The provided source materials describe a collection of free, printable educational resources designed to teach children about emergency preparedness, specifically focusing on when and how to dial 911. These materials are primarily created by educators and parents for use in homes, classrooms, and homeschooling environments. The resources range from instructional booklets and practice worksheets to craft activities and visual aids. They aim to help children recognize emergencies, understand the role of community helpers, and practice dialing emergency services using simulated tools. The content is intended for educational purposes to build confidence and safety awareness in children, particularly those of reading age or in Pre-K through 5th grade.
Categories of Free 911 Educational Materials
The available materials can be categorized into instructional guides, practice activities, and visual aids. These resources are designed to be printed and used immediately by parents, teachers, or guardians.
Instructional Guides and Booklets
Several sources offer comprehensive guides to teach children about emergency response. * DIY 911 Emergency Book: A free, printable book created by a parent for children of reading age. The book features simple, straightforward language in large print to ensure children can read and understand what to do in an emergency. Instructions specify printing the sheets on paper or card stock and assembling them by stacking and stapling. The user is instructed to add personal information to the book. * "Who Ya Gonna Call?" Emergent Reader: This is a 24-page booklet (part of a larger 61-page packet) that uses Dolch sight words to teach the emergency number. It utilizes a catchy tune (referencing the Ghostbusters theme) to reinforce the lesson. * Numbers to Know – Learning Activities: An excerpt from an eBook titled "Numbers to Know – How to Teach Children to Deal with Emergencies." This ten-page set is Step #3 in a larger series and is designed to reinforce lessons taught in previous steps (Story Time and Teaching Guide). It helps children identify what constitutes an emergency and introduces them to "special people" in the community.
Practice Activities and Worksheets
To ensure comprehension and retention, many resources include hands-on practice elements. * Practice Scripts and Scenarios: Some resources provide five practice scripts that simulate real-life emergencies, allowing students to practice what it is really like to call 911. Other materials offer scenarios to help students determine when it is appropriate to dial 911. * Printable Dialing Phones: Several sources mention printable telephone templates. One is a telephone that can be colored and laminated for practice or displayed near a real phone as a reminder. Another resource includes a printable phone specifically for practicing dialing 911. For students with visual scanning difficulties, one worksheet highlights the "9," "1," and "Send" buttons. * "When Should I Call 911?" Cell Phone Craftivity: This activity is designed to test student comprehension after a lesson. It reinforces the distinction between real emergencies and non-emergencies. * 911 Safety Quiz: A quiz is available where kids hold up a blue sign (Yes! call) or a red sign (No! Don't call) to answer questions about when to dial 911. The signs are trimmed, folded, and glued together for use.
Visual Aids and Supplemental Materials
Visual tools are included to support different learning styles and reinforce key concepts. * About Me Page: A component of one activity set allows a child to fill out and memorize their important personal information, which can be critical in an emergency. * Community Helper Images: One resource includes images of community helpers (e.g., police, firefighters) and WH-questions to help children understand who responds in an emergency. * Visual Checklists: A visual guide is available for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) students to practice dialing emergency services.
Sourcing and Reliability
The sources for these materials vary in their authority and purpose. * Teacher-Created Content: A significant portion of the materials comes from TeachersPayTeachers (TPT), a marketplace for educator-created resources. The specific TPT resource mentioned is rated 5 out of 5 stars based on one review and is listed as free. It is described as an "all-inclusive emergency preparedness activity." * Parent-Blog Content: One source is a personal blog post by a stay-at-home mother who created a DIY 911 book. While the intent is educational, this is a user-generated resource rather than an official publication. * Community and Safety Initiatives: Another source is a blog post associated with a "Child Safety Challenge," which promotes free safety printables and encourages social media engagement. It also lists commercial safety products, such as medical alert seatbelt covers, though these are not free. * Commercial Educational Suppliers: Foremost Promotions is identified as a commercial vendor offering both stock and custom 911-themed educational products. Their page describes a "specialty store" with over 100 products, including items featuring their "Emergency Ernie" character. While they sell products, their page serves as an informational resource on the types of educational materials available in the market.
Key Themes and Educational Objectives
Across the various materials, several consistent educational objectives are present: 1. Defining an Emergency: Teaching children to distinguish between situations that require 911 and those that do not. 2. Proper Dialing Technique: Practicing the physical act of dialing 911, including handling number confusion (e.g., 6s and 9s) and using non-working or simulated phones. 3. Communication Skills: Helping children learn what to say when calling 911, often through scripted practice. 4. Safety Awareness: General safety concepts, such as recognizing hazards and knowing personal information, are integrated into some of the broader safety packets.
It is noted that these educational tools are not intended to diagnose or treat any individual but are strictly for preventive education and preparedness.
Conclusion
The provided source materials outline a robust ecosystem of free, printable resources dedicated to teaching children critical 911 emergency protocols. These materials are predominantly generated by educators and parents and distributed through platforms like TeachersPayTeachers and personal blogs. The resources are comprehensive, covering instructional content, interactive practice activities, and visual aids tailored for various age groups and learning needs. While commercial products also exist in this space, the focus of the available free materials is on hands-on, printable education to build children's confidence and competence in handling emergencies.