Our family likes to learn together as often as we can. Certain material is best when geared toward specific age groups and comprehension abilities, but many things can be combined for a wide range of students. Not only does it streamline the day, but it is also beneficial to encourage deeper conversations and learning from each other. That is why I like to incorporate unit studies into our school day, like the Historical Stories of Survival Horrible Accidents Bundle Units 4, 6, 8.

This bundle is a study guide to complement the I Survived historical fiction book series for ages 7-10. Each of the I Survived books tells a thrilling story about a significant historical event through the eyes of a child. The child is fictional, but the places, events, and activities are real. My kids have read most of the books in the series, so I knew a deeper study into these events would be exciting. The included units cover The Great Chicago Fire, The Sinking of the Titanic, and Surviving the Hindenburg.

Each unit contains an overview of the content, a resource list, weekly plans and schedule, and a spelling and vocabulary list. The units follow the same format, with the first week reading the book and starting the lapbook activities and weeks two through six focusing on the weekly spelling and vocabulary lists, finalizing the lapbook, and continuing the study in depth. The topics cover history, science, geography, arts and crafts, field trips and activities, character studies, language arts, and additional readings and literature.

We have been focusing on unit 4 and The Great Chicago Fire. The study has us learning about forests and other weather-related fires, sketching trees and plants, creating a timeline of the events, making a 3D model of Chicago in 1871, evaluating endurance and bravery, and making time-period recipes.

In the additional units on The Sinking of the Titanic and Surviving the Hindenburg, we will be learning about glaciers and icebergs; creating a diorama of the Titanic; partaking in stargazing or visiting a planetarium; researching the history of flight; crafting a paper airplane or spacecraft; enjoying an air or flight museum; understanding determination, leadership, and compassion; and more.

The Historical Stories of Survival Horrible Accidents Bundle is thorough, easy to use, and covers many topics and activities. It has encouraged good family conversations and made learning fun and engaging. I love that the whole family is involved, and many areas of study are addressed. I am excited to continue our studies of these horrible events in an intriguing way.

~Product review by Erika Leaf, The Old Schoolhouse® July 2023