Tag: lesson plans

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!

Little House On The Prairie Adventure Resource List

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog4 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!

We read Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Biography and Little House in the Big Woods before starting this study.

NOTE: My kiddos were 5, 6, 9, 11, and 15 at the time we created study unit. Some ideas may need to be changed/adjusted for older kids.

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.

Introduction:

We have been using the Little House on the Prairie Books for our homeschool this year and my kids are loving it. I have scoured the internet for resources to make our learning experience as fun and exciting as possible. This series of posts is a compilation of different resources we have found and used in our home. Please note that some of these may have been FREE at the time I found them and prices and/or availability may have changed. Feel free to leave your own links in the comments section below.

I also want to take a moment to thank all of these wonderful people who put together so many wonderful resources for all of us to use with our children. I know that many hours, blood, sweat, and tears went into these projects but your work is greatly appreciated!

Answer Key found HERE. **ANSWER KEY password: momsrock (highlight blank area)

Language Arts:

Reading:

We will be reading the noted selection for the week as well as discussing what we have read. I may come up with other questions as well. Kids are curious and I know we will have many questions which may lead to some research in other areas.

We will also be working on reading through a few books, see Kirby’s Kids Grade by Grade Homeschool Reading List , for each different grade level. The older kids (ages 9 & 11) will have some independent reading while the younger ones (ages 5,6, and my special needs son who is 15 but at a Kindergarten level) will have a mixture of read alouds, read alongs, and independent reading.

You should keep a record of the books read. You can do this in a notebook or using this printable HERE.

You may also like to check out these links for book reports:

Handwriting:

I did not list handwriting in the weekly work tasks as my kids are using the Spencerian Penmanship for handwriting and will practice this every day.

Vocabulary/Spelling:

We will be doing various activities for this area. We will be looking up definitions, matching words, putting the words in alphabetical order, and a variety of other activities.

The vocabulary words could also be used as spelling words, if you choose to do so. We are also using these resources below:

Writing:

There will be a variety of creative writing ideas as well. I have tried to vary them and offer choices to help encourage writing. We will also be doing various writing assignments in some of other areas as well.

Check out PRINTABLE WRITING PAPER- TWENTY FREE TEMPLATES FOR KID’S WRITING for some FREE writing resources!

Other Activities:

These are just some of the other activities that I am incorporating into the lessons with my kiddos as we are all at different learning levels. I put these in here to keep me organized so I don’t ‘forget’ something. In our Group activities I include a lot of reading out loud books that may seem ‘young’ but my older kids missed out on some of these nursery rhymes and such when they were younger due and they really enjoy listening to them as they work. Many of the titles can be found at your local library too!

I will add links to worksheets I find or make as we go through the unit. For a general guideline of skills your child should know by grade level click HERE.

I have pulled a lot of the material from the book for the worksheets listed down below.

Many of the ideas have been pulled from the following resources:

  • Other materials may be listed with the individual sections.

You can also find FREE Lessons with these links:

Other resources used:

The younger kids will also have access to various Read-Along books and puppet books. I will update links to those as we go along.

Math:

Many of the ideas have been pulled from the following resources:

Note about Ray’s Arithmetic Books: These can be a little confusing at first but the Parent/Teacher guide is so useful! I have found that the books are in order as follows:

  • 1st/2nd grades: Ray’s New Primary Arithmetic
  • 3rd/4th grades: Ray’s New Intellectual Math
  • 5th/6th grades: Ray’s Practical Arithmetic
  • 7th/8th grades: Ray’s Higher Arithmetic

I have used a lot of the examples from the book to create the worksheets you will find listed below. **ANSWER KEY password: momsrock (highlight blank area)

You can also find FREE Lessons with these links:

Social Studies:

Many of the ideas have been pulled from the following resources:

You can also find FREE Lessons with these links:

Science:

Many of the ideas have been pulled from the following resources:

You can also find FREE Lessons with these links:

My kids also enjoyed reading:

 Bears on the Brain (Science Solves It!)

PE/Health & Safety Resources:

Many of the ideas have been pulled from the following resources:

You can also find FREE Lessons ideas with these links:

We often have some ‘Free Play’ outside whenever the weather allows as well.

Life Skills:

This area contains our lesson plans for a few different areas that I have included with our ‘Life Skills’. You will find lessons on cooking, cleaning, and organization as well as bible memory work and character training. All of these will go together to help raise our children into the responsible and caring citizens of tomorrow.

You can find a FREE printable log for keeping track of memory work here:

Many of the ideas have been pulled from the following resources:

You can also find FREE Lessons with these links:

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.

Music, Arts & Crafts:

These lesson plans include Music, Arts, and Crafts. Choose one or two ideas/day as desired.

Many of the ideas have been pulled from the following resources:

You can also find FREE Lessons with these links:

We have also bought the following books/products for use with this series:

Remember: These are the lessons and activities that we used while doing this study but you can do anything your heart desires to make this a great adventure for you and your kids!

 

 

Little House On The Prairie Adventure: Week by Week Music, Arts, and Crafts Lessons

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog12 Comments

**This post may contain affiliate links to some of the products and resources that we have used. These are provided at no extra charge to you and help to support our blog and family if a purchase is made through these links. -Thank you!

Here are our Lesson Plans For Music, Arts & Crafts

Please note that YouTube has been removing some content from its site so you may need to search for another video on the topics listed.

These lessons were made to go along with ‘The Little House On The Prairie‘ 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 or subject 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.

You can check out my Pinterest page Little House on the Prairie Crafts for even more crafts and activities.

Many of the songs come from this book:

Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook

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

Week 1: Chapters 1, 2 & 3

Crafts:

  1. Try one of these campfire crafts:

2.  Horse Crafts

3. You could start making a Pioneer Life Diorama to depict the book scenes.

Art:**

  1. Draw a picture of Pet and Patty on their lines.
  2. Wagons on a raft coloring page.

Music:

  1. Listen to the sounds of nature on the prairie:

2. Listen to the sounds of nature at night:

Week 2: Chapters 4, 5 & 6

Crafts:**

  1. Try making some origami animals.

Art:

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

Music:

Week 3: Chapters 7, 8 & 9

Crafts:

  1. Build a log cabin with Lincoln Logs
  2. Make a Log Cabin Photo Frame p. 36 Pioneer Crafts for Kids
  3. Use My Book of Little House Paper Dolls: The Big Woods Collection to reenact and retell the story to someone.
  4. Make a Flower Mask p. 16 Pioneer Crafts for Kids
  5. Build a Pretzel Log Cabin

Art: 

  1. Color some prairie flowers
  2. Draw a rock fireplace as Laura described it.
  3. Draw a log cabin.

Or you can try to draw a wolf:

Music:

Listen to the natural songs made by wolves:

Week 4: Chapters 10, 11 & 12

Crafts:

1. Snakes

2. Water well

Art: 

  1. Snake coloring page

Music:

Listen to some Native American music:

Week 5: Chapters 13, 14 & 15

Crafts:

  1. 9 NATIVE AMERICAN CRAFTS FOR KIDS
  2. Indian Necklace Craft
  3. Make a Fringed Vest p. 13 Pioneer Crafts for Kids

Art:

  1. Longhorn coloring pages
  2. Cattle drive coloring page
  3. Three Wigwams coloring page

Look at these Native American Bead Projects HERE or below:

Music:

Listen to some of these old cowboy songs:

Week 6: Chapters 16, 17 & 18

Crafts:

  1. Turkey Crafts for Kids – Wonderful Art and Craft Ideas for Fall and Thanksgiving
  2. 15 TERRIFIC TURKEY CRAFTS FOR KIDS
  3. Turkey Leaf Lanterns Mason Jar Thanksgiving Craft

DIY Paper Turkey Headdress Turkey Hat Crafts

Art:

  1. Make a Turkey from things found in nature: Nature Made Wild Turkey
  2. Turkey Coloring Page

Music:

Novum Crafts Feather Headdress

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:

Week 8: Chapters 22, 23 & 24

Crafts:**

  1. Choose a Frog Craft

Smiling Wisdom - Jumping Hop Frog Origami Game - Holiday Favors, Classroom - 50 Colorful Origami Frogs - Children's Paper Game - Holiday Party Activity Ideas for Boys & Girls - Multicolored

Smiling Wisdom – Jumping Hop Frog Origami Game

2. Buffalo Crafts

3. Indian Papoose Craft

Art:

  1. Buffalo coloring pages
  2. Native American Hunter coloring page

Music:

  1. The Gum Tree Canoe p. 117Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook

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

Week 10: Finishing Up

Crafts:**

Make some crafts for your Indian Party. Check out these ideas HERE on Amazon. You can also check out my Pinterest board HERE.

  1. INDIAN CRAFTS FOR KIDS: Ideas to Make Native American Indians with Easy arts and crafts for children, preschoolers, teens
  2. Make a Spoon Doll p. 14 Pioneer Crafts for Kids
  3. Make a Pioneer Doll p. 32 Pioneer Crafts for Kids
  4. Make a Pioneer Life Diorama p. 51 Pioneer Crafts for Kids

Art:

  1. Choose a previous project that you haven’t done yet.
  2. Free Choice

Music:

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

Little House In The Big Woods Adventure Weekly Lesson Plan Links & Guide

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog18 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!

Click Here for Little House In The Big Woods 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 In The Big Woods Adventure Week 1 Lesson Plans

  • Language Arts:
    • Read Chapters 1 & 2
    • Discussion
    • McGuffey Primer Lesson
    • Vocabulary
    • Writing Activities
    • These week we learn about fiction vs. nonfiction
    • Make a Pioneer Journal
    •  Mother Goose Phonics: Pat A Cake
  • Math:
  • Geography and History:
    • State Study: Wisconsin
    • Research Pioneer Life
  • Science:
    • Learn about Bears
    • Learn about Panthers
    • Research Microbes and Bacteria
    • Learn about Density
    • Bonus: Why does fire burn different colors?
  • Life Skills:
    • Research Pioneer Chores
    • Making our bed
    • Interrupting
    • Memory Work
    • Fun activities: Make Butter
    • Bonus Skills: Memorizing the books of the Bible, Archery, and/or Baking
  • PE, Health & Safety:
    • Stranger Danger
    • Play Little Brown Bear
  • Music, Arts, and Crafts:
    • Crafts: Hog’s Bladder Balloons, Corn Cob/Husk Dolls, Snowflakes, and Paper Dolls
    • Art: Bulldogs, Jack Frost
    • Music: Yankee Doodle Dandy, Butter Churning Song

Continue reading “Little House In The Big Woods Adventure Weekly Lesson Plan Links & Guide” →

Little House In The Big Woods Adventure: Week by Week Language Arts Lessons

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog3 Comments

**This post may contain affiliate links to some of the products and resources that we have used. These are provided at no extra charge to you and help to support our blog and family if a purchase is made through these links. -Thank you!

Continue reading “Little House In The Big Woods Adventure: Week by Week Language Arts Lessons” →