Curriculum

Between classes, testing, and ever-changing requirements, educators know that bringing disaster readiness into the classroom can be challenging. That’s why FEMA educational resources were designed with flexibility in mind.

These resources are appropriate for students from pre-kindergarten to high school. Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP), for grades four and five, and Teen Community Emergency Response Team (Teen CERT), for high school, include lesson plans that can be expanded and adapted for core classes and electives. Other resources on this page can be used in class and free time to begin engaging students in emergency preparedness. Embedded with real-world connections, these multidisciplinary lessons teach what to do before, during, and after an emergency while fostering critical 21st-century skills such as problem solving, teamwork, creativity, leadership, and communication.

Step

Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) is a classroom-based curriculum for 4th and 5th graders.

Teen CERT

Join or start a Teen Community Emergency Response Team(Teen CERT) and be a leader in your community.

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Looking for the “Be a Hero!” K-12 Curriculum? It is archived here: Get it Now

More Materials for the Classroom

Prepare with Pedro

The Prepare with Pedro: Disaster Preparedness Activity Book, a joint product of FEMA and the American Red Cross, is designed to teach young children and their families about how to stay safe during disasters and emergencies. The book follows Pedro around the United States and offers safety advice alongside crosswords, coloring pages, matching games, and more. It is available in six languages. Learn more.

Ready 2 Help

Ready 2 Help is a card game that helps youth ages 8 and up understand how they can help in emergency situations. In this game, players respond to emergencies by following five simple steps to stay safe and make a difference until help arrives: Stay safe, stay calm, get help, give info, and give care.

Download and print the game and companion book now or order free copies today! Learn more.

Disaster Facts

Help your students learn how to prepare before, during, and after emergencies. Learn more.

Resource Collections

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Elementary School - Resources for children in elementary school. Explore

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High School - Resources for students in high school. Explore

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Middle School- Resources for students in middle school. Explore

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Español (Spanish) - Recursos disponibles en español (Resources available in Spanish). Explore

More Resources for Teachers

More resources to help youth and schools prepare are available across FEMA and from partners, like the Department of Education. Explore more below.

Resources for Emergency Planners

Prepare your school and classroom for an emergency. Learn more.

Sesame Street Fire Safety Program

Teach preschool children fire safety information. Learn more.

PrepTalks

Preparedness videos and discussion guides. Learn more.

Financial Preparedness

Teach students to prepare financially for disasters. Learn more.

Last Updated: 05/27/2026

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