I Survived Series by Lauren Tarshis

• The "I Survived" book series, written by Lauren Tarshis, presents historical disasters and events through the eyes of a child protagonist

Core Educational Benefits

• Enhanced reading comprehension skills via engaging narrative structures and historical contexts
• Provides an accessible introduction to historical events, fostering interest in history
• Develops empathy by allowing students to experience events through the perspective of a child
• Improves vocabulary through exposure to varied language and historical terminology

Reading Comprehension Strategies

• Summarization: Students can practice summarizing chapters or the entire book to identify key events and plot points
• Questioning: Encourages students to ask questions about the text, characters, and historical events to deepen understanding
• Clarifying: Students can clarify confusing parts of the text by rereading, discussing with peers, or consulting additional resources
• Inferencing: Promotes inferential thinking by requiring students to draw conclusions about characters' feelings, motivations, and the impact of events

Using ‘I Survived’ in the Classroom

• Select books appropriate for the reading levels and interests of the students
• Incorporate pre-reading activities to build background knowledge about the historical event
• Use guided reading sessions to model comprehension strategies and facilitate discussions
• Assign post-reading activities to assess comprehension and encourage critical thinking

Vocabulary Development

• Identify key vocabulary words related to the historical event
• Use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words
• Create vocabulary lists or flashcards to reinforce learning
• Encourage students to use new vocabulary words in discussions and writing assignments

Historical Context

• Use the books as a starting point for exploring the historical event in more detail
• Research primary and secondary sources to gather additional information
• Create timelines, maps, or presentations to illustrate the historical context
• Discuss the causes and consequences of the event and its impact on people and society

Character Analysis

• Analyze the protagonist's traits, motivations, and actions
• Discuss how the protagonist responds to challenges and adversity
• Compare and contrast the protagonist with other characters in the book
• Explore how the characters' relationships influence the plot

Themes and Lessons

• Identify recurring themes such as courage, resilience, and survival
• Discuss the lessons that can be learned from the characters' experiences
• Connect the themes to students' own lives and experiences
• Encourage students to reflect on the moral and ethical implications of the events

Engaging Activities

• Role-playing: Students act out scenes from the book to deepen their understanding of characters and events
• Creative writing: Students write their own stories or poems inspired by the book
• Art projects: Students create artwork to represent scenes, characters, or themes from the book
• Research projects: Students conduct research on related topics and present their findings to the class

Assessment Strategies

• Comprehension quizzes: Assess students' understanding of key events, characters, and vocabulary
• Written responses: Evaluate students' ability to summarize, analyze, and interpret the text
• Class discussions: Assess students' participation and engagement with the material
• Projects and presentations: Evaluate students' research skills, creativity, and communication skills

Differentiated Instruction

• Provide scaffolding for struggling readers by pre-teaching vocabulary, providing graphic organizers, or offering audio support
• Challenge advanced readers by encouraging them to conduct independent research, write in-depth analyses, or create multimedia presentations
• Offer a variety of flexible grouping options to accommodate different learning styles and needs
• Allow students to choose activities and assignments that align with their interests and strengths

Potential Challenges

• Sensitivity: The series deals with disasters that may be sensitive for some students
• Historical accuracy: While engaging, the series is fictionalized, so supplementing with factual information and verifying accuracy is important
• Repetitive formula: The series follows a similar formula in each book, which may become predictable for some readers