Disaster Services Publications:
Materials for Teachers and Schools

Updated October, 2002

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For Teachers and Schools   |   For Children

Many American Red Cross Community Disaster Education materials about natural hazards are used in classrooms every day. The materials specifically designed for classroom/school use are listed below. For information about materials on natural hazards, see the Subject Index.

Curriculum for Schools
Be Ready 1-2-3 (Children ages 5-8)
Fire Safety (Children 4-12)
Look Hot! Stay Cool!
Jason & Robin’s Awesome Hurricane Adventure
General Preparedness

Curriculum for Schools
Masters of Disaster Integrated Disaster Safety Curriculum. A curriculum for teachers to use to integrate hazard safety into regular academic lesson plans in math, science, social studies, and language arts. Available in three complete kits for teachers of Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-8. Consult the linked web site for ordering information.

Masters of Disaster marketing video. A 6-minute video that shows children and teachers in the classroom using the Masters of Disaster curriculum. Local Red Cross chapters can order as stock number A1285VVE for a nominal fee.

Facing Fear: Helping Young People Deal With Terrorism and Tragic Events. A curriculum supplement for teachers to help them deal with children's concerns, fears, anger, and feelings when human-caused events occur. Aligned with national standards in social studies, health, and language arts. Available in four complete sets for teachers of grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. Each set of materials consists of a Lesson Plans book for adults, and an activities book from which copies can be made for children. Consult the linked web site for ordering information.

Safety Watchers: Fire Safety. A curriculum supplement for teachers and educators to integrate home fire safety into regular academic lesson plans in math, science, social studies, and language arts. Available in two sections, one for children in Grades K-2, and another for children in Grades 3-5. Available as PDF files only.

Be Ready 1-2-3
Be Ready 1-2-3 Workbook 8-page workbook that helps children ages 5-8 learn about home fires, earthquakes, and winter storms through activities and demonstrations led by "experts" Cool Cat (Home Fires), Ready Rabbit (Winter Storms) and Disaster Dog (Earthquakes). Local Red Cross chapters can order packages of 25 as stock number A5017 for a nominal fee. Also available on-line:
English version
Spanish version
Vietnamese version

Be Ready 1-2-3 Instructor's Manual Designed for adults to use to lead the lessons in the Be Ready program, contains plans for lessons on home fires, winter storms, and earthquakes. It also contains an appendix giving information on how to reach children effectively, working with puppets, and explaining the program to parents. Available on-line only English version

Be Ready 1-2-3 Completion Certificate. Designed to be presented to children who complete sections of the Be Ready 1-2-3 program. Local Red Cross chapters can order packages of 25 as stock number C-814 for a nominal fee.

Fire Safety
Children's Activity Poster 17" x 22" poster. Designed for younger children (ages 4-8) on one side and older children (ages 8-12) on the other. The "young children" side consists of four panels on fire safety information. The "older children" side consists of a maze, word-find, escape plan, and a list of questions & answers about fire safety. Local Red Cross chapters can order in packages of 50 as stock number A5034 for a nominal fee.

For more Fire Safety materials, also consider
Be Ready 1-2-3
Look Hot! Stay Cool!

See also Safety Watchers: Home Fire Safety

Look Hot! Stay Cool!
Look Hot! Stay Cool! Presenter’s Guide. Lesson plans for presenting the six-part youth unit and one-part adult unit of this program. To be used by educators, not for distribution. Produced by St. Paul Area Chapter & local fire department. Local Red Cross chapters can order as stock number A5092 for a nominal fee.

Look Hot! Stay Cool! Children’s Activity Book. Written materials to accompany lessons delivered for this program. Local Red Cross chapters can order in packages of 25 as stock number A5092A for a nominal fee.

Video: Look Hot! Stay Cool! Kid’s Video. 13-minute video that works with lessons delivered in this program. Not designed to be used as a stand-alone presentation. Local Red Cross chapters can order as stock number A5092K for a nominal fee.

Video: Look Hot! Stay Cool! Adult Video. 13-minute video that works with the adult lesson plan in this program. Local Red Cross chapters can order as stock number A5092V for a nominal fee.

Hurricane Safety
Jason and Robin's Awesome Hurricane Adventure 12-page, 4-color workbook for children in 3rd to 6th grade about hurricane facts, hazard avoidance, planning, supplies, and what to do when a Watch and Warning is issued. Local Red Cross chapters can order in packages of 25 as stock number A5044 for a nominal fee.

Video: Jason and Robin's Awesome Hurricane Adventure 10 minutes. Jason and Robin explore a hurricane and provide essential preparedness information. Works with print brochure by same title. Local Red Cross chapters can order as stock number A5044V for a nominal fee.

General Preparedness
Emergency Supplies for Schools Information on recommended supplies for schools, classrooms, and students. It includes instructions on assembling supplies and provides background information, as well as specific listings of suggested items that schools and school children should have. This list was developed from lists created by the California Senate Select Committee on the Northridge Earthquake, Task Force on Education, and updated October, 2000, by the American Red Cross.

Video: Adventures of the Disaster Dudes. Video-based program comes with a Presenter's Guide and a 14-minute video. The video is designed to be shown in three segments that feature children describing what a disaster really is, information on correct response, and how to create a family disaster plan. Local Red Cross chapters can order as stock number A5024 for a nominal fee.