Making history engaging for students is possibly one of the most difficult tasks for teachers. How do we overcome that? Two key things are critical for accomplishing this task. First, it must be relatable in someway, and secondly, it needs to offer learning opportunities for multiple learning styles. Historical Stories of Survival uses the New York Times best selling and popular I Survived book series. This instantly makes history relatable, as the main characters are school age children and families.
Historical Stories of Survival uses multisensory learning, which follows a pattern of Do It, Write It, Say It, Read It, See It. Multisensory learning is great for every kind of learner - because each learner gets to experience learning the way they are most comfortable - but they also have the opportunity to learn through other senses. Studies and research have shown that learning material through multiple senses helps children to retain information better.
The experiences practiced in multisensory learning allow each student to participate in ways that help them understand and retain best. Boys and girls learn together and help each other with projects such as creating a diorama, making a fife, having discussions about the story, historical information, as well as positive character traits such as trust, endurance and compassion.
Schooling multiple ages together, in a co-op setting for example, is very manageable. And, with the continuity of the same subject matter for literature and history, as well as crafts and field trip experiences, opportunities for discussion are plentiful and help build a love of learning. Invite parents and families at the end of the unit for a Survival Celebration party of your own!
Some examples of *crafts from suggested books include; making your own root beer, creating a diorama, making a fringed hunting shirt, drawings and more. Science can be added with suggested books for astronomy. Each unit will include a suggested weekly schedule, list of required and suggested books, survival tips, craft resources, field trip ideas and suggestions, meal ideas, templates, a game, lapbook materials and other resources.
Units included in this Bundled Set -
Unit 1 - Surviving Pompeii - AD 79
Unit 2 - Surviving the Revolutionary War - 1776
Unit 3 - Surviving the Civil War - 1863
Unit 4 - Surviving the Great Chicago Fire - 1871
Unit 5 - Suriving the Great San Francisco Earthquake - 1906
Unit 6 - Surviving the Sinking of the Titanic - 1912
Unit 7 - Surviving the Shark Attacks of 1916
Unit 8 - Surviving the Hindenburg - 1937
Unit 9 - Surviving the Attack on Pearl Harbor - 1941
Unit 10 - Surviving the Nazi Invasion of World War II - 1944
Unit 11 - Surviving the Mount St. Helens Eruption - 1980
Unit 12 - Surviving September 11 - 2001
Unit 13 - Surviving Hurricane Katrina - 2005
Unit 14 - Surviving the Japanese Tsunami - 2011
Unit 15 - Surviving the Joplin Tornado of 2011
The I Survived readers can be found at most libraries or at the link below.
I Survived Book Series
**Crafts and science experiment supplies are not included in the purchase of the curriculum, but resources and instruction as to what crafts and supplies to purchase are included. Some units do include free craft templates. Co-op/School License allows permission for the purchasing school allow as many teachers to teach this curriculum to as many groups and classes as they like. There is no expiration. The school may not make copies for parents, or other schools/co-ops. The file remains the property of the purchasing school only.
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