Learn as a Responsible Citizen

There are two topics in this section. This information will help you discover the answer to the following questions:

  • Do you know how quickly a fire grows?
  • What are the three ways a fire can be extinguished?
  • How can you tell when people around you are trying to influence you?

How Fires Start: The Fire Triangle - How is Fire Created and Extinguished?

Fire needs 3 elements to exist. Do you know what they are?

So Now What?

How can knowing about the fire triangle help me? Watch the video below to learn more.






Act as a Responsible Citizen – Think Challenge #1

How do fire extinguishers work?

There are different fire extinguishers made for dealing with certain fires. Visit the sites below to collect information about these various extinguishers. How do they cause the fire extinguishing material to shoot out of the extinguisher?

Now, imagine that you have been hired to make a report and recommendations to your school about the type(s) of fire extinguishers they require in the school.

Creating a Presentation

Work with a partner to prepare a multimedia presentation that outlines the types of fire extinguishers that are required in your school. Include details and examples. Explain why it is important to have different types of extinguishers in several locations.

Your presentation can include a combination of any of the following:

  • PowerPoint
  • video clips
  • digital pictures
  • posters
  • sound clips
  • dramatic presentations

Act as a Responsible Citizen – Think Challenge #2

What's wrong with this fire?

In the city of Calgary, people are allowed to have fires in their back yard. However, there are certain regulations that they must follow.

Click here to visit The City of Calgary's information page about the use of fire pits.

What Can You Do?

Form into groups of 3 or 4 and discuss how you could present this material in a more interesting and interactive way. What sort of multi-media tools would you use? (e.g. PowerPoint, webpage editor, digital camera, digital video camera)

Make a plan with your group and create a presentation about proper use of fire pits in Calgary.

Show your presentation to the class and if possible invite a representative from The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services and/or the Calgary Fire Department to view your presentations.

Peer Influence

What are Friends For?

Make sure the campfire is out!

Part of being a friend is helping someone when they really need it. Watch the video below to see what the Community Safety Officer for the Calgary Fire Department says about helping people who play with fire.

The Y-Fires Program

There is help for young people who are fascinated with setting fires.

Watch the video below of Glen Westrop, Community Safety Officer for the Calgary Fire Department.

Act as a Responsible Citizen – Think Challenge #3

Spread the Word, Not the Fire

When we hear the term peer influence we often think of it as a bad thing, but peer influence can also be used to help others our own age make good decisions.

Read the poem below written by one of the students at Cappy Smart Elementary school.

Matches
Dangerous, hot
Blow them out!
Scary, frightened, burning,
Painful,
Lighter

What can you do?

In groups or as a class, create your own collection of poetry and/or stories that tells others about fireplay. Can you think of different ways that you could share your writing with the school and the community?

If you want to get more information go to the Calgary Fire Department's website http://www.calgary.ca/fire/

Act as a Responsible Citizen – Think Challenge #4

It was just for fun...

Click on the play button below to hear a teenager talk about a scary experience he had while playing with fire.

After listening, think about all the people involved in this incident. Who did this affect besides Sean?


Presenting Many Points of View

Once you have chosen a person other than Sean, rewrite the story from his/her point of view. Describe the person's actions and how he/she felt before the incident happened, during the incident, and afterwards.

When you're finished make a visual representation of your story. This may be made either digitally (on the computer) or by hand.

Get together in groups and read each other's stories and share your visual representations.

Act as a Responsible Citizen – Think Challenge #5

The Campfire

The campfire is a great place to gather around with your friends and family. Yet, we all need to take responsibility for keeping the fire under control.

Did you know that in 2000, there were 3100 forest fires started in Canada by careless handling of fire, and 336 of these were in Alberta? These fires not only burn thousands of hectares of forest, but they also kill wildlife and endanger the homes of people living in the area. Go to the sites listed below, and read about suggestions for camp fire safety. You can also find more information on your own.

Creating a Multimedia Presentation

With a partner prepare a multi-media presentation, a short play, or a poster that shows people how to prevent forest fires. It is important that you also convince your audience that fires started by campers are a serious problem, so information about careless fire use should be included in your presentation or poster.

Show your presentations or plays to other classes in the school or put your posters up around the school for others to see.