Parent Guide > Reports from the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

by Various Authors 1906

Welcome to the parent guide for this text! Read below to find out about what your child is reading in class and how you can support him/her at home.

This week in class, we’re reading "Reports from the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906" by Various Authors.

Two newspaper articles discuss the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. One, written amidst the flames of the city on fire, is full of despair, while the other, written a few days later, is full of hope.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Comedy & Tragedy, Fear & Paranoia, and Human vs. Nature as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How does fear drive action?", "Who's in control: humanity or nature?", and "What can we learn from tragedy?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this primary source document at home:
    • What was "Reports from the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906" about?
    • What did you learn about Comedy & Tragedy?
    • What did you learn about Fear & Paranoia?
    • What did you learn about Human vs. Nature?
  • Watch San Andreas Fault (Discovery Channel) at home with your child.