to fire safety as well as a chance to help participants develop health-enhancing attitudes around the topic. Additional time could also be used to help participants practice new skills. An increase in time does not mean you need to increase the amount of content you are covering. Remember, sometimes depth wins over breadth.

• Hear the Beep Where You Sleep (PDF)
• Smoke Alarm Basics - Rental Housing (PDF)

60-minute lesson plan60 minutes is a nice chunk of time to provide an effective fire safety lesson. An hour allows the instructor to cover content with depth as well as provide an opportunity for participants to explore helpful attitudes and practice related skills. Remember to engage learners in a different ways keep their attention for the entire lesson.   

• The Fire Challenge, A conversation with parents & caretakers (PDF)
  

NEW! Early adolescent lesson plans (Ages 10-14) 

• Careers in the Fire Service (PDF)
• Home Fire Safety — Teens Who Care for Themselves and Others in the Home (PDF)
• Making Safe & Responsible Choices (PDF)

The above lesson plans were developed by the Urban Fire and Life Safety Task Force. A small work group of members developed the core content along with NFPA staff members.
Members of the work group include:

• Olden Allen, Community Risk Reduction Officer, Atlanta Fire Rescue Department
• Larin Anttila, Public Educator, Oklahoma City Fire Department
• Dana Catts, Strategic Advisor, Seattle Fire Department
• Carlos Piedra, Assistant Fire Marshal, El Paso Fire Department
• Shelley Steele, Community Safety Officer, Calgary Fire Department