In the early hours of April 18th 1906 there was a terrible earthquake in San Francisco, California. Lizzie Newton, who was staying with her grandmother that night, was frightened but not hurt. Lizzie helped her grandmother out of the house, where all over the city buildings were falling down and people were leaving their homes in fear.

After her grandmother was taken to hospital ten-year-old Lizzie was alone and needed to find her parents. Could she find them…? Would they be safe…?

İn the 5th grade library lessons we read “Lizzie Newton and the San Francisco earthquake” by Stephen Krensky, in the History Speaks series. We then discussed how to react in an earthquake, using Lizzie’s actions as an example. Did she do the right things?