These weekly lessons were made to go along with ‘By the Shores of Silver Lake‘ written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We are planning to go through the whole series and I am keeping track of the different topics we are learning about here on my blog. We hope you enjoy these as much as we have!
Mornings:
We start every morning off with our prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance. Below is a picture of the prayers that we say and a video of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Not the prettiest example but that’s what we’ve been using for the past few years.
Don’t have a flag? Grab one HERE and print it out to put up somewhere… you could even let the kids make a flag to proudly display. Amazon also has some little ones like this one HERE and HERE.
After this, we have our calendar time also where we go over such things as the Days of the Week, the months, and some basic math.
This one came from Lakeshore Learning.
The younger kids will also be watching some of these videos while I work with the older ones:
We may also use some of the songs found HERE.
And we will be trying out some relaxing background music with Google.
We also like to use this song during our ‘Morning Time’ to help the kids learn the 50 States.
Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter or topic simply push the ‘ctrl’ and the ‘F’ button down together and a small bar will pop up. Type in the week number or chapter number you want and it will take you to it.
We will be discussing some of the character qualities that are displayed in the book but if you would like to do a separate character study lesson you can download one HERE.
Answers can be found HERE.
Answer Key Password: momsrock
Here are our lesson plans for the week:
Language Arts
Week 2: Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8
(Railroad Camp, The Black Ponies, The West Begins, Silver Lake)
Reading:
READ CHAPTERS 5, 6, 7 & 8
- You can read it or let the kids help to read it aloud.
- You can also access an audio version:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Chapter Five (Railroad Camp):
- What did they have for lunch?
- Who was waiting for them at camp?
- What did Laura plan to do with Lena?
- Where did Laura sleep? How did she feel about it?
- What scary thing happened?
Chapter Six (The Black Ponies):
- What did they have for breakfast?
- How many dishes were there to wash? How does this compare to your dishes that need to be washed?
- What does it mean to ‘hire out a job‘? Why did Aunt Docia do this with the washing?
- Who was Lizzie? What had she done?
- How did the girls spend the afternoon? Would you like to spend an afternoon like that?
Chapter Seven (The West Begins):
- What was happening at the camp?
- Where were they headed? Where did Ma say that they were located?
- What was Pa’s new job going to be?
- What scared Ma and Pa? Why?
- Who did they see at Uncle Henry’s cabin? Do you remember what happened to Charlie before? Check out what happened HERE. Chapter 11
Chapter Eight (Silver Lake):
- What took Laura so long to bring the water?
- Why didn’t Ma unpack the china shepherdess? Why?
- What did Pa warn the girls about?
- What did they see at the lake?
- What did Laura say wasn’t a homestead? Why?
Additional Reading:
OLDER CHILDREN:
Each child will complete a reading lesson from our McGuffey Primer Books or other reading materials that we chose for the day.
YOUNGER CHILDREN:
Younger kids will also be doing one lesson a day from Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
We are also working through All About Reading Level Pre-reading with William as he needed something a little different from what we had been doing.
Vocabulary/Spelling:
Print: By the Shores of Silver Lake Vocabulary Word List Week 2
OLDER KIDS:
- Day One: Write your words three times each.
- Day Two: Write your words in ABC order.
- Day Three: Look up definitions and use five of your words in a sentence.
- Day Four: Test (optional) or Worksheet:
Parents click HERE for the answer key.**see instructions at the top of the page.
YOUNGER KIDS:
Handwriting:
OLDER KIDS:
-or-
YOUNGER KIDS:
Writing:
Play this writing game HERE.
COPY BY DICTATION:
- Copy (by dictation) the first paragraph on page 77.
- Check for and correct any mistakes.
WATCH THIS VIDEO ABOUT IDIOMS:
- Do you remember reading about this phrase? Go back and read it again on page 51.
- What does it mean?
Other Activities:**
GROUP:
- Work on your lapbook.
- Play Later Gater
- Start reading: Gutsy Girls: Strong Christian Women Who Impacted the World: Book Three: Fanny Crosby (Volume 3)
- Continue reading through In a Pickle: And Other Funny Idioms or get a copy of Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms to help with some of the lessons.
- Watch Signing Times: My Favorite Things
- Work on your Moby Max account
OLDER KIDS:
- Continue reading your book.
- Play Scrabble
- Play this grammar game HERE.
- Bonus Points: Read to a younger sibling
YOUNGER KIDS:
- Reading: The Little Engine That Could or watch the movie HERE.
- Work with the Alphabet Theme Box from Lakeshore Learning.
- Teach Your Monster to Read
Math
** For fun you may try ‘ciphering’ on a slate with a slate pencil.
Group:
- Do an activity from Building Thinking Skills® Level 1.
- Do an activity from Math Games.
- When you are finished with your math work you can play an Educational Game.
ROTATE THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES:
Older Kids:
- Let’s work on budgeting some more
- Read through and complete pages 12-16 of this pdf workbook
- Let’s practice reading a menu.
- Print and complete page 17 of this PDF
- Work on a lesson in your Ray’s Arithmetic Books or other math workbooks.
- Work on Khan Academy
Younger Kids:
- Work on your Math-U-See Primer or another workbook.
- Practice with Numbers & Counting Theme Box
- Work on Khan Academy or ABCmouse.com
Geography and History
State Study
This week we will study North Dakota.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play USA Games
Railroad History:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned?
- Begin learning about the railroad:
Famous People:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned?
- Begin reading a book about Fanny Crosby. Report Due: Week 5.
Bonus
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
EXTRA:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Science
Pick one or two topics to learn about:
WHAT DOES A LAND SURVEYOR DO?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Is this a career you might like? Why or why not?
HOW DO STEAM LOCOMOTIVES WORK?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Steam Engine Worksheets
WHAT DOES A PRAIRIE LOOK LIKE?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Choose an activity:
- Play The Great Habitat Match-Up
BUFFALO
- Discuss what you learned.
- Choose an activity:
- Find a coloring page HERE or HERE about your favorite topic.
Extra Activities:
Other:
Life Skills
We will be discussing some of the character qualities that are displayed in the book but if you would like to do a separate character study lesson you can download one HERE.
Memory Verse:
We will be memorizing Romans 8:31-39 during this unit study. Print it HERE.
- Work on memorizing one verse during the week for a special prize.
- Verse 32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- Verse 32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- Older kids can copy the memory verse down in their notebook.
Character
- What miracles did Jesus do?
- Why do you think he didn’t heal Mary?
Manners
Continue reading about hospitality. Choose one of the books below to read from:
- A Life That Says Welcome: Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others
- Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others
- Work on Family relationships – brothers and sisters
READ:
- A Life That Says Welcome p. 185-198
- Practicing Hospitality p. 159-194
DISCUSSION:
- What are some things you learned?
- What are some areas you need to work on?
TRY ONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES:
- Promoting Hospitality as a Way of Life
- Giving and Receiving Hospitality Games and Activities
- WHAT IS HOSPITALITY?
- HOSPITALITY CHART – TEACHING HOSPITALITY TO KIDS
- 11 Tips for TEACHING CHILDREN HOSPITALITY
- Discovering the Heart of True Hospitality
- Simple Hospitality in Your Home
Fun Activities
VIRTUAL TOUR OF A RAILROAD MUSEUM:
WATCH A SURVEYOR AT WORK:
OTHER:
- Go for a walk and pick a bouquet of wildflowers.
- Have a picnic lunch.
- Go for a wagon ride or hayride.
- Sleep in a tent.
- Make Pancakes for breakfast.
- Click HERE to learn about fun and unusual holidays.
Bonus Skills — Choose one or two to work on
Practice these until you finish this unit study and then we will move on to new skills.
SUSIE’S CHEM FREE ZONE
Laura and her family made sure to clean up after their picnic so they could leave the place tidy. It is important to clean up after ourselves and make sure that we are protecting our planet.
- Watch this Norwex video about protecting our planet.
- Discuss what you learned.
- What are some ways that you and your family can help protect our planet?
KIDS COOK REAL FOOD
- Work on your next lesson.
- Help to prepare a meal using your new skills.
- Try some Pumpkin Honey Pancakes
SKILL TREK
- Work on at least one task a week.
- Practice your new skill this week.
HERB STUDY
- Using one of the following for your study:
- Discuss what you learned.
- Be sure to jot down some notes.
- Play Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game, a cooperative board game
Trim Healthy You
- Read through your lesson.
- Discuss what you learned.
- Complete any bookwork.
- Try out a recipe using your new information.
PE, Health & Safety
Health & Safety
WHAT IS OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM?
HOW CAN WE BOOST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM?
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Go to Kids Health and find a related topic to learn more about. Play a game with permission.
- Do an activity from the Health & Safety Theme Box
Games/Outdoor Play
- Play Duck, Duck, Goose p.148 of The Ultimate Homeschool Physical Education Game Book by Guy Bailey
- Go outside and play for 30 minutes.
Bonus:
Did you know that Square Dancing is a good exercise for helping you to have strong bones?
If you haven’t already signed up for classes have your parents check for a local club near you.
Music, Arts & Crafts
Crafts:
- STEAM: THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD
- Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Train and Race Car Craft Kits
- Or choose a craft from Pioneer Crafts For Kids
Art:
- Draw an illustration to go with the scene described on p. 77
- Try techniques from Zentangle for Kids
- Choose a coloring page from one of these:
Music:
We will be learning some of the hymns written by Fanny Crosby
- Uncle Sam’s Farm p. 87 Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook
**BE SURE TO SAVE A FEW SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO! TAKE PICTURES OF BIG PROJECTS!
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–Thank you!
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