The Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) program is a classroom-based emergency preparedness curriculum for fourth and fifth grade students.

Since launching over a decade ago, more than 85,000 Wisconsin children have participated in the STEP program. While it designed with school classrooms in mind, STEP is open to any organization that offers youth education programs to 9-11 year-old children.

STEP is designed to teach students how to prepare for various emergencies and encourages them to share the information with their families to develop their own family emergency plan. Along with the knowledge learned in the classroom, each student is provided with free starter materials to help them create their own emergency kit.

The curriculum was designed by educators working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program is offered by the state at no cost to schools and other educational groups.

Registration

STEP Registration for the 2023-24 School year is currently CLOSED.

Registration for the 2024-25 school year is expected to open in August. Materials for the program requested during the fall of 2024 will ship in late January or early February. If you have any questions about STEP, please contact dmawempio@widma.gov.

CURRICULUM

STEP includes three core lessons that can be taught in as little as 30 minutes. Educators can also incorporate supplemental lessons on specific disasters – severe weather, fire, flood, and pandemic emergencies.

A series of YouTube videos for kids, called “Disaster Dodgers,” helps introduce each concept.

An activity book offers 18 activities to reinforce ideas and spark creativity.

Checklist icon
STEP Curriculum Overview
STEP Instructor Guide
Book with bookmark
STEP Student Activity Book
Certificate
STEP Certificate of Completion
additional curriculum

Additional Curriculum materials, including units focused specifically on hazards such as flooding, severe weather, and pandemics, are available directly from  FEMA.

Disaster dodgers videos

This series of five videos introduces emergency preparedness and management to students. Two videos highlight core lessons, and three other videos highlight concepts in the additional curriculum