Originally posted in 2015 – updated in 2025!
If you work with school-aged kids, you know the I Survived series continues to be wildly popular — especially with the new graphic novels bringing historical disasters to life in exciting, accessible ways. After seeing how much students still adore these books, I updated my original program with brand-new STEM stations, deeper science connections, and more opportunities for kids to build, test, and redesign.
These stations work beautifully as:
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Stand-alone programs
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Weekly aftercare activities
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Rotating STEM centers
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Enrichment for reluctant readers (especially boys!)
✨ Grab the Free STEM Challenge Worksheets!
Below you’ll find the fully updated stations — complete with book talks, history connections, STEM concepts, setup tips, safety notes, and kid-friendly activities educators can use immediately.
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🔎 Want to see how this program originally started?
This 2025 update builds on one of my original I Survived library programs, which focused on book talks, discussion-based activities, and a larger number of stations for families to explore.
👉 You can read the original I Survived library program here
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🏔️ Station 1: Avalanche Snow Disaster
Book: I Survived the Wellington Avalanche, 1910
“Imagine snow piling up, blocking trains, and suddenly a mountainside slides down — that’s what happened in Wellington, Washington in 1910. Families scrambled to survive, and some were buried in snow. Today, we get to safely step into their shoes and think about what it would take to survive an avalanche!”
Interesting Facts
On March 1, 1910, two trains were buried under 40–70 feet of snow.
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A mix of heavy snow and rain triggered the avalanche.
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It’s still one of the worst train disasters in U.S. history.
How to use it:
As students dig through the “snow,” explain how a steep slope, heavy snow, and added rain created the perfect conditions for the avalanche. This helps students understand why snow volume, weight, and slope matter when designing safer structures.
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Goal / Learning:
Why avalanches happen (slope, weight, gravity)
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Pressure and force
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Engineering & problem-solving
Setup:
Large sensory bin with fake snow (cotton batting, shaved-ice mix, or store-bought fake snow)
Mini buildings, trees, toy figures
Tongs, spoons, or child-safe scoops
Disposable tablecloths and aprons
Quick overview of the historical avalanche
Eye protection
Activity:
First, students build a town with a slope inside the sensory bin — houses, trees, roads, people, animals. Encourage them to think about where structures will be safest: high spots, low spots, shielding barriers, etc.
When their town is ready, pour the fake snow slowly down the slope to simulate an avalanche. Students dig out the figures, assess damage, and then redesign their town to protect it better next time. They test, compare changes, and explain why their updates help.
Remind them: Engineers learn by testing and improving!
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Safety Tip
Pour the snow slowly so it looks realistic and doesn't splash into eyes.
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Science & Thinking Points:
Gravity, slope, and snow weight—why avalanches happen
Avalanches happen because gravity always pulls things downhill. As snow piles up, it gets heavier until it can no longer stay in place — especially on steep slopes.
Think of it like stacking blocks—if the stack gets too tall or too heavy, it eventually falls. Snow works the same way on mountains.
Pressure and force—why it’s so dangerous
When snow moves fast, it builds up pressure and force. That force can push trees over, move rocks, and even cover buildings. Even though snow seems soft, a large amount of snow moving quickly becomes extremely powerful.
It can bury things under many feet of snow, making it hard for rescuers to reach people trapped underneath.
Engineering—how people stay safe
Scientists and engineers study mountains to figure out where avalanches might happen. They build barriers, fences, and walls that help slow down moving snow. They also design strong buildings in snowy mountain areas so that structures can handle heavy snow.
Some ski resorts even set off small avalanches on purpose so a giant one doesn’t happen later!
Optional Enhancements:
Try different snow textures or slopes
Compare structures before/after testing
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🍯Station 2: Molasses Rescue Challenge
Book: I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919
Book Talk & History:
In 1919, a giant tank of molasses burst in Boston, sending sticky waves through the streets! People and animals were caught in the flood, and it became one of the most unusual disasters in history. Today, we’re going to safely explore some of the science behind fluid dynamics — with a tasty twist!
Interesting Facts:
The molasses tank was 50 feet tall and 90 feet wide, holding 2.3 million gallons.
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When it burst, the wave moved at 35 mph — strong enough to knock over buildings and derail a train.
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Cleanup took months because cooled molasses became thick and incredibly hard to remove.
How to use it:
Before students build their edible rafts and barriers, share these facts to help them understand just how powerful and dangerous the original flood was — and why buoyancy, density, and stability matter so much in a “real-life” context.
Another thing you might consider, is to play audio of survivor accounts like this one and discuss primary and secondary sources.
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Goal / Learning:
Buoyancy, gravity, and water displacement
Forces involved in moving liquids
Problem-solving and hands-on design
Setup:
Tables with disposable coverings
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Aprons for students
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Shallow water bins
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Toy figures or gummy bears to "rescue"
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Edible raft materials: graham crackers, candy, marshmallows
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Optional barriers: foil, straws, small cups
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Activity:
Before beginning, compare the Avalanche station to this one. Snow moves fast and crushes things; molasses is slower but incredibly heavy and sticky. Students may need different strategies to design for this flood.
Students create rafts or barriers, place figures in the tray, and decide how to keep them safe. When ready, pour syrup slowly to simulate the flood. Students test how well their structures held up, rescue their figures, and then redesign based on results.
Encourage them to reflect: What worked? What didn’t? And why?
Science & Thinking Points:
Gravity & Flow
Density & Buoyancy
Molasses is denser than water, which means objects that float in water may sink in molasses.
Surface Area & Displacement
Larger rafts that displace more liquid float better. Students will see how raft size and shape affect stability.
Force & Problem-Solving
Molasses exerts force that can crush or move objects. This activity builds real-world engineering skills.
Barriers must be strong enough to resist the flow.
Rafts must be stable enough to carry weight.
Sometimes a first design won’t work — students need to test, adjust, and improve, just like real engineers.
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Optional Enhancements:
Compare materials for raft-building
Reflect on engineering solutions for real-life liquid hazards like oil
Station 3: Dust Bowl Discovery
Book: I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1934
Book Talk & History:
Imagine living on a farm when giant dust storms sweep across the land, covering crops, animals, and homes. Families had to adapt quickly to survive. Today, you’ll explore the same challenges — designing ways to protect a town from a dust storm.
Interesting Facts
During the Dust Bowl, severe drought and farming practices caused huge dust storms that sometimes carried soil all the way to Washington D.C.
The storms destroyed crops, forced families to relocate, and made daily life very dangerous for humans and animals.
Farmers built windbreaks (rows of trees) to try to protect their fields from being blown away.
Activity — Conversational Version
Quick Setup
Shallow tray or sensory bin
Soil, sand, or kinetic sand to represent dust
Mini figures for people and animals
Small buildings, fences, and trees (can be craft or toy pieces)
Fan or gentle shaking method to simulate wind
Aprons or table coverings to keep materials contained
Wipes/sanitizer for hand-cleaning
Science Behind the Dust Bowl
Wind & Erosion: Strong winds can move loose soil across the land, damaging crops and structures. Students see how wind affects objects of different sizes and shapes.
Force & Pressure: Dust carried by wind can push, topple, or cover objects. Even small forces over time add up!
Engineering & Problem-Solving: Building windbreaks (barriers) and placing structures strategically teaches students how design can protect towns.
Cause & Effect: Drought + poor farming practices = loose soil → easier to be blown away by wind. Help students connect human actions to environmental impact.
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Safety Guidelines
Use gentle wind (fan on low or slow shaking). Keep sand contained.
Listen to primary source interviews
Compare the Dust Bowl to the Avalanche or Molasses stations:
“Which disaster moved faster?”
“Which was stickiest or hardest to resist?”
“How did barriers or town placement change your results?”
Quick sketches: “before and after” town maps or improvements
Mini discussion: How human actions (farming choices) affect the environment
Why These Stations Matter
These STEM stations don’t just teach history — they help students think like scientists and engineers. Each challenge encourages kids to problem-solve, test ideas, redesign, and compare natural disasters. The hands-on elements make history meaningful, memorable, and fun for even the most reluctant readers.
If you’ve used the I Survived books before, this updated program gives you fresh, modern activities while keeping everything kids already love about this series.
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⭐ Don’t Forget Your Free Download!
⭐ Want to Go Deeper with I Survived: California Wildfires?
If you and your students enjoyed this I Survived activity, I’ve created a much more in-depth, classroom-ready version that expands everything in this post into a complete learning experience.
📘 I Survived: California Wildfires – Reading, STEM & Critical Thinking Guide
This unit is designed to help students go beyond the story and truly understand:
How wildfires start and spread
The science behind fire behavior
How people, animals, and communities are affected
How problem-solving and engineering are used in real disasters
How fiction connects to real-world science and social studies
The guide includes:
✔ Structured reading comprehension
✔ STEM challenges and simulations
✔ Discussion prompts and reflection pages
✔ Cross-curricular connections
✔ Print-and-go student pages
It’s perfect for:
Upper elementary classrooms
Library units
Small groups
STEAM integration
Emergency preparedness conversations
👉 You can find the full resource here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Survived-California-Wildfires-Reading-Comprehension-STEM-Activity-Guide-15374915
💛 A Quick Note from Me
I write Building Bookworms in my free time because I genuinely love helping students, teachers, and librarians fall back in love with reading.
Purchasing resources through my TpT store helps support this work and allows me to keep creating free blog content, classroom ideas, and student-centered literacy tools.
Thank you for being here and for supporting this little corner of the literacy world. 💛
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