Category: Life

On the Banks of Plum Creek: Week By Week Geography And History Lessons

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog10 Comments

Here are our Lesson Plans For Geography and History

These lessons were made to go along with ‘On The Banks Of Plum Creek‘ 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!

On weeks where there are several activities listed just choose a couple that interest you the most to work on.

We will also be using this People Long Ago Resource Box from Lakeshore Learning to go with our lessons.

People Long Ago Resource Box&nbsp;- Gr.&nbsp;<span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-3</span>

There are also some other resources available here:

Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter 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 also like to use this song during our ‘Morning Time’ to help the kids learn the 50 States. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorize the Continents and Oceans using the videos below to help:

Week 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

1. State Study

  • Print out this map HERE or this one HERE. You can color in the states as you learn them and track Laura’s journeys.
  • This week we will study Minnesota.
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Mark the route that the family may have taken on your map.

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landforms:

You can print out a lapbook  HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Plateaus (tableland p.22)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Valleys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bonus

Research Dugout homes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Discuss what you have learned.
  • What are the pros and cons of a dugout home?
  • Compare this to your home. Make a Venn Diagram to compare/contrast the two.

Extra:

Week 2: Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12

1. State Study

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landforms:

  • Rivers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Mountains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra:

Week 3: Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18

1. State Study

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landforms:

  • Hills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Canyons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra:

Week 4: Chapters 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23

1. State Study

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Discuss what you have learned.
  • Look at a map of where you live.
    • What symbols do you see?
    • Can you find the capital of your state?
  • Do one activity from:

Landforms:

  • Waterfalls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Deltas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra:

Week 5: Chapters 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28

1. State Study

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landforms:

  • Caves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Cliffs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra:

Week 6: Chapters 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 & 34

1. State Study

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landforms:

  • Buttes and Mesas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Volcanoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra:

Week 7: Chapters 35, 36, 37 & 38

1. State Study

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landforms:

  • Ponds & Lakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bonus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra:

Week 8: Chapters 39, 40 & 41

1. State Study

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

Did you know that there are different types of maps?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Landforms:

  • Dunes

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Oasis

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bonus

 

 

 

Extra:

Week 9: Finishing Up

1. State Study

  • Review the states we learned about and choose a state to research more.
  • Write a report about your favorite state or add some new facts to your previous report.

2. Landforms and Mapping

Maps:

Did you know that there are different types of maps? (continued)

 

 

 

 

Landforms:

 

 

3. Bonus

 

Extra:

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

**This post does contain affiliate links to products and/or services that we use. We may earn a teensy weensy small commission (at NO EXTRA cost to you) if a purchase is made through these links. These links help to support our family, our blog, and our homeschooling mission.

 –Thank you!

 

 

On the Banks of Plum Creek Adventure: Week by Week Science Lessons

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog10 Comments

Here are our Lesson Plans For Science

These lessons were made to go along with ‘On The Banks Of Plum Creek‘ 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!

On weeks where there are several activities listed just choose a couple that interest you the most to work on.

Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter 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 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

1. Pick one or two topics to learn about:

  • Willow Trees
  • Morning Glories
  • Growing plants
  • Butterflies
  • Lichens
  • Badgers
  • Heat Transfer

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

  • Seasons

3. Read:

Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature - Jacket unfolds into a huge wall poster!

4. Extra Activities:

5. Bonus

Look at a sample of pond water under a microscope and compare it to a sample of tap water. Watch this video if you don’t have access to pond water or a microscope.

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • What surprised you the most about this activity?

Week 2: Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12

1. Pick one or two topics to learn about:

  • Animal Groups
  • Insects
  • Bees
  • Response to Fear

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

  • Spring

3. Read

Extra Activities:

Fun Express Animal Bingo Game For Kids, Animal Recognition, Educational Games For Classroom

Week 3: Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18

1. Pick one or two topics to learn about:

  • Crabs
  • Leeches
  • Creek animals

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

  • Floods

3. Read:

Extra Activities:

Nature Up Close! Light Table Slides

Week 4: Chapters 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23

1. Pick one or two topics to learn about:

  • Fish
  • Blue herons
  • Snipes
  • Waterbirds

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

  • Seasons
  • Droughts

3. Read:

Extra Activities:

Week 5: Chapters 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28

1. Pick one or two topics to learn about:

  • Grasshoppers
  • Food Chains

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

  • Water Table
  • Dust Devils
  • Heat Waves

3. Read:

Extra Activities:

bugs&nbsp;&-insects-instant-learning-center-1

Week 6: Chapters 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 & 34

1. Pick one or two topics to learn about:

  • Birds
  • Grasshopper Migration

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

  • Fall
  • Lightning

3. Read:

Extra Activities:

Week 7: Chapters 35, 36, 37 & 38

1. Pick one or two topics to learn about:

  • Beavers
  • Winter Coats

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

  • Winter
  • Blizzards

3. Read:

Extra Activities:

Weathers & Seasons - Interactive Science Activities

Week 8: Chapters 39, 40 & 41

1. Go back and review previous topics you may have skipped or want to learn more about.

Watch this video:

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

  • Clouds

 

3. Read:

Extra Activities:

Week 9: Finishing Up

1. Tests

Make sure to print out the results from online quizzes.

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

Earth Science by Rock 'N Learn

  • Learn about hurricanes as we have a lot of them here.

3. Read:

Extra Activities:

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

**This post does contain affiliate links to products and/or services that we use. We may earn a teensy weensy small commission (at NO EXTRA cost to you) if a purchase is made through these links. These links help to support our family, our blog, and our homeschooling mission.

 –Thank you!

 

On the Banks of Plum Creek Adventure: Week by Week Math Lessons

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog10 Comments

Here are our Lesson Plans For Math

These lessons were made to go along with ‘On The Banks Of Plum Creek‘ 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! Continue reading “On the Banks of Plum Creek Adventure: Week by Week Math Lessons” →

Escaping Today’s Stress By Taking A Step Back In Time

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog2 Comments

WARNING: This post may contain a picture overload as I did take quite a few pictures while we were out on our adventures!

Over the weekend we had been invited to attend a small festival at Camp Milton where they were going to be having a battle reenactment. The time period was the 1800s which just happened to fit in with our Kirby’s Kids Academic Adventures and the Little House On The Prairie Adventures we’ve been doing with our homeschool so of course, I said we’d go. Plus it was a chance to see one of our friendly square dancers in action as he is an avid participant at these events.

Continue reading “Escaping Today’s Stress By Taking A Step Back In Time” →

May Is National Mental Health Month

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog1 Comment

As many of you know, by reading the title of this post, May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. There are so many stigmas around mental health and mental illnesses that oftentimes people don’t seek out the services that they truly need when they need them. We watch loved ones sink into depression and self medicate to cope with their emotions because they may feel like they will look weak or fear being judged if they ask for help. In reality, it takes a lot of strength to admit that you need help with something. I have listed some hotline numbers at the end of the post if you, or someone you know, needs to speak to someone. You can also download a toolkit from the link above.

Continue reading “May Is National Mental Health Month” →