|
|
|
|
|
| Home > Fact
of the Week > Knowledge |
| |
|
4-05-2010
Preparedness
Facts of the Week
by
Elizabeth Hall, Emergency
Services Specialist -
Kings County Office of Emergency Management |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Knowledge
is Power
Safety
and Preparedness Websites for Kids |
PDF
of FOW Kids Safety Websites |
|
| |
| |
| Who
remembers School House Rock on Saturday
mornings? Which one are you quietly
singing right now? Yes, I know, just
the mention of “School House
Rock” has many of us who grew
up with it singing one of those catchy
little tunes at just the mention of
the name. |
 |
Originally
airing from 1973 to 1985, they became
s staple on Saturday mornings as we
watched Saturday morning cartoons.
They were on in between the cartoons
and the commercials, and just before
American Bandstand and Soul Train.
They were those animated catchy little
tunes singing about grammar, history,
science, economics, math, and civics.
With “Conjunction Junction”,
you were taught what a conjunction
was and when to use it.
With “I’m Just a Bill”,
you were taught the process
of how a bill becomes a law; and “No
More Kings” was about how America
became a free country – free from
Kings. What is the key word here? (Come
on, I’ve highlighted them for you)
That’s right, “taught”.
Did we know we were being taught? Heck
no…it was all about dancing around
the living room and singing that so-easy-to-memorize
song and watching the very clever animation
of that time. Each one was presented in
an educational, animated musical format. |
| |
| The
idea for School House Rock was born
when the creator noticed one of his
sons who was having trouble in school
remembering his multiplication tables,
knew the lyrics to many current rock
songs. And so an idea was born. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Safety
and Preparedness Websites
for Kids of
all Ages |
| In
the past three years, I have come upon some
great safety and preparedness websites for
kids of all ages that incorporate learning
with games and animation. They are educational,
but more importantly they are fun! Seven
out of the ten websites have pages for Teachers
and Parents too! Anytime we can combine learning
with fun and games is a plus for education
as far as I am concerned. I hope you visit
the sites I recommend. Whether you are a
parent, grandparent, caregiver or teacher,
you will love sharing these learning tools
with your kids. |
| |
|
-
Weather
Wiz Kids
This
website was
designed by Crystal Wicker, a television
meteorologist for an ABC affiliate
in Indianapolis. Her goal was to
have a website for kids that would
allow
them to learn more about weather.
It was also designed with parents
and
teachers in mind as a resource
tool for them to teach their children.
The
navigation bar to the left has
over 30 learning topics from everything
to types of weather, experiments,
vocabulary, photos, weather safety,
a career corner,
and a place to ask questions and
get answers from the creator herself
and
of course games!
|
|
|
- National Weather Service
This link will take you directly to the National
Weather Service page for kids, and “Playtime
for Kids”. The “Other Fun Stuff” has
links to the “Space Place”, “Building
Blocks for a Healthy Future”, Coloring
Books, and more! All links lead to a fun,
and educational way to teach children and
students about climate, water and weather.
|
|
|
- U.S. Fire Administration for
Kids
You will learn all about fire safety at USFA
Kids. With a click of a mouse, you can take
a few short lessons on Home Fire Safety, Smoke
Alarms and Escaping from Fire. There are crossword
puzzles, coloring pages, word searches, a matching
game (my favorite), and a Become a Jr. Fire
Marshal game. This is really a great way to
educate kids while having fun.
|
|
|
- Southern
California Edison’s
Science and Safety of Electricity
This website is designed for students in grades
6 through 10. Parents and teachers alike will
enjoy this site as well. This site uses articles,
experiments, and interactive games to teach
students about the science of electricity,
and how to use it safely in daily life. In
the middle of the home page is a “Teacher’s
Guide” link that will give them an overview
of the site. You will learn what static electricity
is and what makes lightning; what is a watt
and how do circuit breakers work; what happens
if you mix water and electricity; and how electricity
gets to us among other things. Yes, there are
games on this site as well. Grown ups are guaranteed
to learn a few things too!
|
|
|
- Southern
California Edison’s
Electrical Safety World
Electrical Safety World uses information, experiments,
games, and activities to teach students the
principles and practices of electrical safety.
The site is geared towards a range of interests
and reading levels and can be used by students
in elementary and middle school. (Non-readers
will be able to play the games with adult assistance.)
Topics include How Electricity Can Hurt You,
the Travels of Electricity, In case of emergency,
Tree & Power Line safety and of course, games!
|
| |
- A
Teacher’s Guide contains
three sections:
- Site
overview.
- Questions
and activities to review key safety principles.
- Experiments,
guidance and set-up.
|
|
|
- Kidd Safety
The Kidd Safety website is geared towards preventing
unreasonable risks of injuries to children
associated with consumer products. Come explore
and play all of Kidd’s challenging safety
games!
|
|
|
- Ready Kids
Fun and games with lessons, Ready Kids Activity
Book, Preparedness resources and links, and
a special link for Parents & Teachers.
With FEMA Ready Kids, you will discover how
to create an emergency kit, make a plan,
know the facts and graduate from Readiness
U! Games, coloring pages, puzzles and hidden
treasurer activities…all with a click
of the mouse!
|
|
|
- Sparky the Fire Dog
Let Sparky the Fire Dog teach
you about fire and life safety with games and
activities on his web site. Fire safety tips,
hunt for home hazards, escape planning, home
safety checklist, take a tour of a fire truck
and much more fun can be found on this website.
|
|
|
- FEMA
for Kids
Let Herman the FEMA crab teach
you how to be prepared for disasters and prevent
disaster damage. Learn what causes disasters,
play games, read stories and become a Disaster
Action Kid. Parents and Teachers there is a
page for you with activities, curriculum and
safety information you can use in the classroom
and at home. This is so cool!
|
|
|
- Code Red Safety Dog
This site is brought to you by
the Home Safety Council. Meet Rover the
Code Red Safety Dog and his safety
friends Freddie
Flashlight, Simon and Penelope. Learning
can be so much fun with all the games
on this website.
Under the “Safety Zone”, you
can download activity books, stickers,
an emergency
escape plan and a safety guide for grownups.
Teachers, there is a resource page just
for you with downloadable lesson plans,
additional
links and Spanish materials too! Parents,
we haven’t forgotten you! You have
your very own home page as well. Come check
it out!
|
| |
As
you can see, there is a lot of great information
out there geared towards safety and preparedness
for all ages —
and it’s all free!
You just need to tap into it. Like the old saying goes, “Knowledge
is Power.” How
powerful are you? |
| |
|
| Oh,
and by the way, if you are interested, there
is a 30th Anniversary Edition of School House
rock available for purchase for both home
and classroom. Some classics never die! Rock
On. |
|
|
|
Do
your part for safety awareness by passing this
information along to anyone you can think of
who would benefit.
Have
a great week, and remember…… Be
Responsible - Be Ready - Be Prepared!
Teaming Up for Emergency Preparedness
Elizabeth Hall
Office of Emergency Management
280 Campus Drive Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 582-3211, Ext. 2634
www.kingscountyoem.com
>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
