Governor's Institute for Career Education and Work
Using A Fire Extinguisher

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Governor’s Institute for Career Education and Work Activity

by Kimberly Notestine and Norma Orner

Title

Using A Fire Extinguisher
Standards Addressed
  • 13.2 D Evaluate health and safety practices in the workplace.
  • 10.3.9 A Analyze the role of individual responsibility for safe practices and injury prevention in the home, school, and community.
  • 2.5.8 C Interpreting Results.
  • 3.2.8 A Nature of scientific knowledge.
  • 1.3.8 A Read and understand essential content of informational tests and documents in all academic areas.
Brief Overview Students will be able to identify and use the different types of fire extinguishers. They will know different work environments require different kinds of extinguishers.
Grade Level 8th
Content Area(s) Science, Reading, Math
Other Standards Supported ASCA, PSCA, NCDG
Prep Time 30 minutes
Implementation Time 60 minutes
Learning Objectives Students will understand the differences between types of fire extinguishers and how to choose, use and purchase the correct one for your workplace.
Materials Needed
  • Computer access (or price list)
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Materials to burn
Detailed Activity Steps
  1. Have students read and discuss the different kinds of fire extinguishers. (Water, Dry Chemical, and Carbon Dioxide)
  2. Ask the local fire company to bring in an example of each type of extinguisher.
  3. As an outside activity, have a firefighter set up a burn barrel and show proper extinguisher use possibly allowing some of the students to try.
Have students use the internet (or price list) to calculate the cost for 5 extinguishers needed at a business site. The business site is an office area and contains furniture, paper files and computers. Have the students decide which extinguisher type they would use and calculate the cost. They can choose one kind of extinguisher or a combination. They then need to look up the cost on a specific website (ex. Lowes.com) and do the math.
Theory Basis Trait and Factor Theory
Evaluation/Assessment Discussion of choices in the math project to demonstrate knowledge.
Comments Make sure the students are given a description of the work environment so they can make appropriate choices of extinguishers.
Enhancement Activities The student could use the internet or store fliers to do a cost comparison of extinguishers.
Adaptation for At Risk Students Students could be paired up to do the decision/math exercise, possibly using calculators for the math.
Resources

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