Do you love using themes during speech therapy? I have always been a big fan of using themes for lesson planning during speech and here’s why:
- It is an easy way to build background knowledge.
- It provides a foundation that promotes generalization outside of the therapy room.
- It helps children make connections between various concepts and words.
- Themed materials actually help prevent SLP burnout.
Yes….you read that last one correctly. Using themed materials in speech therapy can actually help YOU, the SLP, prevent becoming burnt out. Who knew that the hardest part of your job would be figuring out what to do in therapy every day for the rest of your career until you retire?!
The Firefighter Theme in Speech Therapy
Why and when should you choose a firefighter theme? There are different options and reasons for this theme. You could choose to do a firefighter theme during October for Fire Prevention Month. You may have a new student who loves firefighters and you use this theme with them at the beginning of the year to make them feel comfortable and engaged during therapy sessions. You may have another teacher doing this theme at the same time or doing a unit on community helpers, so naturally this theme makes sense.
Whatever the reason, a firefighter theme in speech therapy can be tons of fun! Check out the list of everything you need right here for a fun firefighter theme in speech:
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Books about Firefighters for Speech
Flashing Fire Engines
This book works well for discussing all of the vocabulary that goes along with the fire fighter theme plus details.
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do
This is a great book for prediction. Clothes and other items are hanging as “clues” on each page and you can ask students questions such as, “Who uses a hose at work?”
Grab the book companion to use with it.
Firefighter’s Handbook
Another great introduction book for the fire fighter theme unit. Gives great background knowledge about firefighters and introduces many vocabulary terms for this theme.
Big Frank’s Fire Truck
This book is one of my favorites to use with the fire fighter theme. Big Frank tells young readers all about the ins and outs of being a firefighter in an easy-to-understand way.
A Day at the Fire Station
This fiction book about a day at the fire station is great to use with younger students to get them excited about the fire fighter theme.
Interactive Books about Firefighters
Check out these fun interactive books about firefighters as well! They are designed for teaching vocabulary concepts related to Fire Safety. This includes print and boom decks. The interactive books are designed to allow students to match pictures to each page of the book using velcro. These books are perfect for younger students to keep them engaged!
Games to Play about Firefighters
Firefighter for a Day Boom Cards
Check out this Firefighter for a Day Boom Cards for Articulation! It includes 10 firehouse themed activities for students to play. Every game has an interactive piece to it for students to manipulate while practicing speech targets.
Firefighter Bingo
This color and play Fire Safety BINGO is no prep! There are 6 black and white boards to print off as well as 24 calling cards.
Recommended speech and language BINGO adaptations:
- Describing BINGO: pull out each picture and give a physical description of the item.
- Classifying BINGO: name the category of the item on the calling card.
- Articulation carryover BINGO: Use a carrier phrase for each card when called. ie: I spy…. or I found….
Firefighter Theme Preschool Activities
Fireman Phonology: Interactive Sensory Tub Activities
Fireman Phonology is one of my favorite activities to use during the firefighter theme. This activity targets phonological disorders using minimal pairs. Print flame cards and place them around your space. Gather a small firetruck toy (or use a straw to be your pretend hose) and walk around your space putting out fires! You could also use this activity by gathering a spray bottle and small plastic bin. Laminate the cards. Have your fire fighter spray the cards with the hose (spray bottle) to put out the flame!
Dot and Go Articulation and Phonology
Dot and Go Articulation is great for younger students. You can use bingo daubers, markers, crayons or colored chips to cover the picture as they practice the target word in speech.
Includes the following skills (plus blank worksheets are also included!)
Final Consonant Deletion
Syllable Reduction
Cluster Reduction
Fronting
Gliding
Stopping
Prevocalic Voicing
Postvocalic Devoicing
/k, g, l, f, r, s, z, sh, ch, th/
Toys for Firefighter Unit
Small Plastic Fire truck
Use this in a sensory bin with articulation cards or the phonology set above. Sometimes it can be fun just to have students play with the fire truck and work on spontaneous speech skills during free play!
Fireman dress-up set
Preschool and kindergarten students always enjoy dressing the part of a firefighter to make this firefighter theme even more special.
Firefighter Theme Songs
Here Comes the Fire Truck
Fire Truck Rescue Song
Fire Truck Song from Blippi
Do you use a firefighter theme in speech therapy?
What other activities would you add?
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