On the Banks of Plum Creek Week 8 Lesson Plans

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.

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.

This one came from Lakeshore Learning.

The younger kids will also be watching some of these videos while I work with the older ones:

We may also use some of the songs found HERE.

And we will be trying out some relaxing background music with Google.

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.

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

Answer can be found HERE.

Answer Key Password: momsrock

Week 8: Chapters 39, 40 & 41

(The Third Day, The Fourth Day, and Christmas Eve)

Here is our lesson plan for the week:

Language Arts

Reading:

Read Chapters 39, 40 & 41

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

Discussion Questions:

Chapter Thirty-Nine (The Third Day):

Why do you think the day was so miserable?

Chapter Forty (The Fourth Day):

What did Laura think she saw? What was it actually?
What did Ma fix for Pa?
Why was Pa excited about the cold weather?
What did Pa buy in town? How much was it?
How did Pa stay safe? How far away had he been?
How long had he been gone? What day was it?
Why did Pa apologize to the girls? How did the girls react?
What did he bring for Christmas dinner?

Chapter Forty-One (Christmas Eve):

What did they do on Christmas Eve?
How did Pa assign the chores? Who did what?
Was Laura upset about the fact that there would be no presents or candy? Why or why not?

Additional Reading:

Older Children:

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

Younger Children:

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

We are also working through All About Reading Level Pre-reading with William as he needed something a little different from what we had been doing.

Vocabulary/Spelling:

Print: On the Banks of Plum Creek Vocabulary Week Eight List

Older Kids:

Day One: Write your words three times each.
Day Two: Write your words in ABC order.
Day Three: Look up definitions and use five of your words in a sentence.
Day Four: Test (optional) or Worksheet:
- On the Banks of Plum Creek Vocabulary Week Eight Worksheet

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

Younger Kids:

Spelling You See Level A

Handwriting:

Older Kids:

Spencerian Penmanship

-or-

A Reason for Handwriting, Transition to Cursive, Book T, Based on Scripture Verses

Younger Kids:

A Reason for Handwriting: Level A: Manuscript Student Workbook

Writing:**

We will be using the Writing Activity Station Kit from Lakeshore Learning for some of our lessons.

Write a descriptive book report about the story we’ve read. Click HERE for book report forms.
Write a descriptive story about how you would feel if you had no presents on Christmas day.

Watch this video about point of view:

Other Activity:

Group:

Continue reading Word Fun
Watch Signing Times: Everday Signs
Work on your Moby Max account

Older kids:

Continue reading your book.
Play Hangman
Free Choice Spelling/Vocabulary Game
Free Choice Activity
Bonus Points: Read to a younger sibling

Younger kids:

Read: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Work with the Alphabet Theme Box from Lakeshore Learning.
Teach Your Monster to Read
Free Choice Spelling/Vocabulary Game

Math

You may find it easier to buy a Math Workbook to work through as you go along with the study.

** For fun you may try ‘ciphering’ on a slate with a slate pencil.

Group:

Do an activity from Building Thinking Skills® Level 1.
Do an activity from Math Games.

Rotate through these activities:

Older Kids:

Work on a lesson in your Ray’s Arithmetic Books or other math workbooks.
Work on Khan Academy

Younger Kids:

Work on your Math-U-See Primer or another workbook.
Practice with Numbers & Counting Theme Box
Work on Khan Academy or ABCmouse.com

Geography and History

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

1. State Study

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

2. Landforms & Mapping

Maps:

Did you know that there are different types of maps?

Discuss what you have learned.
Review your past lessons.
Finding a Spot on a Map Worksheet
Do one activity from:
- Landforms & Mapping Resource Box

Landforms:

Dunes

Oasis

Discuss what you have learned.
Work on your lapbook.
Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
Try one of these quizzes
- Landform › Land Forms Practice Quiz 1
- Brain Pop Landform Quiz
Do one activity from each of the following:
- Properties of Earth Activity Tub
- Instant STEM Activities

3. Bonus

Extra:

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

There are also some other resources available here:

Science

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

Watch this video:

Discuss what you learned.
Grouping animals – Classification – Hamilton Zoo
Do an activity from the Growing Things Theme Box
Choose a topic to study and write a report about. Your report will be due next week.
Use the Ultimate Bugopedia: The Most Complete Bug Reference Ever to research.

2. Learn about the weather and seasons.

Clouds

Discuss what you learned.
Seasons & Weather Theme Box activity
Weathers & Seasons – Interactive Science Activities

3. Read:

Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature Chapter 63 & 67
Discuss what you learned.

Extra Activities:

Life Skills

We will be discussing some of the character qualities that are displayed in the book but if you would like to do a separate character study lesson you can download one HERE.

1. Memory Verse

We will be memorizing Psalm 51 during this unit study. Print it HERE.

Work on memorizing a verse during the week for a special prize.
- Verse 16: For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
- Verse 17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Older kids can copy the memory verse down in their notebook.

2. Character

Pa knew that he had to keep walking and not give up, why do you think he didn’t give up?
What does perseverance mean?

3. Manners

What are some manners you learned?
Review Emily Post’s Table Manners for Kids and discuss any manners you might need help with.
Continue planning and working on your special meal.
Try a test run.

4. Fun Activities

Start planning a country party.
Try some recipes from The Little House on the Prairie Cookbook for your party.
vanity cakes p. 202 of The Little House on the Prairie Cookbook.
lemonade p. 188 of The Little House on the Prairie Cookbook.
popcorn balls p. 216 of The Little House on the Prairie Cookbook.
Research ways to preserve foods with Preserving Everything.
Click HERE to learn about fun and unusual holidays.

5. 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.

Emergency Preparedness

Discuss what you learned.
Work on a lesson HERE.
Or read a few pages a week from Show Me How to Survive.
Start reading Tsunamis and Other Natural Disasters

Kids Cook Real Food

Work on your next lesson.
Help to prepare a meal using your new skills.
Smart Sweets

Skill Trek

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

Back to the Basics

Learn and practice some traditional skills from the book.

Read pages 92-96
Discuss what you learned.

Herb Study

Using one of the following for your study:

Discuss what you learned.
Be sure to jot down some notes.
Play Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game, a cooperative board game

Dog Training

We are using Lucky Dog Lessons: Train Your Dog in 7 Days as a guide for training our puppy.

Discuss what you have learned
Practice the techniques with your puppy this week.

Discuss what you have learned
Practice the techniques with your puppy this week.

Note:

We will also be using:

PE, Health & Safety

1. Frostbite Safety

Discuss what you have learned.
What could have happened to Pa when he was stuck in the blizzard?
How can you prevent this from happening?
Do an activity from the Health & Safety Theme Box

2. Games/Outdoor Play

Play Freeze Tag p. 155 of The Ultimate Homeschool Physical Education Game Book by Guy Bailey
Check out these sites for some fun Pioneer games:
- PIONEER CHILDREN – toys and games
- Bobcat Ridge 4th Grade Pioneer Program Games and Recreation Station

Music, Arts & Crafts

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

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

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–Thank you!