Technology Through Time - Activities

Copper Country Firefighters History Museum

Background

Not familiar with the Copper Country Firefighters History Museum or the Keweenaw Peninsula? Start here:

• Keweenaw National Historical Park Website
• Copper Country Firefighters History Museum

Below are the activities that will teach you how firefighters faced much different challenges then firefighters today and used much different equipment. Back then, firefighters used systems such as the bucket brigade to put out fires which is much different than the high-pressure hoses used today. In the late 19th century, bucket brigades were replaced by horse drawn fire fighting vehicles. Able to carry ladders and manual water pumps, this was a much more efficient approach than bucket brigades.

Then, in the early 20th century, gas powered fire trucks were used. These trucks proved to have a much faster response time and larger carrying capacity than the previous horse drawn approach. Gas powered trucks were not only able to carry more equipment, but they were also able to carry a lot more people than before. This improvement was a significant upgrade in firefighting technology.

Continue below to learn about historic firefighting equipment and the ways the equipment was used.

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Introduction Video Firefighters Technology through Time

As you watch the video, try to answer these questions:

1. Ask questions to the students that reflect the information display in the video.
   1. What were the ways firefighters put out fires in the late 1800’s early 1900’s?
   2. Why do you think the bucket brigade didn’t work as well as a hose?
   3. What do you notice is similar (or different) with today’s firefighters?
   4. Would you have wanted to be a firefighter back then?

Spot the differences between fire trucks:

Activity Objective

1. Using slider images, compare and contrast firetrucks throughout the century featuring the collection at the museum.
2. Discuss in groups what features you've notice have changed such as the kind of wheels, the type of equipment of the trucks.

Picture Exploration Activity

Activity Objective
Learn how the firehouse and firefighting equipment operated. View each photo with the link above and consider what equipment was used and why? Do you think firefighters today have similar equipment?

As you view the photos, try to answer these questions:

• What equipment was most interesting to you and why?
• Why was this equipment used?
• When was the equipment needed?
• Do you think firefighters today have similar equipment?

Mock bucket brigade with cups and ping pong balls (or other material)

Activity Objective
Students will learn about a fire bucket brigade. This activity uses linguistic, logical, spatial, and bodily-kinesthetic learning.

1. Students will work together to put out a fake fire by filling up buckets of either water or ping pong balls.
2. 20 feet away from each other, there will be two 5-gallon buckets. One will be filled, the other will be empty
3. Without moving wither of the 5-gal buckets, the students will be provided small cups and try to move the contents of one bucket to the other by creating their own bucket brigade.

Alternative ideas for this activity

1. For a different start to the activity, give the students a certain amount of time to attempt getting the contents from one bucket to another using their own ideas and working together. The afterwards have them, if having not already done so, show the bucket brigade method.
2. To create competition, have two bucket setups and have two groups of students compete to see who can move more in a certain amount of time, or who can move all of the water/ping pong balls first.
3. Another competitive alternative, have a team of students try and fill the empty bucket while having the other group try and keep the content of the other bucket empty by putting the water/ping pong balls back in the original bucket.

Alternative Activity Ideas:

Write a letter to a current firefighter

*Try to find a local fire department to send these letters to! Maybe even reach out and see if any firefighters would be willing to come in and talk!

Activity Objective
Students will communicate and engage with a real firefighter process and putting out fires and their lifestyle. This activity uses linguistic and interpersonal learning.

1. Students will be given a letter template provided below (you may also use a blank sheet of paper) and asked to write to a firefighter about their experiences of fight fires.
2. Students can ask question such as, but not limited to:
   • What tools or equipment do you use to put out fires?
   • Do you sleep at the fire station?
   • What made you want to become a fire fighter?
   • What do you think is the most interesting part about the history of fire fighting?
3. After all the students have written their letters, they will put them into envelopes and mail the letters.

Letter Writing Template

Make a comic strip

Activity Objective
Students will draw their own comics to artistically and visually explore fire fighting over 100 years ago. This activity uses spatial and interpersonal learning.

Students may use the comic strip template provided and create their own short comic about firefighting in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The top should be historic firefighting and the bottom current day.

1. Students may discuss elements such as the trucks, handheld equipment, or anything else they mind find interesting and draw the use of the equipment in action
2. Students may also choose to be more informational by drawing their favorite pieces of equipment or what they find most interesting about firefighting and explain why.

Comic Strip Template