Blog tidy and new unit notes

Obviously our Little House on the Prairie roll has slowed down here. We aren't counting it as gone and done yet, but it has slowed considerably as we drifted onto the Civil War trails. And we intend to get back on track, but we are still running with some Civil War era reading.

American History Links, Ambleside Online  about half way down the page you'll find plenty of Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Grant, and more. Nice unit here as well.
If you are looking for some good titles and need to place an order, definitely visit Amy Puetz for some Civil War resources.
Also plenty of free online sources here at Old Fashioned Education  We have a well-loaded iPad and Kindle with reading to enjoy! 

On our trail ride thru the Civil War, we branched off recently and found a quick summer reading unit from HomeschoolSwag, using Little Women (audio here), Swiss Family Robinson (audio here) and Around the World in 80 Days (audio here).

In fact, if you are on a Charlotte Mason plan with your schooling (or even if you aren't), there are some great planners and prayer page downloads at HomeschoolSwag's network of pages you'll enjoy so go check them out!

I am gathering some extra resources and units to blend into the HomeschoolSwag CM Summer unit above. No, we probably won't just go the as-is 6 weeks schedule, but you probably knew that, right? We will definitely do the whole map/geography skills and mini country lessons with Around the World in 80 Days, of course.  We could really dig deep with such a collection of locations routed  in the book: London, France, Egypt, India, Singapore, China, Japan, Hong Kong, San Francisco, New York and Ireland.  Each with its own rich history, culture, landmarks and more.  The potential for handcrafts and other hands-on propjects, not to mention the culture-rich food studies...the possibilities are quite lengthy, fun and potentially delicious!

An obvious favorite resource here is The Trail Guide series. GeoMatters has a great selection of unit studies and curriculums for geography, and for what it might be worth, I highly recommend them!...Lesson Tutor has some chapter reviews/quiz pages (for several books and authors)...Links to All Things Free for Homeschoolers has a great collection of links, including these for geography and cultures...JoyfulPamela has a nice Squidoo Lens...Homeschool in The Woods geography links...SCORE pages on Around The World in 80 Days...World geography links by chapter and country...Homeschooling Ideas has several great pages, including a page of geography links and Around the World in 80 Days ideas

We will look into various connecting threads with Little Women and do some projects or crafts (might even go ahead and add Little Men to our reading.  Did you know Netflix has brought back the entire Little Men TV series? Definitely a fun watch and I'm so glad to see it back!)

Little Women study from GradeSaver...Little Women vocab lists, puzzles, and more from EdHelper...Various free and paid resources from Lesson Index (The Marching into Civil War Times is neat)...online flashcard vocab listing...Links and ideas from Web English Teacher.

I know we can find many great trails to branch off with reading the Swiss Family Robinson. In fact, we might save Swiss Family and work it together with our My Side of The Mountain reading we plan to do. The nature/animal studies alone in those two stories could easily fill an entire school term science run.

EasyFunSchool lesson plan for Swiss Family Robinson...LessonPlanet suggestions (maybe my olders should read Robinson Crusoe...they liked the TV series Crusoe, and you have the Pierce Brosnan movie...see how I bunny trail so easily?)...I love the links shared in this Squidoo Lens...For My Side of the Mountain we have these: Scholastic Teachers page discussion questions...Scholastic Book File, a 61 page PDF...University of Missouri eThemes page...Kid's Wings Activities page paid unit (a bit loud with the music and roaring, LOL, so check your volume)...Teacher Planet generic mountain pages...a Go Teach It 114 pg Paid PDF unit...Lesson Corner mountain worksheets...

These resource lists can go on and on and on...mountains and islands are one thing, there's the whole survivalist theme that forms the foundation of both stories and that opens an entirely new bunny trail of possibilities for lesson plans. And the nature studies to be had...OH MY!  One could easily go into a 2 year science run with just these two books...add in Robinson Crusoe and we're talking 3 years of some very interesting science lessons, nature studies of plants and animals, survival/wilderness skills, potential field trips and outings...not to mention you get to read some totally awesome books with your children.

What a bonus!

LHOP: Little Town week 4

We Love The Prairie Primer week 4 notes and links

Here in our school, we will be working off most of our Civil War items with this week and the next before we start the next book in the Little House series. See Little Town on the Prairie Intro post for some of our noted links and lists. We will be adding to the reading list options as I find more good books, but top of our reading will be a biography/stories on Lincoln,Clara Barton, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, and assorted reading using books such as G.A. Henty's With Lee in Virginia (found free at Google Books and here at Project Gutenberg), Librivox recordings for the Civil War here, Bookshelves search and their Civil War search, The Red Badge of Courage is a read for the olders, Caddie Woodlawn unit study and some fun paper dolls here.

Monday: chapters 22-23
Tuesday: chapter 24
Wednesday: chapter 25. Finished!

Topics for this week:
Andrew Johnson
diagramming sentences
The Battle of Little Big Horn
The Civil War (see Little Town Intro post)
Presidential Timeline

Who first spotted the blizzard?
Explain what Ma meant (pg 266) when she said "You may be well prepared to teach school and still not be a schoolteacher, but if you are not prepared, it's certain you won't be."
What did Laura put up with in order to be in style?
What was the order of the people sitting in church?
Draw a picture of how your church sanctuary is set up.
What is a revival? What did Laura think of the revival?
Why do you think Almanzo asked to see Laura home?
Read about Clara Barton
How many nice dresses does Laura have?
Write the definition and process of impeachment
What did Laura's first teacdhing job mean to her family? To her?
Learn about The Battle at Little Big Horn with General Custer. Write/narrate a report and include pictures.
What is orthography? geography? grammar?
What is a diagrammed sentence? Diagram the sentences Laura diagrammed using the method you are familiar with.

Depending on how long we tarry with the Civil War, we will return to Little House on the Prairie: These Happy Golden Years in late May, reading it thru for the month of June. This will set Farmer Boy for July, and The First Four Years for August. I apologize for the branches here and there during our read-a-long here. If you wish to continue along without our eclectic breaks and bunny trails, definitely grab yourself a copy of the Prairie Primer and visit the great links and notes shared at We Love The Prairie Primer blog.

LHOP: Little Town, week 3

We Love The Prairie Primer week 3 notes and links

Abraham Lincoln (see more resources on Little Town intro post)
The Compromise of 1850
Mexican War
Make a Simple Telegraph using an electromagnet
Morse Code

Monday: chapter 15
Tuesday: chapters 16-17
Wednesday: chapters 18-19
Thursday: chapter 20-21

What does Nellie's gossip about Miss Wilder reveal about her character?
What had Laura's unforgiveness caused?
Instead of their lessons, what did the boys learn in the morning?
Why do they have a new teacher?
What are name cards?
What is a bobolink (pg 192)?
How did Pa surprise Laura?
What was the War of 1812?
What did Almanzo say about his name?
How did Almanzo get his name?
How had Almanzo live up to the name he was given?
What did Marty think of bangs?
Why were both Pa and ma not enthusiastic about church? Did their attitude affect the childrens?
How did Laura curl her hair (pg 204)?
What did the girls think of the social?
Read about the Compromise of 1850. what does God say about compromise (Psalm 4:5, Luke 16:13)
Tell the story of how your name was chosen. What does your name mean? Who were you named after.
Apply these verses to Laura's attitude toward her pastor: Romans 10:12-15, I Thessalonians 512-13, Hebrews 13:17, I Timothy 5:17-18
What did Laura want to be different? What did the whole town want?
What did they do for entertainment?
What new building was finished?
How often did they have church?
What did Pa require of Laura and Carrie when they returned from church?
How were the winder days kept full (pg 226)?
What were grown people not to do (pg 228)?
How much was Laura studying?
How did Pa make a cradle for Grace's doll?
Oral or written: repeat the main verse texts and topic from your next church service
Have a family spelling bee
What happened at the party?
What 2 games did they play?
What did the older boys and girls do at recess?
Whose opinion did Cap worry about and why?
Describe the night's entertainment at the Literary?
What was Laura's excuse for not studying?
What did Laura know she must not do anymore? Who besides herself would it affect?
Build and use a telegraph, learn morse code
Look up indulgence  in the Webster's 1828 Dictionary and write out a description and show examples from the story.

LHOP: Little Town, week 2

We Love The Prairie Primer week 2 notes and links

Monday: chapter 9
Tuesday: chapter 10
Wednesday: chapters 11-12
Thursday: chapters 13-14

Topics this week:
John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson
Martin Van Buren
James Polk
The War of 1812
Spanish Needle Grass

Read a biography on Andrew Jackson and finish it this week
Learn some key facts about the War of 1812
Make a chicken pot pie
Apply James 1:2-4 to chapter 9
What did Pa do to get rid of the funny grass Laura and Mary got into?
What was Ma's key for thankfulness (pg 90)?
What is a corset and how were they used?
What happened to the oat and corn crops?
What did they do to salvage some of the corn?
What unusual dinner did they have?
What sacrifice did Pa make to send Mary to college?
What did Laura choose to do to keep everyone occupied while Pa and Ma were gone?
What was harder than Laura expected?
How dide they know POa and Ma were coming?
Apply Mark 2:27 to Laura
write/narrate a report on John Adams or James Monroe
What did the girls do before and after school? What did they do on Saturdays?
How did the Ingalls prepare for winter? How did the town prepare?
Why was living in town better for Carrie? What was wrong with her?
Tell the story of what happened when Laura tried to surprise Ma with a clean house and what happened. Draw it out.
Apply Romans 13:12 to Laura's attitude toward Miss Wilder.
Apply Matthew 23:12 to Nellie.
Who was at the head of the class?
What did Laura do during recess?
What did Almanzo buy with his profit from the wheat crop? Was this good money mangement?
What did they use for a drinking fountain? How did this show they did not know about or apply the germ theory?
What happened in chapter 14, and what should Laura have done? What would you have done?
Apply these verses to chapter 13: Romans 13:1-2
Apply these to Laura's comment to Nellie II Timothy 2:16-17. James 3:13. II Timothy 2 23

LHOP: Little Town, week 1

Monday: chapters 1-3
Tuesday: chapters 4-5
Wednesday: chapters 6-7
Thursday: chapter 8
Friday: review and finish

Topics to cover and read about:
Begin Memorizing Romans 12 to complete by end of book
We Love the Prairie Primer week 1 Notes and Links
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
James Monroe
The Louisiana Purchase
Sheep sorrels herb
Learn about the care of chickens
Apply Acts 20:35 and Galatians 6:7-10 to chapter 4 reading



What did Laura think about having a job in town?
With what and how was the baby calf fed? Why didn't they allow the calf to nurse?
Why did Laura not play in the freshly plowed ground?
On a sunny day what did grace discover?
What was the Ingalls' problem? How could a cat help?
What character qualities did Pa show?
Was Springtime a time for visiting? Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
What are 3 reasons the Bible gives for suffering in II Corinthians 1:3-11?
What is a cockerel? What is a pullet?
What did they put on their salads as dressing?
Narrate the amazing surprise story
What was Laura's first day of work like?
How had her life at home prepared her for this job?
What did Laura do with her money?
Because of homesteading, where did the wives, boys and girls live during the summer?
What did the husbands do, and why? (pg 49-50)
How did they keep bugs from their homes?
What was Carrie's job? What was Grace's job?
Write/Narratee a report on the proper care and management of a chicken flock
Draw a poster showing the health and safety shown in Proverbs 23:29-35
Draw a picture of your own chicken coop design and label
Learn about the Louisiana Purchase
What were the Ingalls' awakened by?
How far did they walk into town? How far is town from your home?
What important US document did both Laura and Carrie know by heart?
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Who won the buggy race?
What handicap did the horses have to overcome?
Apply Proverbs 12:10 to Almanzo's character

LHOP: Little Town on The Prairie, intro

Yes, I know.  I left everyone hanging with The Long Winter. We trekked off the course I had planned and totally disappeared from Little House on The Prairie reading. Somehow a sudden and deep interest in Medieval Times, King Arthur, Knights, and more entered in and we went with the flow.

I suppose I need to have some sort of heads-up, a disclaimer notice of some kind, alerting friends who visit and maybe don't know us that we are a wide and varied eclectic sort here.

I love structure. I believe structured days, expectations of routine and so on, really hold our schooling (and homesteading) together here. I do. I know for some of you that is near impossible to believe given my seeming flighty nature and all, but really, structure and routine is a big thing around here.

But I also know that when the interest level hits a peak, we need to run with it. A quick movie on Arthur and bingo...Laura and her family were left to fend for themselves on the Prairie and we ran off to search out castle and slay dragons. And we had a blast. But, Laura deserves our attention again, and as we have an interest in the Civil War getting started around here as well, what perfect time to collect Laura and visit Little Town on The Prairie.

Events and projects for Little Town include a family Spelling Bee, a History Bee and more.  The Primer suggests a Presidential Timeline, and study of key facts from the writing of the Constitution thru to 1882...covering our interest of the Civil War and the trails we will be taking here. a Presidential Study to work along with runs from George Washington to Chester Arthur taking over as President for James Garfield. There is a great 50 page Presidents of The United States to download found here.  For your own narration and memory work, take the chosen Presidents above and write out their dates of office, facts or famous quotes and accomplishments. any special notes you can find about them. Study 2-3 each week and try to memorize your card of facts for each.

Biographies we will read throughout the Little Town work will include many Civil War titles and biographies. We are using book lists from a few sources, as well as some unit study and lapbook components. Here are some of the resources I have gathered from online friends and blogs we will browse through as we go along:
Our Homeschooling Expedition blog has a great Civil War unit study with booklist
USA People Search has some great links for all sorts of Civil War information
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
Guest Hollow American History 2
Civil War.org has some good lesson plans for our unit
Small Planet's Civil War unit
The American Civil War Homepage
History.com's Underground Railroad pages
Scholastic Teacher Comparing North and South in the Civil War World
Abraham Lincoln Facts
History Place The Civil War
Pathways to Freedom, Symbols of the Underground Railroad
Timeline of the Civil War


The key memory selection for Little Town is Romans 12. And as always, our Primer and the great links at We Love The Prairie Primer blog are being utilized.

LHOP: Long Winter, week 4 notes

Week 4 links via We Love The Prairie Primer

Reading:
Monday:  chapters 28-29
Tuesday: chapters 30-31
Wednesday: chapters 32- 33, finishes the book
Thursday...if you have the book Laura Ingalls Wilder Country, ready The Long Winter, chapter 6

What did Pa get angry with (pg 288)?
What made Pa mind the weather more than usual? What was Laura's solution?
Had they prayed for Almanzo and Cap? What made it ok intheir eyes to pray for them?
Who did the town's people look to for wisdom?
What was Pa's argument?
What dide Almanzo notice about Pa (pg 308)?
Discuss: Proverbs 1:19, 15:27, Amos 5:9, Matthew 5:9, 4:4 in light of these chapters
Learn about the nutritional differences between whole wheat flour and non-enriched white flour. What vitamins does white flour lack? What vitamins did the Ingalls receive by eating whole wheat instead of white?
How was God's Provision better than Laura's desire for white bread? How is God's Will better than our own will for our lives? Name an instance where God's Will proved much better than your own will.
God provided for the Ingalls...consider the verses Philippians 4:11, 13, 19, Psalm 146:7, 37:25, Matthew 6:8-13
learn some songs from Laura's time, lyrics from some of Pa's songs here
What is Chinook, and what differences did it bring? read about the Legend of The Chinook Wind here, learn how the Chinook winds work here and here
Apply Proverbs 17:22 and 16:24 to the story
Pa called Ma 'Nebuchadnezzar' when she suggested eating greens. Read the story of Nebuchadnezzar from Daniel 4 or Daniel 5 (or here at History World). Who was he? Why did he eat grass?
Learn about the wind and how wind is caused by temperature differences and the rotation of the Earth
The last of the wheat was used the day the train arrived in town. Read more stories in your Bible of how God's Provision lasted only as long as was needed (The Israelites and manna, the widow woman and the oil, etc.)

LHOP: Long Winter, week 3 notes

Our We Love the Prairie Primer notes this week

Notes:
frostbite
differences in flour, white flour vs wheat flour
Livingstone's Africa text online here at Google books, the Primer also suggests the movie Stanley and Livingstone, with Spencer Tracy, 1939  Netflix has Forbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for Livingstone (1997) but I have not viewed this movie

Reading:
Monday: chapters 19-20
Tuesday: chapters 21-22
Wednesday: chapters 23-25
Thursday: chapters 26-27
Friday: catch up and review

What good character attribute did Laura show in this chapter?
How did Ma grind the wheat?
What did Ma think to use instead of kerosene for light (pg 192)?
What does the common saying "count your chickens before they are hatched" mean?
Narrate/Dictate/Copywork:  tell what happened on the antelope hunt
On page 193 Pa makes a statement about modern conveniences. List some modern conveniences/luxuries we have grown dependent on
make a nutritional chart and place a star on each time you eat something from the chart groupings
make a button lamp
How do you think the town of DeSmet received word the trains would not be running until spring?
Narrate/Dictate: tell the story of the train superintendent
What did they do to lift their spirits?
What did the girls do for fun?
What unique way did Pa make to feed the horses? How did patience and perserverance fit his actions?
Why was the house warmer?
What did Pa find that he could not do?
Who was Paul Revere? a biography is here, Enchanted Learning page here
Read selections from McGuffey's Fifth Reader like Laura did in school  at Google Books, Project Gutenberg  here is a list of more online vintage Readers
How are Laura's Readers from school different from some of your textbooks today?
Use a Bible Concordance to find mention of Tubal Cain. What did Tubal Cain do?
What did ma say about complaining? What does God say about complaining?
Why was killing Ellen and the heifer calf a last resort?
How did Pa get food? How were the weather and lack of food affecting the family?
What was Almanzo thinking about doing?
Which of Almanzo's parents' saying is better (pg 258)?
Based on earlier events in the book, what arte the dangers Almanzo faces on his mission?
Apply the verses Philippians 2:14-15 and Psalm 111:5 to the story and your life.
Copywork: copy out some verses about complaining, such as Numbers 11:1
Memorize your favorite poem from McGuffey's Fifth Reader
Apply Proverbs 29:7 to chapter 25
What image of a blizzard does the word 'scouring' give?
Narrate/Dictate: describe the work Pa had to do to get hay to the house so they would not freeze to death.
What special joke did Pa and Grace share (pg 261)?
What did Pa do for entertainment (pg 261)?
When was Almanzo not glad he was free and independent? What do you think he might miss about living at home?
What did Almanzo like about mornings?
Why did Almanzo like Cap?
Was Anderson happy to see the boys? How long had it been since he had seen someone?
 What was the most convicting argument for him to sell the wheat?
From where did Almanzo get the courage to face the elements?
Narrate/Dictate: write a report on frostbite and its effects
Did Almanzo treat his frostbite correctly? What should he have done? When exposed to extreme cold, how can we help prevent frostbite?
Discuss John 15:13 and apply this verse to the story and to your life. Memorize this verse.

CurrCllick Class: A Pioneeer Christmas

I love CurrClick's resources!
In fitting with our Little House on the Prairie study, I wanted to pass this notice along for a one day online class CurrClick and Lessons Worth Learning are offering.

Here's the info...go check it out and get registered:

Schedule

Starts	December 5, 2011
Sessions	1
Meets	Monday
At	2:00 pm Central Time (UTC-6)
	2:00 pm your time
For	90 minutes

Description

A Pioneer Christmas in America is a live class all about pioneer life in America and how they celebrated Christmas. Monday December 5th at 2 pm Central Time

Come share an old-fashioned Christmas with me!

I will send out a project pack of ideas before class begins. These can be used for follow up after the class, or to share in class with us by emailing a picture of a completed project.

*A project is not required. You can just join us to enjoy the class.

Check out my other seasonal classes, also!!

Date of Class

This class will meet at 2 pm Central Time on Monday, December 5. Plan for a about a 1 1/2 hour class. This should give us time for class participation as well.

What You Need

The class will meet in the virtual classroom. It is suggested that you have a headset with microphone for best results. You can use the computer speakers for the whole family to participate. You can also use the chat box to participate in class.

This is a special price. You pay only once for the whole family to enjoy!

If you enjoyed my Pioneer Christmas class last year, you will still enjoy this one. I always add new things each year.


About the Teacher

Loretta Rhodes is a homeschool mom of 4, ranging in age from 4-18. She has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Athens University, Athens, AL and has been teaching for 20 years, both public and private classes. She loves teaching. Her classes are interactive, meaning that she loves to do Q&A discussions with the students, group work, and interesting projects. "I love to have the children get involved in learning, so that learning becomes an awesome experience for them." You can contact her at lessonsworthlearning@yahoo.com. She would love to hear from you!

All Lessons Worth Learning classes are taught from a Christian worldview perspective.

LHOP: Long Winter, week 2 notes

Another bout of vanishing drafts here at Blogger.

As always, we are following along with our Primer and the great resources available at We Love the Prairie Primer blog, week 2 links here.

Monday: chapters 11-12
Tuesday: chapters 13-15
Wednesday: chapters 16-17
Thursday: chapter 18
Friday: catch up and review

Highlights to study this week:
dietary fat intake
sunrise/sunset times on the longest and shortest days for your area and for South Dakota
Wind chill factor
coal oil and other forms of energy
the eye, cornea and snow blindness
ultraviolet light
the effects of light deprivation


Who returned with Pa? What did the girls remember about him?
What did the Ingalls do for church?
What do you think was the wisest idea for survival, if caught in a blizzard?
What did they do to conserve coal? kerosene?
How did the girls occupy their time during the blizzard?
What is the wind chill factor? Here is the NOAA chart
Compare and discuss: Psalm 119:16, 52 with reading chapter chapter 13
have a family night like Laura's family did
where does kerosene come from? read here from The Secret of Everyday Things at The Baldwyn Project
learn where crude oil comes from, here is one source
Where did Pa go and why (pg 151)? What took him so long (pgs 154-155)?
what did Ma and the girls do that night?
What supplies were low? What was the family out of?
Why were butter and fat meat drippings an important to the Ingalls' diet? Why do we limit these now? Discuss the link between fat intake and cancer, obesity, heart disease,e tc.
Describe how to blacken a stove (pg 171). What purpose did this serve?
What did laura give for Christmas? What special treat did they have for Christmas? What did planning ahead make available for them on Christmas?
discuss snow blindness and how to prevent it
What did Pa invent?

LHOP: Long Winter week 1

Monday we begin my favorite Little House book, The Long Winter.  For our first week, we will look at:
emergency preparedness and winter survival kits  winter preparedness coloring book  disaster preparedness/Red Cross coloring book  emergency preparedness coloring book
Muskrats
Homesteading in the United States in the 1800's
Earth's water cycle  coloring book
the Souix and Blackfoot Indians
The Battle of Wounded Knee
Medicinal uses for ginger
Samuel F. B. Morse biography, and the telegraph itself
climate changes (Earth's axis)
Chicken digestive systems

Weekly Reading and Notes:
Monday: chapters 1-2
Tuesday: chapters 3-5
Wednesday: chapters 6-8
Thursday: chapters 9-10
Friday: catch up day :o)

What was Ma's opinion of Laura helping in the field?
What did Mary do to help?
How did Pa know it would be a bad winter?
Discuss what Pa said the difference was between animals and humans?  Animals and the weather
What did the girls do wrong, and whose fault was it?
What did Ma surprise Pa with?
Why did Laura not like to sew?
How could Pa find his way to the stable?
Why did they have to be careful with water? What did Laura do to conserve water (pg 38)?
What did they do all day?
What happened to the cows?
What help did the haystacks provide?
What is Indian summer?
What did the Indian have to say? What did the Indian have to gain by warning the settlers?
Why was town a better place to spend the winter?
Where into town did they move?
Why did they fill the straw ticks with hay?
Where did Pa want to go and why did he not go there?

Research and write/narrate a report on The Homestead Act of 1862 to complete this week.
What are the medicinal uses of ginger?
Discuss the descriptive language used on page 8 to explain the work.
Name and discuss the 3 types of exercise needed for a healthy life (aerobic, strengthening and flexibility)
Read about muskrats, draw pictures for your nature notebooks showing their habitat, feeding habits, lifestyle, etc.
Apply these verses to your life: Proverbs 10:5, 12:11, 20:11.
Discuss Proverbs 4:26 and 6:6-8 in context with the 2nd chapter of your reading.
Begin a biography of Samuel Morse by the end of the Long Winter.
Discuss 'equinoctial' and study the rotation of the earth on its axis and the effect this has on sunrise, sunset and climate Orbit craft
How are some ways you conserve water.
Learn about the water cycle. activities from Cookies Domain  HotChalk lesson plan  water cycle lapbook
Discuss Genesis 4:9 and Romans 2:13-15 regarding the indian. What tribes lived where Laura's family lived?
Read about the Battle of Wounded Knee and write/narrate a report on this last Indian battle. 
Draw a picture of a tree with whiffle characteristics
Discuss the saying "money is scarcer than hens' teeth"  learn about how chickens digest their food


As with our entire read through this series, our main guide is our Prairie Primer and We Love The Prairie Primer, week 1 links. While searching for goodies to add and share, I stumbled across a great looking blog called Cookies Domain, sharing lots of links and pages for padding out your adventures in free homeschooling.  Enjoy!

LHOP: The Long Winter General Notes

The Long Winter is definitely one of my most favorite of the Little House series.  Little House in The Big Woods is a very close second...Farmer Boy comes in 3rd.  I love winter.  I am a definite northern gal! Despite the tragedies that often come with hard winters, it is still my favorite season.
Here is a great lapbook from HomeschoolShare for The Long Winter.

The winter of 1880-1881 was one of  unrelenting, paralyzing winter cold.  Here are some general notes to study:
Blizzard of 1880-1881
nice South Dakota History notes, with mentions of the hard winter
Black Hawk...Sans Arc Lakota
an interactive Winter Storm Timeline
a National Weather Meteorologist researches The Long Winter

Somer activities suggested during this reading include selecting a handwork project and completing it by the end of the story.  With the holiday season coming for most families, perhaps stretching thpre ojects out longer and crafting gifts would work better.  Handwork is what occupied some of the cold winter months for pioneering families, though the winter written about here was more about survival than handwork.  Some projects could include crafting mittens, hats and scarves for the family, crreative projects like cross stitch samplers, embroidering pillowcases or handkerchiefs, etc.  Here are some links to spark your creative juices:
NeedlePointers.com site with free patterns and ideas
AllCrafts site of needlework patterns, including learning to do tatting.
NeedleworkPlace has lots of photo's to give you ideas...redwork, tea towels, etc.
HobbyLoco
Antique Pattern Library has some nice links
Crazy Creek Quilts has some great Redwork pattern and project notes
Raggedy Scrappin has some cute Primitive designs perfect for embroidery
Or craft some autumn and winter pincushions, ornaments...whatever you want to use them for...and have some fun crafting afternoons using up your scrappy stash (c'mon now...admit it...we all have a scrap stash...right???)
These neat thread and pin fabric caddies sell great at farm stands...and make great gifts for the handcrafter and stitcher you may know.  They not only hold thread spools, but work just as well for embroidery floss cards, too.
Maybe crafting a set of clothespin dolls for play-time during the reading would make some little fingers happy...make the whole family, or create your own cast of characters, and enjoy some creative narrations from our stories!

As always, We Love The Prairie Primer blog has a great collection of links and notes to pad out your reading adventures!

During this reading, take time to discuss basic and extreme winter precautions for your family.  Make a plan for extreme events, such as a blizzard that cuts your power or transportation for days or even weeks.  Discuss ways your family is prepared...food, heating, etc. and put together an emergency travel kit for your vehicles.  You can access ideas and lists of supplies thru your local Red Cross.

LHOP: By The Shores, week 3-4

I did have Week 3/4 in queue here, but it vanished. It took several days to get week's 1 and 2 to queue up, but when they didi I assumed week's 3/4 fell in line as well. I'm getting annoyed at my apparent lack of blogging talent these days.

Here are the core notes and links from We Love The Prairie Primer blog for week 3 and week 4: Week 3  and Week 4


Reading Schedule: Week 3
Monday: chapters 18-20
Tuesday: chapters 21-22
Wedensday:  chapters 23-24
Thursday: chapters 25-26

This week is full of  crafty fun making recycled gifts.  We found some online resources for learning about Braille and it's 'inventor' Louis Braille, and we also learning about the history of our city here.

Locally, being in the middle of a heavy Civil War battle region here (Battle of Booneville, July 1, 1862) In fact, this area between Corinth and Tupelo and off to Iuka, was fairly active in 1862. We had plenty to dig into around here.  Our city was named for R.H. Boone, a relative of Daniel Boone, something my children thought was just too cool. We have Brice's Crossroads, site of a 'substantial Confederate victory' in 1864. We are close to the Natchez Trace as well. 

Weekly Notes:
Why did the wolves return?
What had the Ingalls girls recycle for Christmas?
What was for supper on Christmas Eve?
Why didn't the Boasts wait until spring?
Show how the plates and silverware were set.
What creative way did Ma solve the problem of having no presents for the Boasts?
Hhow did Ma make good biscuits without sour milk?
What was Laura's attitude about growing up?
What did Pa think about the winter?
What did Mr. Boast use instead of coal?
How were stormy afternoons spent?
What had Pa propmised Ma before leaving for Minnesota?
What was Ma thankful for regarding the time they all had scarlet fever? What dud Ma praise in Mary?
What important homesteading news did the preachers bring? What month was it?
Who did the naming of the town of De Smet honor?
Why did the Ingalls allow the strangers to stay? What do you think about the INgalls charging for food and lodging?  How much did they charge?
Narrate the story of Pa getting the claim?
Explain the common saying, "There's nothing for certain, but death and taxes."

Memorize and mark your US map
Reread the highlights of Ingalls' Chrstmases on pg 178-179, write a composition from the remembrances of your own Christmases.
List the ways Mrs. Ingalls was a good hostess, comparing to the good hostess verses from Romans 12:13, I Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8, I Peter 4:9-10. Make a poster displaying how to be a good hostess using the above verses.
Make some recycled gifts.
What are wristlets?
Locate Iowa on a map. How will Mary get there?
Write/narrate a report about your favorite part of your local state of city history.
God prepares us for future events. What previous events in their lives had prepared them for the many houseguests they had?
Compare the preacher's visit with the 5 strange men. What precautions did Ma make? What do you think she might have been worried about?
The Bible says to be as wise as serpents but peaceful as doves, Matthew 10:16. How did the Ingalls perform this principle.


Week 4:
Monday: chapters 27-28
Tuesday: chapters 29-30
Wednesday: chapters 31-32, finishing the book

Weekly Notes:
Where did the Ingalls move to? How did Laura feel about living in town vs on the prairie?
What did Laura wake to one cold morning? How did this happen?
What was fortunate about the blizzard occurring at night (pg 252)?
Discuss what Pa said about waiting for things to change to suit us?
What are the oldest buildings in your town? For what purpose were they built? Take some photos of these buildings for your State notebook.
Discuss and compare the architectural differences in your region.
Research the Timber Culture Act. Why did the government enact this?
Research cottonwood trees and locate one in your area. Draw a picture and label for your notebook. Trace and cut out leaves to add to the drawing.
Write a brief report about the history of your city. What factors have caused any major increases or decreases in population over it's history?
List the people who have played an important part in your city's history.
Write a description of Laura...include basic information like age, appearance and personality.
Write a book report about the life of Louis Braille.
Write out your favorite Scripture verse using Braille.

Recite Romans 8:31-39.

LHOP: By The Shores week 2

This week we continue with the study of our own state and it's history. This week we will look at our State government and it's Constitution. Are you keeping special notebook pages, or simply adding to your Little House notebooks?
We will look at the history or train travel more.
We will look at bird migration. Good timing as in the US, autumn is the beginning of a great migration time.
Continuing with our study of diseases and such, we will learn about consumption, known today as tuberculosis.

Reading:
Monday: ch 9-10
Tuesday: ch 11-12
Wednesday: ch 13-14
Thursday:  ch 15-17
Friday, as usual, is your day to catch-up with reading or crafting, or dig deeper into the bunny trail studies you find along the way.

We Love The Prairie Prime blog link ups this week are here...

I found our State (Mississippi) Constitution online by simply searching Mississippi State Constitution...try to find your state's constitution.

Discussion:
What did the company do when someone was too old to work?
What should Laura do to keep the wind from drying out her hair?
What did Ma tell Laura a lady should act like? What differences do you think there are between 'ladies' of Laura's time and today?
How were Lena and Laura able to see each other?  What did they do while they mnilked the cows?
Why were they leveling the tracks?
What was the key to being a good boss?
Ephesians 4:9, Colossians 4:12, Mark 10:42-45, Romans 12:3-8,
Keep up on your states/capitols/statehood memory work!
Draw a picture of what the dump wagons look like and add to your notebook.
List the steps to building a railroad, create a mini lapbook.
Read about the invention of the train...The History of Railroad Innovations at About.com, Railroad History Timeline

How was Pa's job different to Laura than any he had had?
What did Pa bring to the house? What did Laura see in his hip pocket?
What happened on pay day? Explain the pay system.
What happened at the Stebbins' camp?
Why did Laura like where they lived?
When would Pa look for a homestead?
What had Pa mistakenly shot? How big was the wing span? What did they do with it?
How were they collecting feathers? What would they do with them?
Why must Laura be a teacher?
Locate Iowa on the map, mark its capitol (mark each location if different from today's capitol)
Explain the saying "better a live dog than a dead lion" Read Ecclesiastes 9:4.
Write/dictate/narrate a report on the history of the railroad and create a mini lapbook
Research what the requirements were for obtaining Statehood. What factors encouraged statehood? How and when was your state's first Constitution drafted? How many changes has it undergone since then?
Locate Montana on your map, note its capitol.
Pa and laura learned about relinquishing their desires. pa gave up his desire to come west because of Ma, Laura purposed to become a school teacher. Read I Corinthians 13:5, Ephesians %:25-28, Matthew 5:37-40, James 3:14-18, Romans 12:10 and discuss what they say about you.
Visit a state historical site near you, such as a battlefield, President's home, mission, fort, trading post, etc.

Why would Laura not seen Lena for a while?
Why couldn't Pa cut down trees for a house?
Why must they have coal?
Why did it look as if they must go East for the winter? What did laura think about leaving?
What enabled them to stay for the winter?
What was Mrs. Boast's proble...and his creative solution?
Why were there no laws, or officers, not even a county sheriff, to help Mr. Boast?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of hardwood floors?
What staples had the surveyors left?
How was Mary made comfortable first? What did Mary do to help the family?
How long did it take to get things settled in?
What was the grand dessert (pg 143)?
 Describe and draw Grace's trundle bed?
Read about the history of your state from its induction into statehood to present day. Write/dictate/narrate a report or make a mini lapbook about it.
Draw your state's symbols...bird, flag, tree, etc.  Enchanted learning pages, States by FactMonster, 50 States Facts List

Who helped ma get breakfast?
Who came by and got Pa/ What did Pa do while he was gone?
Describe their evening?
What did Mary do to help with the family?
What did the Ingalls' women do after their housework was completed?
What work did Pa do in the winter?
What did Pa and Laura do during the storm? How did Pa make it?
What did Laura and Carrie do for fun?
What did they see?
Were they in good physical shape? How did that help?
What did they use to keep warm at night?
Finish your report on the railroad and its history, include facts about the government's role, its effects on westward expansion, the race across the west, the golden spike, etc.
Read about consumption (tuberculosis). Describe the method of transmission, factors that caused the disease to become active, symptoms, and past treatment as well as common treatment today. Include information about sanitariums and their routines and information on how it is screened in the body today, the presence of the disease itself, the treatment plans, etc.
Learn a simply polka or waltz.
Learn about and locate latitude and longitude lines on a globe or map. Note the degrees of location for known landmarks locally, your own home, other family members, etc.
Draw a picture and describe each piece of Lauyra's clothing listed on page 164, and what type of yarn was used in it's making.
Discuss the checks and balances within your state government and its chain of command.

LHOP: ByThe Shores week 1

October 3rd begins our next book in line with the series...By The Shores of Silver Lake. 

In the fall of 1875, Pa returned home and moved Ma and the girls into a rented house in Walnut Grove. On November 1, 1875, Charles Frederick Ingalls was born. When the 1876 crop, Pa felt he could no longer remain in Wlanut Grove. Friends from their church urged them to become their partners in a hotel business in Burr oak, Iowa. Pa agreed. En route to Iowa, while visiting Uncle Peter and Aunt Eliza Ingalls, illness struck laura's only brother. On August 27, 1876, less than a year after his birth, little Freddie died.
Along with possibly 200 other wagons, the Ingalls family arrived in Burr Oak, sad and tired from the events of their journey.  The Ingalls quickly went to work caring for the guests. Laura, now age 10, went to school with Mary. It was during their year long stay in Burr Oak that Grace Pearl Ingalls was born.
After a year in Burr Oak, the Ingalls returned to Walnut Grove. While living in town, Pa supported his family with a variety of odd jobs as a carpenter, a clerk, a butcher, a storekeeper and a miller. Then, in 1879, the opportunity to move westward happened and Pa was again on the move.

Notes of background: The Dakota Territory from Wikipedia,  Creating a Dakota Territory from the State Historical Society of North Dakota, Dakota Territory and Statehood
The Homestead Act of 1862 via documents, Library of Congress, National Park Service
Thhe Chicago & Northwestern Railroad via ND Studies: Railroads Open Dakota for Settlement, Railroad Parts: History for Kids pages

Reading Schedule:
Monday: chapters 1-2
Tuesday: chapters 3-4
Wednesday: chapters 5-6
Thursday: chapters 7-8

Memory Work: Romans 8:31-39
   Memorize each state and state capitol, in the order of their entrance to the Union (to finish by the end of this book, you'll need to learn 3 states per day).
Keep a State Notebook during this book.  A resource we enjoy here is Trail Guide to US Geography from GeoMatters.

This first week we will trail into areas such as causes of diseases,immunizations, how germs enter the body and how infections are spread, all about bacteria and viruses particularly meningitis, scarlet fever and measles. We will also learn about eyes, and eyesight.
We will begin learning about Statehood, the various design of the United States territories over the decades, and our own state history.

Weekly Notes:
What happened to Mary as a result of her illness with scarlet fever?
What was mary's reaction to her misfortune?
Why did Pa not like the country? What did he want to do?Why had the family not followed Pa's desires?
What did they think of riding the train?  Do you have any railway museums in your area?
What enabled them to pay their debts before moving on? What might a family of lesser character done?
What was jack's reaction to moving? Where had Jack previously traveled with the family?
Where did jack sleep, and why? What did Laura do before bedtime each night?
What did Laura regret (pg 13)?
What did Laura now know (pg 14)?
Study the purpose, then and now, of the United States territories/states.
Research the signs, causes, and treatments and effects of meningitis and scarlet fever. What are the differences in the illnesses between today and Laura's time?
Learn about antibiotics, how they are produced and how they are administered.
Draw a map of your state and label it with agricultural, mineral, forest products and industries.
Read about Fanny Crosby and write/dictate/narrate a report about her life as a blind poet.

What had the family done preparing for their departure?
How did Laura compare wagon travel by train travel?
How did Mary "see" the seat?
What fueled the train?
How did the train turn around?
What was Laura's opinion of Pa (pg 31)?
Why did they dread going to the dining room? Why were the dishes covered with screen?
What did the waitress assume about the Ingalls? Why do most families come in the spring?
Keep memorizing your states/capitols/dates of statehood!
Mark your state map with lnadmarks and geographical features. Write some notes on the Indians, land, weather and first explorers to your state.
Study types of viruses. Label a paper with the headings: Bacteria, Virus, Both. List as many diseases as you can under these headings.
Make a poster showing the 'life cycle' of a germ, how they enter the body, how they spread, how they are dealt with.
Learn about measles and rubella (measles is another disease that was known to cause blindness)
What event on page 24 proves that their society did not apply the knowledge of the time about germ therapy?
What are satchels?
Discuss the differences between being physically blind and spiritually blind...John 12:40, II Corinthians 4:4, I John 2:11)

Were the Ingalls environmentally conscience?
Continue work on your US States memorization.
Write/Dictate/Narrate a report about the first men to come to your state....Missionaries, trappers, explorers, etc.
Study the eye, diagram the parts and explain their purpose, look at things that can impair vision.
Dissection of a cow eye, Enchanted Learning's eye page, anatomy of an eye
Explain the saying "you look as if butter would melt in your mouth"

LHOP: Plum Creek, week 4

Fun Extra's this week:  On The Banks of Plum Creek Trivia, extra sites and learning with On The Banks of Plum Creek, Harper Collins' 17 page PDF on the series.

We Love the Prairie Primer Blog Links and Notes for week 4.

Quilt patterns, particularly 9-Patch (or Disappearing 9-Patch...even a Crazy 9-Patch with no straight lines!)) and Bear's Track.  Have you started a quilt of your own during our reading? Have you considered all the things that you could make while learning to quilt? Pot holders, table runners, doll quilts, sampler blocks, etc.

Weekly Reading:
Monday: chapters 35-36
Tuesday: chapters 37-38
Wednesday:  chapters 39-41, end of the book!

Which of Ma's character qualities were given on pg 285? How would you describe your mother's qualities?
Which of Pa's stories prompted the girls to carry in the firewood?
How did Pa find his way to the stable and back with limited visibility?
Why did Pa milk the cow, even though he wouldn't make it back with much milk?
With what did Pa compare the previous places they had lived?
What did the girls do during the day?
What did the girls do with their slate?
What type of quilts were the girls working on? Whose quilt pattern was more difficult?
What did they do on Sundays? Why did they not go to church?
Choose an experience from the story told from laura's point of view and rewrite it from another point of view (Ma, Pa or Mary) Ideas: How Pa felt walking East for work, what Ma thought while Pa was gone to town, What Carrie thought of her sisters carrying in the wood, or when the oxen ran away...
Learn about Beavers...Enchanted learning pages,  Beavers: Wetlands and Wildlife, National Geographic Wildlife: Beavers, learning activities page...
What are the health hazards of tobacco use? Design an anti-smoking poster for your home.
Apply these verses to tobacco use: Proverbs 14:12, John 10:10
Read page 291 and discuss what Laura thought would happen when they got older.

What chores did Ma do in the barn?
Why did ma put a lamp in the window?
What did Laura sneek down to see Ma doing?
What did Ma do to Carrie's pajamas?
What came down the stovepipe? What do you think caused it?
What character qualities did the girls show while Ma was doing Pa's chores?
What happened when Ma went out to do the chores?
What did Laura think about crying?
Why did Ma not leave the lantern in the window on the second night?

What did all the snow mean for the wheat crop?
What had Pa bought in town? How did each help him when he was stranded?
Why could Pa not stop walking? What kept Pa from having a sense of direction in the storm?
Pa knew he had to keep walking and not give up. Proverbs 24:10, Isaiah 40:29, Romans 8:31-39, Psalm 27:5. What gave him strength to continue?
How did God provide for Pa?
How close was Pa from home?
What was the girls' reaction to Pa eating their candy?
What did they do for Christmas eve?
Which is your favorite song that they sang?
What did laura say was so good about this Christmas?
Write a 2 page report on Noah Webster.

It's time to recite Psalm 51 :o)

LHOP: Plum Creek, week 3

As always, our primary guide online is We Love The Prairie Primer blog.
Do you have your own set of the original Little House on the Prairie series? ABC Distributing has them for a great price if you're interested...check them out here.

Suggested crafts this week are working on that 9-patch quilt, doll quilt, table runner, etc.

Weekly Reading:
Monday:  chapters 24-25
Tuesday: chapters 26-28
Wednesday: chapters 29-31
Thursday: chapters 32-34

Discussion:
What was Ma excited about?
What was different about the girls' hair? What determined the color ribbon they were to wear?
How was town different on Sunday? Do you notice any changes in your own town on Sundays vs other days of the week?
Why did Rev. Alden only come to town once a month? What did they do on the other Sundays?
Apply these verses to the observance of Sunday: Isaiah 56:2, Hebrews 5:9-10, Exodus 20:8-11
What did Pa do with the money for his boots?
Why did the walls drip with sticky pine juice?
How did the grasshopper's coming change their lives?
Do you think another grasshopper plague could happen today?
Draw a food chain cycle using the grasshopper.
Pretend you are an Israelite and write a descriptive story about the coming of the grasshopper plague in Egypt.
Read Psalm 46 when facing a crisis. How does this Psalm pass along comfort?

What did Laura see? What did Pa see?
How did the girl's honor their Pa?
How did Pa say they were better off than most folks?
What was pa's solution to provide for his family?
Where would he go and how would he get there?
How did Ma get water for the family?
What do you think about Ma having the girl's dress properly, even though it was so hot and no one else was around?
Why were the boots an important part of the letter?
Use the information on page 208 to calculate how many potential grasshoppers were in each square foot of ground.
If a person can walk 4 miles per hour, how long would it take to walk 250 miles? How many days would it take if one stopped for 8 hours a day to rest?
They mention reading Psalm 21 when traveling. How might this chapter have 'talked' to Pa?
What does the Bible say about providing for your family (I Timothy 5:7-8)
Proverbs 24 distinguishes the fall of the righteous man vs the fall of the wicked. What is the difference? Read Psalm 57:1 also.
How many gallons of water do the Ingall's use daily? Compare this to your water usage daily.
Laura describes the drought on pg 219. On a page, write the 5 senses across the top and under each sense, list those that Laura used.
Learn about the underground water tables in your area.
learn about the heat index (and the wind chill...)

What is a thresher?
What was the first problem Pa solved when he arrived home?
What did Laura think about Mary getting new shoes? Was this right? Have you ever felt like this?
What did Pa trap and why?
Why would it still be "grasshopper weather"?
What schedule did the Ingalls girls follow for homeschool (pg 245)
Talk about the process of taking a bath in Laura's day vs now.
Make a warning poster about envy using each of the following verses: Job 5:2, Proverbs 14:30, I Timothy 6:3-5, Titus 3:3-5, James 3:16
God provided what Laura secretly wanted. Any coat would have kept her warm, but this one shows how God cares about even the details in our lives. Memorize the following verses: Philippeans 4:19, I John 5:14-15, Psalm 23:6
Write a descriptive story about a favorite doll or toy you've had.

How long did the grasshopper walking last?
Why did Pa leave whistling?
What caused the fire? How did they fight the fire? Who helped? How did he know they needed help?
Why did the girls not wear their mittend when digging in the garden on a cold day?
What was the salve on their hands made of?
What did the girls do to calculate Pa's arrival? Why did he arrive earlier than they expected?
Draw a picture of the most immpressive part of the grasshopper's migration.
Copy (narrate or dictate) your 2 most favorite descriptive paragrahs in these chapters. Underline the verbs, circle the nouns, etc.
Apply Joel 2:25-26 to the grasshopper problem at Plum Creek.
Look up and draw pictures of ragweed and tumbleweed (Russian Thistle) for your nature journals.
Eat turnips :o)
Discuss how true Proverbs 27:10 proved to be. What else could this verse mean?
Study the properties of fire:
kindling temperature...fuel...oxygen...
Knowing these properties, how does a firebreak work?
Send letters to families and friends in other areas and note the dates sent with the dates arrived and see how long the postal service takes today compared to Laura's time.

LHOP: Plum Creek wee 2

After several failed attempts at posting, or at least saving these last fe3w weeks, I think we have it worked out. At least I hope so! I don’t know how many are even following along with our reading here, but I’m sure those that are have managed along perfectly well without my little input here.  Our main text (the book series as well as our guide, The Prairie Primer) and the great directions and notes shared by We Love the Prairie Primer blog are more than enough to keep us going along.  The units are fun, not strict ;-)

Do you have your own set of the original Little House on the Prairie series, illustrated by Garth Williams? I found a great price recently, via ABC Distributing on the original boxed set.  You can check them out here 

Notes and Links for week 2 here.
Monday: ch 13-15
Tuesday: ch 16-18
Wednesday: ch 19-21
Thursday: ch 22-23
Friday is the catch-up and crafting day this week.

On The Banks of Plum Creek Intro Notes and Week 1

September finds us following Laura and her family from the prairies of Kansas back 'home' to Pepin, Wisconsin and onto Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

Reading Schedules and Primer Links:
Week 1: We Love the Prairie Primer Links, Chapters 1-12, up to 3 chapters daily reading
Week 2: Prairie Primer Links, Chapters 13-23, up to 3 chapters daily
Week 3: Prairie Primer Links, Chapters 24-34, up to 3 chapters daily
Week 4: We Love the Prairie Primer Links, Chapters 35-41

Noah Webster's biography is also suggested during this book reading.
Our suggested memory verse for this book is Psalm 51.

During Plum Creek, we will touch on areas including:
Animals, insects...
grasshoppers, butterflies, moths, bees, badgers, mammals in general, leeches, blue herons, beavers,
Plants...
diagramming parts of a tree, Willows morning glories, lichens, ragweed, tumbleweed,
Science in general...
Classifications of plants, animals, etc., sources of heat exchange (conduction, convection, radiation), water safety, the human body's response to fear, drying fruit to preserve, water purification, how to produce paper, hazards of tobacco use.

Follow the bunny trails you and your children find along your reading! That's what makes reading such a great learning adventure!

A great project to begin if you haven't already is work on a 9 patch quilt, or table runner. Plan to work on it regularly and complete by the end of the book.

Week 1:
Monday: Chapters 1-3
Visit a pond, lake or creek, collect some water and grasses. Place in a sunny window, then sample and view under a microscope...note your observations.
Discuss water purification reasons and methods, water safety concerns today vs Laura's time, water-born diseases.
Map the trail Pa took from the prairies to Pepin, note the terrain, compare the mileage to travels today.
Discuss the 3 methods of heat transfer, the benefits of living in an earth home or underground home.
Practice shading and drawing techniques and draw morning glories and blue flags.
Discuss incidents of complaining in Scripture.
Tuesday: Chapters 4-6
Discuss geographical terms such as butte, mesa, plateau, plain.
Apply I John 1:8-9, James 5:16, and Proverbs 28:13 to Laura's need to tell Pa about the swimming hole adventure. Compare to an event in your own experience.
Discuss and map the countries you find Swedes, Germans and Norwegians, map the areas of immigration, explore their characteristics and culture.
Life cycle and habitat of butterflies.
Collect lichens and learn how they exist.
Discuss water safety.
Read about badgers, their habitat, part in the food chain, lifestyle, etc.
Wednesday: Chapters 7-9
learn about wheat, how and where it grows, harvest and usages.
Discuss the steps to falling into sin (questioning the Lord, telling half-truths, excusing actions by technicalities, etc.
Laura led Mary astray...discuss how we must be careful to not lead our friends, or allow ourselves to be led, into situations that are not proper. Matthew 18:6 James 3:1
Study the life of bees and bumblebees.
Learn about preserving fruits by drying.
Foreshadowing...the mention of grasshoppers now and the plague in chapter 25.
Thursday: Chapters 10-12
do a word study on idleness
discuss the body's reaction to fear
mammals...characteristics, classifications and Orders
Read about the first Thanksgiving and learn about the Festival of Booths and the Israelites.

Friday is a review or catch-up day this week.

On the Prairie, week 4

This week we are wrapping up our adventures with Laura on the Prairie...
Monday: Chapter 22-23
Tuesday: Chapter 24-25
Wednesday: Chapter 26

Here are the link ups from We Love The Prairie Primer blog, and some notes via The Prairie Primer:
We are learning about prairie fires and the beginnings of the Homestead Runs. We read about the Forts that were a part of the westward expansion efforts, we built a stockade with blocks, and we read alot about the Indians Laura's family experienced, and the controversary over exactly who she ws referring to in her book.. The newer movie of Little House on the Prairie definitely follows this book more closely than the series did, though we love the series.

We listened to the fiddle tunes popular with Pa and the settlers of the time, and even practiced some jiggin' of our own here.