Just Like Grandma’s Chocolate Pudding

I don’t know if this is actually the recipe that my Mom-mom used but it is close. If you don’t like the ‘skin’ that cooked pudding has then simply place a piece of plastic wrap over the warm pudding so that the wrap touches the top of the pudding. When cool you remove the wrap and the ‘skin’.

**Special thanks to my son-in-law @moments2lifephotography for the amazing cover photo!

 

Just Like Grandma’s Chocolate Pudding

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2/3 c. sugar
  • 1/4 c. cocoa powder
  • 4 T. cornstarch
  • 1/4 t. salt
  • 2-1/4 cups milk
  • 2 T. butter or margarine
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium size saucepan whisk together the first four ingredients. Slowly stir in the milk.

Cook this mixture over medium heat until it boils. Stir constantly and boil for about 1 minute.

Remove your pan from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.

Pour into a serving bowl and chill for about 2-3 hours.

For Pie:

I usually only use 2 cups of milk and then pour this into a baked pie shell or a graham cracker crust. Chill for 2-3 hours. Top with whipped cream, if desired.

Continue reading “Just Like Grandma’s Chocolate Pudding”

Pumpkin Pie Filling From Scratch

I know that this time of year there are ao many pumpkin-related recipes going around but Pumpkin Pie is a big tradition around here so I wanted to share our recipe. You can put this into a store-bought pie shell or try your hand at a made scratch from pie crust as well.

**Special thanks to my son-in-law @moments2lifephotography for the amazing cover photo! Continue reading “Pumpkin Pie Filling From Scratch”

Little House On The Prairie Adventure Weekly Guide Links

Click Here for Little House On The Prairie Adventure Weekly Lesson Plan Links Only.

How we use these lesson plans:

Our school week is usually completed in 4 days. We use a Loop Schedule where we work for a designated amount of time on each subject before moving on to the next. After their work is completed for the day the kids are allowed to have independent studies were they can study whatever their little hearts desired.

Our 5th day is an optional day that we use to complete unfinished work or for other activities as we choose.


Please click HERE for a list of resources that we have purchased from Amazon and other suppliers.

Click on the links below for the series you would like to view/use. I will update these links as we get them finished.

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.


1. Little House On The Prairie Adventure Week 1 Lesson Plans

Continue reading “Little House On The Prairie Adventure Weekly Guide Links”

Little House On The Prairie Adventure Week 9 Lesson Plans

**Although I try to provide as many FREE resources as possible this post may contain affiliate links alt no extra cost to you. We may earn a small commission, if a purchase is made through these links, which helps to support our blog and our family. Thank you!

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.

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Not the prettiest example but that’s what we’ve been using for the past few years.

Don’t have a flag? Grab one HEREand 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.

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This one came from Lakeshore Learning.

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.


Week 9: Chapters 25 & 26 (Soldiers, Going Out)

Here is our lesson plan for the week:


Language Arts

Week 9: Chapters 25 & 26

Reading:

Read Chapters 25 & 26 

  • You can read it or let the kids help to read it aloud.
  • You can also access an audio version:

Discussion Questions:

Chapter Twenty-Five:

  • What were they busy doing?
  • What did they plant in their garden?
  • Why did Pa say they had to leave?
  • Who did he give the cow to and why?
  • What did they eat for dinner?

Chapter Twenty-Six:

  • What item couldn’t they take with them?
  • Who did they find? What had happened?
  • How did Pa offer to help?
  • What were they taking with them that they didn’t bring with them?
  • Where do you think the family is going?
  • Who did Pa say would eat the garden?

Additional Reading:

Each child would complete a reading lesson from our McGuffey Primer Books or other reading materials that we chose for the day.

Younger kids will also be doing one lesson a day from Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.

Vocabulary/Spelling:

Older Kids:

Parents click HERE for the answer key.**see instructions at the top of the page.

Younger Kids:

Handwriting:

Using  Spencerian Penmanship go over the instructions on p. 16-17

Writing:**

  • Write about what you would plant in your garden and why?
  • Continue working in your workbook.

Other Activity:

Group:

Older kids:

Younger kids:

 


Math

Week 9: Chapters 25 & 26

You can work on a lesson in your Ray’s Arithmetic Books or other math workbook. (The lessons below reflect what we worked on.)

Group:

Rotate through these activities:

Older Kids:

Younger Kids:


Geography and History

Week 9: Chapters 25 & 26

1. State Study

  • This week we will study Alabama.
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

 

2. Research about the Osage Diminished Reserve.

  • Click HERE to learn about the differences between the Great Plains then and now.
  • How did this affect the Indians?
  • How did this affect the settlers?
  • Do you think this may have had an impact on why Pa decided to move?

Extra:


Science

Week 9: Chapters 25 & 26

1. Free Choice

  • Pick out a previous topic to research more and write a report about it.
  • Go to Mystery Science and learn about something you are interested in.

2. Continue learning about simple machines.

3. Planets in our Solar System.

  • Discuss what you have learned.

4. Read about how to start plants indoors like Ma did.

  • Discuss what you have learned.
  • What plants would you like to start?
  • Make a list of materials you would need.

Extra:

 


Life Skills

Week 9: Chapters 25 & 26

1. Following Ma’s Example

Make a sample routine

Do you have trouble getting things done on time? Why not make a routine to help with your problems?

Use the questions below to help you get started.

  • What do you need a routine for?
  • What do you need to get completed?
  • When do you need to do this?
  • How often do you need to do these tasks?
  • Is there anything else you can think of that would help you be prepared?
  • Show your sample routine to a parent.
  • Bonus points if you can start using your routine consistently.

Watch this video for some sample routines for kids:

Sometimes keeping our routines visible can help us to remember what we need to do and help us to be more responsible. Watch this video below for an example that you might want to try in your home:

2. Ways to help around the house like Laura

Vacuuming is something we don’t do a lot of and I’m sure that Laura and her family didn’t either. However in order to keep our homes nice and neat we do need to know how to vacuum properly.

When we do vacuum we only move the large furniture once or twice a year to get behind it. Other than that we just clean around and under everything as we go.

How to Vacuum:

  • Get the vacuum.
  • Check to see if the bag/canister needs replaced/cleaned
  • Straighten the room like we learned in Week 1
  • Plug in the vacuum
  • Turn on the vacuum
  • Begin to vacuum in one corner and work your way around the room.
  • Work the vacuum back and forth, slow and steady.
  • Move small items as needed
  • Check the room for any missed spots.
  • Turn off the vacuum.
  • Unplug the vacuum.
  • Wind up the cord
  • Check to see if the bag/canister needs replaced/cleaned
  • Put the vacuum back in its place.

Some vacuums have special attachments for furniture and such. You may need to ask your mom or dad to show you how to use these attachments so you can help clean the couches and other items in your home.

There are also smaller hand held vacuums that can be used to clean up smaller messes. These can also be very handy when cleaning out a vehicle. If you have one of these ask your mom or dad to show you how to work it. Just remember that a vacuum is not a toy!

3. Character

We will be focusing on OBEDIENCE this unit. If you don’t have the book we used you can go HERE and download a lesson plan guide to use in your home.

MemorizeChildren, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. – Colossians 3:20

We will be studying obedience during this unit. What is obedience?

  • Review what you have learned.
  • When your parents ask you to do something and how to do it, is it OK to do it a different way as long as you get it done?

Watch the videos below:

  • Who disobeyed God? How?
  • Did his disobedience affect others? We never know who we may hurt with our disobedience.
  • We need to remember to pray to be obedient so that we don’t hurt others.

4. Manners

5. Memory Verse

We will be memorizing Psalm 8 during this unit study. Print it HERE.

  • Work on memorizing a verse during the week for a special prize.
    • Verse 9:  O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
  • Older kids can copy the memory verse down in their notebook.
  • Work on saying everything you have memorized.

6. Fun Activities

7. Bonus Skills — Choose one or two to work on

Practice these until you finish this unit study and then we will move on to another new skill.

Kids Cook Real Food 

  • Work on: Healthy Breakfast

  • Help to prepare a meal using your new skills.

Skill Trek:

  • Work on at least one task a week.
  • Practice your new skill this week.

Memorize the books of the Bible:

Learn about camping.

  • Practice cooking on a campfire.
  • Here is a tip for cleaning up after cooking:

Learn about Herbs.

Garlic: The Cold and Flu Spice

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Be sure to jot down some notes.
  • Name your three favorite dishes that have Garlic as an ingredient.

 


PE, Health & Safety

Week 9: Chapters 25 & 26

1. Tobacco Safety

The story mentions several time that Pa used his tobacco pipe. Do you know what tobacco is and how harmful it could be to you?

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • List 3 different side effects of tobacco use.

2. Games/Outdoor Play

Check out some of the games that the Native American children may have played with the links below:

Some of these games may be fun to include with your Indian Party.


Music, Arts & Crafts

You can find more Native American crafts and activities HERE , HERE, HERE and a FREE printable coloring book HERE.

Week 9: Chapters 25 & 26

Crafts:**

1. Make a Covered Wagon p. 37 Pioneer Crafts for Kids

2. Indian Headdress

 

Amscan Thanksgiving Make Your Own Headband

Amscan Thanksgiving Make Your Own Headband

 

Art:

  1. Choose a previous project that you haven’t done yet.
  2. Indian Headdress Coloring Page
  3. Native American Dancing coloring page
  4. Free Choice

Music:

  • Experiment with making music around the house.

Westco Sounds of Nature Kit Musical Instrument Toy

 

 


**BE SURE TO SAVE A FEW SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK FOR YOUR  PORTFOLIO!  TAKE PICTURES OF BIG PROJECTS!

Little House On The Prairie Adventure Week 7 Lesson Plans

**Although I try to provide as many FREE resources as possible this post may contain affiliate links alt no extra cost to you. We may earn a small commission, if a purchase is made through these links, which helps to support our blog and our family. Thank you!

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.

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Not the prettiest example but that’s what we’ve been using for the past few years.

Don’t have a flag? Grab one HEREand 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.

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This one came from Lakeshore Learning.

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.


Week 7: Chapters 19, 20 & 21 (Mr. Edwards Meets Santa Claus, A Scream in the Night, Indian Jamboree )

Here is our lesson plan for the week:


Language Arts

Reading:

Read Chapters 19, 20 & 21

Discussion Questions:

Chapter Nineteen:

  • What holiday was coming up?
  • What did Pa bring Christmas dinner?
  • Why did the girls think Santa couldn’t come?
  • Who did Mr. Edwards say he had saw? What had he sent for the girls?
  • What did the girls find in their stockings?

Chapter Twenty:

  • What games did the girls play with Baby Carrie?
  • What did they hear? Who did Pa think it was?
  • What was really screaming?
  • Who killed the panther?

Chapter Twenty-One:

  • How long was Pa gone?
  • What did Pa trade the furs for?
  • Why did Pa give Mary her package first? What had he brought for them?
  • How did the Indians feel about the settlers?

Additional Reading:

Each child would complete a reading lesson from our McGuffey Primer Books or other reading materials that we chose for the day.

Younger kids will also be doing one lesson a day from Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.

Vocabulary/Spelling:

Older Kids:

Parents click HERE for the answer key.**see instructions at the top of the page.

Younger Kids:

Handwriting:

Using  Spencerian Penmanship go over the instructions on p. 11-13

Writing:**

  • Describe a favorite holiday meal that you had with your family.
  • Continue working in your workbook.

Other Activity:

Group:

Older kids:

Younger kids:


Math

Week 7: Chapters 19, 20 & 21

You can work on a lesson in your Ray’s Arithmetic Books or other math workbook. (The lessons below reflect what we worked on.)

Group:

Rotate through these activities:

Older Kids:

Younger Kids:

 


Geography and History

Week 7: Chapters 19, 20 & 21

1. State Study

  • This week we will study Nebraska.
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

2. Continue to Research Native American Indian Tribes

  • Do some independent research.
  • Be sure to take notes for your report.
  • Watch this video about some interesting facts:

3. Take a tour of a Prairie homestead


Science

Week 7: Chapters 19, 20 & 21

1. Continue to Research Prairie Animals.

  • Discuss what you learned.

Listen to these sounds:

  • How would that make you feel?

2. Continue learning about simple machines.

We will be using Explore Simple Machines!: With 25 Great Projects for this study.

What are wedges? Not the shoes.

  • Read pages 57-62 of your book.
  • Write down these words and their definitions:
    • ravine
    • caravan
  • Can you name four uses of wedges? p.59 Write them down.
  • Do one of the activities on pages 63-67.

Watch this video for more information:

  • Discuss what you learned.

3. Get to know your galaxy.

  • Discuss what you learned.

Extra:


Life Skills

Week 7: Chapters 19, 20 & 21

1. Just like the settlers the Indians also had routines for their lives.

  • Name some of the things they may have had routines for.
  • Some routines are flexible while others need to be completed in a step by step order.
  • Watch this video on how they tanned the hides:
  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Name three things they may have used the hides for.
  • Write out a Sequencing Worksheet for the tanning routine.
  • What would happen if someone did the steps out of order or forgot a step?

2. Ways to help around the house like Laura

Dusting is a necessary chore as dust can build up quickly around the house. I always loved it when my Mom-mom let me help dust. I was always so very careful with all of the knick knacks she had because I didn’t want to break anything.

Below we will also learn about wiping up smudges which can be done at the same time as dusting.

How to dust:

  • Gather your supplies:
    • Duster, mitt, cloth, or other tool
    • Dusting spray
  • Spray the dusting tool with spray.
    • Be careful not to spray yourself or someone else
  • Dust each item carefully but thoroughly.
  • Items you can dust:
    • coffee table
    • end tables
    • lamps
    • booshelf
    • TV
    • Window sills
    • pictures
    • other items as directed by your parents.
  • Check the room to see if you missed anything.
  • Put away your supplies.

Smudges happen a lot in our home. It seems like no sooner do we clean them up then I see even more here and there. We go through the house about once a week, after we dust, and wipe down the furniture, light switches, and door knobs. This helps to keep everything looking nice and clean.

How to wipe smudges

  • Gather the items needed:
  • Spray a small amount of cleaner on your rag.
  • Gently but thoroughly clean items with smudges:
    • telephones
    • TVs
    • remotes
    • light switches
    • knick knacks
    • doorknobs
    • handles
    • mirrors
    • other shiny surfaces
  • Check to see if you missed any spots.
  • Move from one item to the next.
  • Put away the supplies when you are finished.

3. Character

We will be focusing on OBEDIENCE this unit. If you don’t have the book we used you can go HERE and download a lesson plan guide to use in your home.

MemorizeChildren, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. – Colossians 3:20

We will be studying obedience during this unit. What is obedience?

  • Review what we have learned.
  • Have there been times over the past week when it was hard to obey but Jesus helped you?
  • Have you been remembering to pray?

Watch this video about someone who disobeyed God:

  • What did Samuel tell Saul that God wanted him to do?
  • Did Saul obey?
  • Did his disobedience make God happy?
  • Did Saul repent?
  • What happened to Saul because he disobeyed?
  • God wants us to obey Him. He also wants children to obey their parents.
  • Pray for God’s help to obey.

4.Manners

Continue to practice your good manners everywhere you go.

Print out a list of Important Manners HERE. Post it somewhere you can see everyday.

 

5. Memory Verse

We will be memorizing Psalm 8 during this unit study. Print it HERE.

  • Work on memorizing a verse during the week for a special prize.
    • Verse 7: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
  • Older kids can copy the memory verse down in their notebook.

6. Fun Activities

  • Help plan a holiday meal and make a grocery list to go with it.
  • Show someone how you are good neighbor by doing something nice for them.
  • We read the word ‘bootjack’ in this section. Do you know what a bootjack is?

7. Bonus Skills — Choose one or two to work on

Practice these until you finish this unit study and then we will move on to another new skill.

Kids Cook Real Food 

  • Work on: Bonus Lesson: Potato Salad

  • Help to prepare a meal using your new skills.

Skill Trek:

  • Work on at least one task a week.
  • Practice your new skill this week.

Memorize the books of the Bible:

  • Try it now without the teaching:

Learn about camping.

  • Learn how to build a campfire and give it a try, with your parent’s permission.
  • You will need to gather your own tinder.
  • Build and light your fire with supervision. NEVER light a fire without an adult present!
  • Extra Points for building two or more different types of fires.

Here’s a video to get you started:

Learn about Herbs.

Mullein: The Ear and Lung Herb

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Be sure to jot down some notes.
  • Research some herbs that the Indians may have used in their cooking.

PE, Health & Safety

Week 7: Chapters 19, 20 & 21

1. Wild Animal Safety

When they heard the scream at night Pa thought it may have been a neighbor needing help. He soon realized it was a panther and came back home quickly.

  • Wild animals can be dangerous. Do you know what to do to stay safe if you encounter a wild animal?
  • Discuss what you have learned.
  • What kinds of wild animals could you encounter where you live?
  • How will you keep yourself safe?

2. Games/Outdoor Play

Laura and Mary played games with each other and Baby Carrie. Try any of the games listed below or choose your favorite game to play. These would be really good games for when you are stuck inside the house.

You can find more games and activities in this book:

Pioneer days: Discover the past with fun projects, games, activities, and recipes (American kids in history)


Music, Arts & Crafts

You can find more Native American crafts and activities HERE , HERE, HERE and a FREE printable coloring book HERE.

Week 7: Chapters 19, 20 & 21

Crafts:

1. Make musical instruments:

 

2. Christmas

Art:

  1. Santa Claus coloring page
  2. Christmas coloring page

Music:

Some more Plains Indian Music:

 

 


**BE SURE TO SAVE A FEW SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK FOR YOUR  PORTFOLIO!  TAKE PICTURES OF BIG PROJECTS!