Risk Watch: Make Time for Safety

Lights, Camera, Action
Grades 1-2
by Candyce M. Jones, Glenwood, IL
2000 "Teacher of the Year" Award nominee

In cooperation with the Glenwood Fire Department, students will create a video, "Adopt a Firefighter."
Students will interview members of the Glenwood Fire Department in a simulation of a television interview program.
Students will be able to identify members of the Glenwood Fire Department.
Students will increase their understanding of the role of firefighters in the community.

Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization and structure.
Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.
Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.
Understand the roles and interaction of individuals and groups in society.

Each Springtime, members of the Glenwood Fire Department meet with the staff at Longwood school to plan, and expand the Learn Not to Burn and Risk Watch programs. As a result of a brainstorming session, staff members of both our school and the fire department decided to produce a video that was a simulation of a television interview program. Students would interview members of the Glenwood Fire Department about their lives, their training, and their jobs. A school-wide contest would be held to select the students. The video team from our local high school would be asked to tape, and edit the video. The video would be shown to all the students at our school.

Staff members named the contest, "Lights, Camera, Action." Two students from each classroom in grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 would be selected to participate in the videotaping. The criteria for selection would be tied to the Illinois Learning Standards: for writing, speaking, and social systems. Students would be involved in the selection of the participants.

Create a core committee of teachers from each grade level to coordinate the activity, establish a time line, define the selection criteria, and create forms.
Notify students, parents, and staff members of the contest including deadlines, and selection criteria.
Publicize the event.
Hold the contest, and select classroom representatives.
Notify parents of the classroom representatives.
Practice with the students.
Coordinate activities with the Glenwood Fire Department and the videotaping team.
Videotape the program.
Share the videotape with all the students in the school.