Going to the fire station // Vamos a la estación de bomberos

With kids anything can be a learning opportunity!  The same goes for learning Spanish.  Look for ways in your everyday to learn new Spanish words or phrases…the more you can integrate learning when you are hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling or touching—the more that learning experience will stick in your mind.

We went to the fire station the other day with a group of preschool friends.  Our local firefighters were so hospitable and welcoming!  They got down on the kids’ level and showed them all their tools, the different parts of the truck, and explained the distinct jobs of all the different firefighters—I learned a lot myself!

I have two boys so fire, danger, shooting water at stuff, and using BIG tools is just what they love to talk about—so what better time to learn Spanish too!  Next time you go to the fire station, practice learning these fun new Spanish words! 

Whether you are at a fire station, reading a book about firefighters, or looking at the pictures below, here is a fun game to play (and you can apply this game to other Spanish words you are learning):

You ask –¿Dónde está el bombero? (DOHN-deh eh-STAH ehl bohm-BEAR-oh) It means, “Where is the fire fighter?

When the kids find it, teach them to say —¡Aquí está! (ah-KEY eh-STAH) Which means, “Here he/she/it is!”

You can fill in the blank with any of the words in the pictures.  For example: “¿Dónde está el camión de bomberos?”  (Where is the fire truck?)  “¿Dónde están las botas?”  (Where are the boots?)  

Just follow this formula:

¿Dónde + está (for singular item) or están (for plural items) + the word “the” + noun/item?

Notice there are four ways to say “the” in Spanish.  El(masculine singular), la (feminine singular), los (masculine plural), and las (feminine plural).  You can know which one to use by checking the word bank at the end of this post.

Happy firefighting!  

firefighter—el bombero/la bombera

fire station—la estación de bomberos

fire truck—el camión de bomberos

siren—la sirena

fire hydrant—la boca de incendio