Lesson Plan - Facing the Flames

Watch the Video
Watch the video “Wildfires Around the World” and ask: What are the three ingredients needed for a wildfire? What usually sparks these blazes?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• contain  
• evacuate

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about some of the challenges of fighting wildfires.

1. What are some reasons the Park Fire was hard to contain?
The Park Fire was hard to contain because there was a lot of dead vegetation in the area to fuel the fire, strong winds helped the flames spread, and the blaze was burning in a steep, rocky area with few roads that would allow firefighters to reach it.
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2. Based on the article, what are two qualities a person should have to work on a wildfire crew? Explain.
Sample response: To work on a wildfire crew, a person should have stamina, since the job may involve hiking uphill in extreme heat while carrying 15 pounds of equipment and working for 48 hours straight. A person should also have courage, since crew members may have to face “a big wall of fire coming at you.”
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3. Based on the sidebar, “How to Fight a Wildfire,” describe three tools firefighters use to battle wildfires?
Sample response: The sidebar, “How to Fight a Wildfire,” shows that firefighters use helicopters to drop chemicals or water on wildfires. They use bulldozers and chain saws to clear away vegetation that might burn, and they use hoses to spray water on flame.
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Featured Skill: Cause/Effect
Use the skill builder “Wildfire Causes and Effects” to help students notice cause-and-effect relationships in the text.
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