Here are our Lesson Plans For Science
These lessons were made to go along with ‘By the Shores of Silver Lake‘ 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 interests you the most to work on. You may have a chance, later on, to go back and look at anything you missed or do a more in-depth look at a topic that interests you.
Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter simply push the ‘ctrl’ and the ‘F’ button down together and a small bar will pop up. Type in the week number or chapter number you want and it will take you to it.
Week 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4,
Pick one or two topics to learn about:
Viruses vs. Bacteria
- Discuss what you learned.
- Choose an activity:
How do our eyes work?
- Discuss what you learned.
- What did you find most interesting?
- Complete the activity on p. 25 of Easy Make & Learn Projects: Human Body
Do you wear glasses?
- Discuss what you learned.
Extra Activities:
Watch this eyeball dissection:
(Ask for permission FIRST!)
- Discuss what you learned.
- What did you find most interesting?
Other:
Week 2: Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8
Pick one or two topics to learn about:
What does a Land Surveyor do?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Is this a career you might like? Why or why not?
How do Steam Locomotives Work?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Steam Engine Worksheets
What does a Prairie look like?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Choose an activity:
- Play The Great Habitat Match-Up
Buffalo
- Discuss what you learned.
- Choose an activity:
- Find a coloring page HERE or HERE about your favorite topic.
Extra Activities:
Other:
Week 3: Chapters 9, 10, 11 & 12
Pick one or two topics to learn about:
Do you remember what Laura watched with Pa?
Compare and contrast railroad construction equipment:
The 1900s:
Now:
- Discuss what you learned.
- Would you like to work on the railroad? Why or why not?
- Make a Venn Diagram showing the differences and similarities.
What is coal?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Learn more about fossil fuels and play a game HERE.
Why do animals migrate?
- Discuss what you learned.
- What did you find most interesting?
Swans
- Discuss what you learned.
- Learn more about swans HERE.
- Learn more about waterfowl HERE or HERE.
- Choose a breed of waterfowl from HERE to write a report on or get some notebooking pages to work on. Your report will be due next week. Be sure to include:
- diet
- habitat
- communities
- Do this jigsaw puzzle HERE.
Extra Activities:
Do you remember who Old Johnny was? Why do we get old?
- Discuss what you learned.
- What did you find most interesting?
Other:
Week 4: Chapters 13, 14, 15 & 16
1. Pick one or two topics to learn about:
Why do we have seasons?
- Discuss what you learned.
- What season is your favorite? Why?
- Play The Adventure of WeatherLizard
What does a winter on the prairie look like?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Choose an activity:
How do animals stay warm in the winter?
- Discuss what you learned.
- What did you find most interesting?
Jack Rabbits
- Discuss what you learned.
- What did you find most interesting?
- Learn more about Jack Rabbits HERE.
Buffalo Wolves
- Discuss what you learned.
- What did you find most interesting?
- Learn more about Wolves HERE.
Temperature
Let’s learn about temperature:
- Discuss what you learned.
- Print and complete pages 23-27 of this PDF workbook.
- Temperatures Across America – Adding and Subtracting Negative Numbers
Extra Activities:
In the book, we read about how Ma would heat up a flat iron for them to take to bed to keep warm but what were some other ways people kept warm?
- Discuss what you learned.
- What are some ways that we stay warm now?
Other:
Week 5: Chapters 17, 18, 19 & 20
Pick one or two topics to learn about:
What is frost?
- Discuss what you learned.
How does sourdough work?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Have you ever tried sourdough? If not, you can start your own with this San Francisco Sourdough Starter.
Temperature
Let’s learn about converting temperature:
- Discuss what you learned.
- Print and complete pages 28- 32 of this PDF workbook.
- Temperature Map – Online Game
Extra Activities:
What is the science behind baking?
- Discuss what you learned.
Other:
Week 6: Chapters 21, 22, 23 & 24
Pick one or two topics to learn about:
What are seeds?
- Discuss what you learned.
How do seeds grow?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Choose an activity:
Spring
- Discuss what you learned.
- What is your favorite thing about Spring? Why?
Temperature
Let’s learn about wind chill:
- Discuss what you learned.
- Print and complete pages 33-35 of this PDF workbook.
Extra Activities:
How Popcorn Works
- Discuss what you learned.
Other:
Week 7: Chapters 25, 26, 27 & 28
Pick one or two topics to learn about:
What does an architect do?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Is this a career you might like? Why or why not?
Compare and contrast city sounds vs country sounds:
(Just listen to a short portion of the videos.)
City:
Country:
- Discuss what you learned.
- Which sounds do you prefer? Why?
- Make a Venn Diagram showing the differences and similarities.
Temperature
Let’s learn about average temperatures:
- Discuss what you learned.
- Print and complete pages 36-38 of this PDF workbook.
Coldest Days In U.S. History
- Discuss what you learned.
Hottest Days In U.S. History
- Discuss what you learned.
Extra Activities:
Why do we shiver?
The snow on the beds made the girls shiver, have ever wondered why this happens?
- Discuss what you learned.
Other:
Week 8: Chapters 29, 30, 31 & 32
Pick one or two topics to learn about:
Compare and contrast well-digging methods:
Hand-dug:
Mechanical:
- Discuss what you learned.
- Which method would you prefer? Why?
- Make a Venn Diagram showing the differences and similarities.
Why are trees so important?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Name three reasons we need trees.
What is a windbreak?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Name three advantages of a windbreak.
Cottonwood Trees
- Discuss what you learned.
- Why do you think Pa chose to plant cottonwood trees?
What are shadows?
- Discuss what you learned.
Extra Activities:
- Discuss what you learned.
Other:
Week 9: Finishing Up
Go back and review previous topics you may have skipped or want to learn more about.
What is the most dangerous animal?
- Discuss what you learned.
- Mosquitoes Cloze Reading
Weather Watcher
- Discuss what you learned.
- Is this a career you might consider?
Tests
Make sure to print out the results from online quizzes.
- Choose one of these:
- And Choose one of these:
Extra Activities:
Learn how to make shadow puppets:
- Try making shadow puppets.
Other:
**BE SURE TO SAVE A FEW SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO! TAKE PICTURES OF BIG PROJECTS!
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–Thank you!
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