NFPA's new children's videos connect fire safety with learning

Messaging centers around importance of smoke alarms

March 20, 2014 – Two new music videos, focusing on the importance of smoke alarms, have been released by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and are currently available on its Sparky School House website. The videos, “Little Rosalie” and “What’s That Sound?,” teach young children the importance of fire safety and help children remember what they should do in the event of a fire.

Designed to help build a child’s vocabulary and fluency skills, the videos use engaging lyrics, catchy tunes and memorable dance moves to deliver a message centered on the steps children can take when they hear the sound of a smoke alarm in their homes. In “Little Rosalie,” a young girl and her brother learn the four essential steps to follow when they hear the sound of a smoke alarm. In the second video, “What’s That Sound?,” children take a wild ride on a flying smoke alarm as the band cycles through a series of fun musical genres, teaching kids along the way what to do when they hear the sound of a smoke alarm.

The videos feature Public Broadcasting System (PBS) personality Steve Rosnolek of “SteveSongs” fame and the top-ranked Seattle children’s band, Recess Monkey.

 


Little Rosalie - A young girl and her brother learn the four essential steps to follow when they hear the sound of a smoke alarm.


What’s That Sound? - Children take a wild ride on a flying smoke alarm as the band cycles through a series of fun musical genres.

 

The Sparky School House website, with the tagline “Where Fire Safety Connects with Learning,” is host to the music videos, a number of lesson plans on important fire safety topics for teachers of grades PreK-3, aligned to Common Core State Standards, and guides to help kids follow the choreography in the videos. The videos are available on the video channels SchoolTube and YouTube for classroom and home access.

“While March is ‘Music in Our Schools’ month, these videos and accompanying lesson plans provide important safety information that can be used year-round,” said Judy Comoletti, NFPA’s public education division manager. “The videos provide a great opportunity for fire educators, teachers and parents to use these wonderful music and movement videos to teach fire safety to preschoolers through grade 2 students.”

A 2013 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, provided the funding for this project.

For more information about the videos and the Sparky School House lesson plans, visit www.sparkyschoolhouse.org.

About Sparky the Fire Dog®
Sparky the Fire Dog was created for the NFPA in 1951 and has been the organization’s official mascot and spokesdog ever since. He is a widely recognized fire safety icon that is beloved by children and adults alike. In addition to connecting with the public through educational programs, he has a very active website, sparky.org, which allows kids to explore and learn about fire safety in a safe, interactive environment. Sparky the Fire Dog® is a registered trademark of NFPA.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

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Contact: Lorraine Carli, Public Affairs Office: +1 617 984-7275