Tag: homesteading

No Chickens Allowed?

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog2 Comments

I’ve been a bit quiet lately as we’ve had a lot going on around here. Some good, some not so good, and some pretty sad things but we are still here and still keeping on.

**WARNING: this may be something of a ‘RANT’ so feel free to stop reading at any time. I also mention raising animals for human consumption so please STOP HERE if this is something you don’t agree with!

One major issue we’ve been dealing with is homeowner’s insurance which is required by our mortgage company. We’ve been told that many insurance companies have left our state so the number of carriers has been declining rapidly.

We have an older mobile home (1994) so that is another reason we are often given. It’s just been one thing after another and it’s definitely been a challenge to find someone who will insure our home. We had found a company and things were going along well until they did an inspection…

Continue reading “No Chickens Allowed?” →

Little House On The Prairie Adventure Week 2 Lesson Plans

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog2 Comments

**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 2: Chapters 4, 5 & 6 (Prairie Day, The House on the Prairie, Moving In)

Here is our lesson plan for the week:

Language Arts

Reading:

Read Chapters 4, 5 & 6

Discussion Questions:

Chapter Four:

  • What did they eat for breakfast? Would you like this? Why or why not?
  • What chores did they have?
  • Name three animals that the girls saw while exploring. Name three different animals that Pa saw.
  • What did Laura want to see?
  • What did they have for dinner?

Chapter Five:

  • How did they set up house?
  • What did Pa go to get from the creek bottom?
  • What did Pa do with the logs?
  • How did Ma get hurt?
  • Where was Mr. Edwards from? How did he help them?

Chapter Six:

  • Why did Pa say that they hadn’t seen any Indians in the beginning of the chapter?
  • What did Pa use for the roof?
  • What did Pa use for a door?
  • What did Pa say he wanted? Why?

Additional Reading:

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

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. 5

Writing:

 

 

Choose one prompt below:

  • Practice writing a friendly letter with this worksheet HERE.
  • Practice some writing with this worksheet HERE. (You may need to make a FREE account to print these out.)

**Remember to use the thesaurus to come up with different words.

Other Activities:

Group:

Older kids:

Younger kids:

Math

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

1. State Study

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

2. Learn about the Prairie

  • Discuss what you have learned.
  • How do you think life will be different on the prairie?

3. Research the Pony Express

  • Watch this video:

Or this one:

  • Discuss what you have learned.

4. Research Pioneer Cabins

  • Watch these videos about pioneer cabins:

Here is one close to our home here:

  • Take notes about these videos. You will need them for an activity down below.
  • Explore the People Long Ago Resource Box  from Lakeshore Learning

5. Research Native American Indian Tribes

  • Learn about Teepees HERE.
  • Read more about this HERE and then watch this video:
  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Is this something you would be interested in? Write about why or why not you would be interested.

Here is a video about setting up a teepee:

Science

Week 2: Chapters 4, 5 & 6

1. Read about prairie animals.

  • Older kids can also work on a report about prairie animals. The report needs to include behavior, habitat, and diet.
  • Here are a couple of videos to get you started:

Here is a video about prairie dogs:

And another about Hawks:

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Choose an animal to study and write a report about. Your report will be due next week.

2. What is the solar system?

  • Discuss what you learned.

3. Continue learning about simple machines.

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

What are levers?

  • Read pages 12-19 of your book.
  • Write down these words and their definitions:
    • fulcrum
    • load
    • effort
    • engineer
    • linkage
    • agriculture
    • defense
    • invent
    • shaduf
    • counterweight
    • irrigation ditch
    • archaeologist
    • catapult
    • trebuchet
  • How many types of levers are mentioned in the book? What are the differences?
  • Do one of the activities on pages 20-25.

Watch this video for more information:

Extra:

Life Skills

1. Following Ma’s Example

Routines are essential for a successful household.

In this section we read about how Ma kept everything running smoothly while they were building the house even when she was hurt. They had a routine for getting moved in and set up as well.

Watch this video to see how one woman moved, built her own cabin, and started her new homesteading life.

  • Discuss what you’ve learned.
  • What steps did she go over?
  • Do you think if others follow her steps that they can homestead too? Why or why not?
  • What does she say about baby steps?
  • She seems very happy, would you like to try this?

2. Ways to help around the house like Laura

Emtpying the trashcans.

How to empty a trash can:

  • Collect all the trash from each room and carry it to the kitchen trash can.
  • Remove the full trash bag and dispose of it properly.
  • Clean out the trash can, if needed.
  • Replace the liner/bag.
  • Take the empty wastebaskets back to where they belong.

Do you know where the trash cans are in each room? Do you know where the trash bags are kept? If not, ask a parent to show you.

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.

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

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

  • Do you remember what obedience means?
  • Do you remember what your family rules are?
  • Have you been praying for God’s help?

Watch this video about Genesis 22:1-18

  • What did God ask Abraham to do?
  • Did Abraham obey God?
  • How many times did God have to ask him?
  • Did Abraham question God?
  • What did God promise Abraham for his obedience?
  • We need to pray that God will help us to obey the first time we are told just like Abraham did.

4. Manners

– Read through the next four pages of Emily’s Everyday Manners and discuss the manners shown in the pictures:

  • Using the magic words:
    • Please
    • Thank you
    • You’re welcome
    • Excuse me
  • Use your manners everyday with family, friends, and everyone you meet.

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 2: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
  • Older kids can copy the memory verse down in their notebook.

6. Fun Activities

Golden Barrel Bulk Unsulfured Blackstrap Molasses Jug (128 fl oz)

Golden Barrel Bulk Unsulfured Blackstrap Molasses Jug

The Amish Cook’s Family Favorite Recipes by Lovina Eicher

6. 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.

Kids Cook Real Food 

  • Work on: Class 4 – Spice Blends, Muffins, Whole Fruits (Beginner)

  • 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.

We have learned that manners are always important. Here is a video about camping etiquette.

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Write down some good camping manners.

Learn about Herbs.

Weeds vs. Herbs

  • Any plant that has medicinal purposes is called a herb. Weeds are usually any plant growing in a place that we don’t want it to grow.
  • All herbs could be seen as weeds but not all weeds are herbs. Do you know the difference?
  • Some herbs are used for medicine. The American Indians learned how to use many plants:
  • Some herbs are used as spices too:
  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Jot down notes in your notebook.
  • What herbs or spices do you use in your home?

Other Uses

  • Not all herbs are eaten. There are many ways that herbs can be used. Check out this website HERE for more information.
  • Write down some of the other ways that herbs can be used.
  • In our home we use a lot of essential oils. Do you know what essential oils are?
  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Jot down notes in your notebook.
  • Research some herbs that may have been useful in treating Ma’s sprained ankle.

 

PE, Health & Safety

1. Outdoor Exploring Safety

  • Laura and Mary had a lot of fun exploring outdoors and you can too. Watch these videos to learn how to stay safe.
  • Discuss what you have learned.
  • Name 5 things you can do to stay safe.

Cool Outdoor Activities: Great Things to Do in the Great Outdoors

2. Sprains

  • Ma got hurt when the log fell and she sprained her ankle. We can get hurt when we are playing and exploring to. Do you know what a sprain is?
  • How do you treat a sprain?
  • Discuss what you have learned.
  • How did the treatment in the video compare/contrast with the way Ma treated her sprain?

3. What is Molasses?

  • Watch how molasses is made:
  • Discuss what you have learned.

4. Games/Outdoor Play

Mr. Edwards did jumping jacks when Pa played the fiddle. Do you know how to do a jumping jack?

Music, Arts & Crafts

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

Crafts:**

  1. Try some making some origami animals.

Art:

 

  1. Prairie Dog Coloring Page
  2. How to draw a Prairie Dog
  3. or Free Choice

Music:

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