Fire Prevention Month: Teaching Safety & Celebrating Firefighters

October is Fire Prevention Month—a time to raise awareness about fire safety while celebrating the everyday heroes who keep our communities safe. Teaching young learners about fire prevention doesn’t have to be scary—it can be hands-on, engaging, and memorable.

Below, I’m featuring three classroom-ready resources, a list of fun and educational books about fire safety and firefighters, and five activity ideas to bring Fire Prevention Month to life.

1. Firefighter Fact Booklet - Spark curiosity with this kid-friendly fact booklet that introduces PreK–Grade 1 learners to the amazing work of firefighters. Students read fascinating facts, complete a research form and comprehension check, and enjoy hands-on activities like a firefighter craft and a choice board covering multiple subjects. Perfect for community helpers week or a fire safety unit.

2. Fire Safety Interactive Activities - This resource makes fire safety memorable with interactive elements like a family homework fire safety plan, QR code stories, a Smokey the Bear activity, a fire truck interactive activity, and even digital projects using Voki and Chatterpix. Students practice 21st-century skills while learning life-saving fire prevention habits.

3. High Five to Fire Prevention Week  - Reinforce fire prevention awareness with this playful, number-focused freebie. Designed for preschool and kindergarten, it combines early math skills with fire safety concepts in a way that young learners can easily grasp.

4 How to Draw Fire Safety - This product includes 3 levels of writing support for young learners and covers the following fire safety items:  Ax, Fire, firefighter, firetruck, fire extinguisher, fire hydrant, fire station, fire dog, hose, Ladder, helicopter, hat, and jacket.

Your students will have so much fun drawing, learning, and writing while building lasting fire safety awareness!

5 Books for Fire Prevention Month:

No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons) by Jean E. Pendziwol - A fun, lighthearted story that helps children learn fire safety rules alongside a dragon friend.

Curious George and the Firefighters by Margret & H.A. Rey - Everyone’s favorite curious monkey learns about fire trucks and the important work of firefighters.

Clifford the Firehouse Dog by Norman Bridwell - Clifford visits Emily Elizabeth’s brother at the firehouse—teaching kids about fire stations in a gentle way.

A Day with Firefighters by Jan Kottke - A nonfiction introduction with real-life photos, giving young readers a glimpse into a firefighter’s daily routine.

Fire Truck by Peter Sis - With bright illustrations, this imaginative story follows a little boy who dreams of becoming a fire truck.

5 Classroom Activities for Fire Prevention Month

Create a Fire Escape Plan – Have students draw a simple map of their house and mark two escape routes.

Stop, Drop, and Roll Practice – Safely model and practice this important fire safety step as a class.

Firefighter Dress-Up or Role Play – Provide hats, coats, or pretend hoses so students can act out a firefighter’s duties.

“Five Things” Poster – Inspired by your freebie, let students create posters of five fire safety rules to hang in the classroom.

Community Connection – Invite a local firefighter (or use a video interview) to talk to students about their job and answer questions.

Fire Prevention Month is the perfect time to combine essential safety lessons with fun and engaging activities. Whether you’re using fact booklets, interactive QR codes, or free math tie-ins, your students will not only enjoy the experience but also walk away with life-saving knowledge. Pair these lessons with books and classroom activities to make October a month of both learning and safety. 

All products are found in my store: 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the Classroom

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) is a time to honor and celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. In the classroom, it’s a wonderful opportunity to spark curiosity, build respect for different cultures, and give students meaningful ways to connect history with creativity.

Below you’ll find three engaging resources designed for young learners, a list of children’s books to highlight Hispanic voices and stories, and five classroom activities that make celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month both fun and educational.

Hispanic Heritage Month Fact Booklet-This vibrant and interactive booklet introduces K–2 students to Hispanic culture in kid-friendly ways. With simple facts, a comprehension check, a guided research form, and hands-on activities like a craft, sentence sorting, and a 12-choice cross-curricular board, students can celebrate and learn with curiosity and respect.

Designing an Ofrenda - Introduce your students to Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a holiday that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed. This activity guides students in learning about ofrendas (offerings) and then creating their own using templates, graphics, or their own drawings. It’s an excellent project for both younger and older students, connecting history, art, and personal expression.

Bring art, history, and creativity together with this Frida Kahlo Fact Booklet, designed just for young learners! Students will explore the life of this inspiring Mexican artist while building skills in reading, writing, math, and more.  Celebrate art and culture while sparking creativity—Frida’s story is the perfect way to inspire young learners!

Here are 5 Children’s Books to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage:

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal - A heartwarming story about family history and identity that helps children explore the meaning behind names.

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers - A vibrant biography introducing young readers to the legendary Cuban singer who brought salsa music to the world.

Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle - Inspired by a true story, this beautifully illustrated book celebrates breaking barriers and following your dreams.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan - A powerful novel (great for older elementary) about resilience and hope, following a young girl’s journey from Mexico to the U.S.

Islandborn by Junot Díaz - With colorful illustrations, this story celebrates cultural heritage and memory as a young girl discovers more about her family’s homeland.

5 Classroom Activities for Hispanic Heritage Month:

-Create a Cultural Fact Collage – Have students gather facts about Hispanic countries, music, food, and traditions to make a classroom mural.

-Music & Dance Exploration – Play salsa, mariachi, or flamenco music, and let students explore rhythm through clapping or movement.

-Spanish Word of the Day – Introduce a simple Spanish word daily and let students practice saying it and using it in class.

-Recipe Research – Students can research or bring in family recipes inspired by Hispanic cuisine and create a class recipe book.

-Hero Spotlight – Assign students a famous Hispanic figure (like Frida Kahlo, César Chávez, or Sonia Sotomayor) and let them present a short fact, drawing, or poster.

Hispanic Heritage Month gives us a chance to celebrate culture, history, and creativity in ways that students can both enjoy and understand. Whether you’re reading inspiring books, exploring music and traditions, or working on projects like an ofrenda or fact booklet, these activities help students learn with respect and curiosity. All resources may be found in my store:

 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher  

Halloween Fun (and Non-Halloween Alternatives!) for Your Classroom

October is a month filled with excitement, creativity, and learning. Some classrooms dive into Halloween celebrations with costumes, decorations, and spooky fun, while others prefer to focus on fall themes and seasonal science instead. The best part? There are plenty of ways to make this month both festive and educational—whether you celebrate Halloween or not!

In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite Halloween-themed resources and books along with non-Halloween science activities and fall reads that fit perfectly into October learning.

These are fun Halloween resources you can find in my store:

1. Designing a Haunted House - Looking for a way to bring creativity and critical thinking into your classroom? This haunted house design project lets students practice math, reading, and writing skills while creating their own spooky designs. With two templates to choose from, kids can decorate and proudly display their haunted houses for a fun Halloween classroom atmosphere.

2. Write the Room – Halloween ThemeThis interactive literacy activity gets students up and moving! With twenty colorful Halloween vocabulary cards, task sheets, and a haunted house template with doors, windows, and decorations, students can read, write, color, and create. Perfect for centers, small groups, or early finishers.

3. How to Draw Halloween - Witches, bats, cats, and jack-o-lanterns—oh my! This directed drawing and writing set helps young learners strengthen fine motor skills, practice following directions, and build confidence in their artistic abilities. Three levels of writing are included so every student can participate at their level.

Not every classroom or family celebrates Halloween, and that’s okay—October is still the perfect time for engaging seasonal science. These fact booklets connect reading, writing, and creativity with fall themes:

4. Bat Fact Booklet - Introduce your students to the fascinating world of bats! This booklet includes coloring pages, research forms, note-taking sheets, and a fun craft—perfect for early learners exploring mammals.

5. Spider Fact Booklet - Help your students discover the amazing world of spiders with this engaging fact booklet. It includes informational pages, note-taking sheets, research forms, and a spider craft that ties science to hands-on learning.

6. Pumpkin Fact Booklet - Celebrate the season with a pumpkin study! Students can explore pumpkin facts, complete writing and research activities, and create a pumpkin craft that ties literacy to fall science.

Whether you’re planning a spooky Halloween day or a fall-themed science unit, these fun books are perfect to pair with your lessons.  Here are five Fun Halloween Books for Children:

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson – A playful rhyming story of a kind witch and her animal friends.

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds – A silly, suspenseful tale that will have kids laughing.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams – A rhythmic, interactive read-aloud that builds suspense.

Pete the Cat: Trick or Treat by James Dean – A simple and fun Halloween adventure for young readers.

How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead & Megan Litwin – A humorous Halloween addition from the popular How to Catch series.

Here are five Non-Halloween Books for October Reading:

Nightsong by Ari Berk – A beautiful story about a young bat learning echolocation.

Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson – A nonfiction picture book on the pumpkin life cycle.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen – A poetic tale of a child and parent searching for owls on a quiet night.

Spiders by Gail Gibbons – A kid-friendly nonfiction guide to spiders.

The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey – A silly, kindhearted story about friendship and acceptance.

October offers endless opportunities for both fun and learning. Whether you’re designing haunted houses and reading Halloween favorites or exploring bats, spiders, and pumpkins through science and seasonal stories, there’s something here for every classroom. With the right mix of activities and books, you can create meaningful, memorable experiences for your students all month long! 

All resources may be found in my store: 

 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher