Rebecca Locklear Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915 Review

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Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.



In our homeschool, we love to use unit studies. It really helps us learn better and it makes learning much more fun. With a unit study, your subjects all branch off the main talking point so it's like a big continuation of learning. Mary wanted to review Rebecca Locklear's Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915: 17 Student Workshops with 120 Activities because she is fascinated with the American Girl doll Caroline. Even though Caroline didn't live in the same time period as the U.S. Life-Saving Service, her father did build ships so it was a common ground. 


Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915 is written by Rebecca Locklear who herself was a homeschool mom. Her approach to learning is very hands on and she loves to include activities to keep kid's attention! This is personally my favorite way to learn as well. And my favorite way to teach Mary. Instead of learning about a fish from a book, why not go see one instead?




Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915 is made for 4-12 graders which is perfect since Mary is going into 7th grade. Honestly I never even knew of the U.S. Life-Saving Service before this! Basically what it comes down to is before there was a Coast Guard, these guys would go out and risk their lives to save ships. It was because of these men that the Coast Guard was eventually born. 
In this unit, there are a lot of different activities including: 
  • Games 
  •  Drama 
  •  Cooking 
  •  Music 
  •  Stories 
  •  Science 
  •  Research 
  •  Art

One favorite ways we love to learn about a new subject or era is to read books that take place during that time. One of the suggested books for middle schoolers is Shipwreck Season by Donna Hill. In the story, sixteen-year-old Daniel is appalled at the prospect of spending eight months at the lifesavers' station. And yet, in the autumn of 1880, Daniel finds himself on the train to Cape Cod, where he will live among the coarse, dull surfmen and take orders from his crude, unsympathetic uncle, Captain Alder, the man in charge. At first Daniel's new life seems as comfortless and unrewarding as he had imagined, but the work is unexpectedly challenging, and to his surprise Daniel finds himself beginning to respect and admire the surfmen who risk their lives to save those lost in shipwrecks off the coast. It is an excellent book to go along with this unit!

Another favorite way we love to learn is by eating! In one of the units, we learned that molasses was a staple food back then. So what better way to learn about it then to eat gingerbread made with molasses?



Overall I was really impressed with Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915 and I can't wait to finish the entire unit in 7th grade! If you want to see more reviews, make sure to check out the photo below! And if you love unit studies, make sure to check out Rebecca Locklear's site and sign up for her emails!


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