Mt. Lebanon Fire Department Fire Prevention Division Fire Saftey Curriculum

Lesson Plan 5.1

Objectives:
The student will understand what is needed for a fire to ignite and burn.

• The student will understand the four major heat sources.
  
  
• The student will be able to identify heat source fire hazards in the home.

Time:
40 Minutes

Materials Needed:
Fire Triangle Mock-up
Slide Projector and Screen
Heat Source Slides
Blackboard
Homework Assignment - 5.1

Activity: Approx. Time:

1. Discuss the materials needed for a fire to burn and where they are typically found.
   
   
   • Oxygen - in the air around us at all times.
     
     
   • Fuel - anything that can burn. Found throughout our environment. Ask students to name different things in the room which are fuels.
     
     
   • Heat - anything that can ignite a fuel. May be natural (lightning, volcano) or man-made (electricity, matches, etc.) Ask students to name different heat sources.
   
   
   Explain that all three of these elements being present in a room will not automatically cause a fire. They must come together in just the right mix for the fire to occur.
   
   Show the fire triangle mock-up and demonstrate the interrelationship between the three elements. 10 Minutes
   
   
2. Next discuss the basic concept of fire prevention: Not allowing fuel sources and heat sources to get together. Since there are fewer heat sources than fuels, they are usually what we try to control. On board, show 4 major classes of heat sources: Heating, electricity, smoking and matches, cooking. 5 Minutes
   
   
3. Begin slides. Slides show typical hazards found in the home related to all four types of heat sources. 20 Minutes
   
   
4. Give homework assignment. Pass our home hazard checklist. Explain how to fill out the checklist. 5 Minutes

Evaluation:
Participation in Class Discussion
Completion of Home Hazard Survey