Here are our Lesson Plans For Geography and History
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.
We will also be using this People Long Ago Resource Box from Lakeshore Learning and some State notebooking pages to go with our lessons.
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.
We also like to use this song during our ‘Morning Time’ to help the kids learn the 50 States.
Week 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4
State Study
- Print out this map HERE or this one HERE. You can color in the states as you learn them and track Laura’s journeys.
This week we will study South Dakota.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play US States Hangman
Railroad History:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned?
- Would you like to visit here? Why or why not?
Bonus
Tour of De Smet:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned?
- Would you like to visit here? Why or why not?
Extra:
- Live the Adventure Club you can also find some of them on AMAZON.
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 2: Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8
State Study
This week we will study North Dakota.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play USA Games
Railroad History:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned?
- Begin learning about the railroad:
Famous People:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned?
- Begin reading a book about Fanny Crosby. Report Due: Week 5.
Bonus
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 3: Chapters 9, 10, 11 & 12
State Study
- This week we will study New Mexico.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play The United States of America Puzzle
Railroad History:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Continue learning about the railroad:
Famous People:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Continue reading a book about Fanny Crosby. Report Due: Week 5.
Bonus
- Learn about prices and wages from the 1800s below:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
Extra:
- Live the Adventure Club you can also find some of them on AMAZON.
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 4: Chapters 13, 14, 15 & 16
State Study
- This week we will study Maine.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play USA Games
Railroad History:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Continue learning about the railroad:
Famous People:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Continue reading a book about Fanny Crosby. Report Due Next Week!
Bonus
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
Extra:
- Live the Adventure Club you can also find some of them on AMAZON.
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
Week 5: Chapters 17, 18, 19 & 20
State Study
- This week we will study Oklahoma.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play US States Hangman
Railroad History:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Continue learning about the railroad:
Famous People:
-
Report Due: Fanny Crosby!
Bonus
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
Extra:
Week 6: Chapters 21, 22, 23 & 24
State Study
- This week we will study Maryland.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play The United States of America Puzzle
Development of the Plains
Westward Expansion: The Homestead Act of 1862 & The Frontier Thesis
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Learn more about homesteading claims HERE.
- Begin learning about the Development of the Plains:
Famous People:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Begin reading a book about Louis Braille. Report Due: Week 9.
- Print out this Braille Alphabet Chart and study it.
- Complete and activity from HERE.
Bonus
Yesteryear Gazette
Get a copy of the Yesteryear Gazette or another newspaper for this lesson.
- Find an article that interests you and complete an activity below:
- Newspaper Article Worksheet
- Teaching With Newspapers (DON’T CUT UP ANYTHING WITHOUT ASKING FOR PERMISSION!)
Iowa College For The Blind
Reverend Alden mentioned the college to Ma. We will learn more about this in later books but you can learn more about Mary’s time there by reading the articles below:
Extra:
- Live the Adventure Club you can also find some of them on AMAZON.
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 7: Chapters 25, 26, 27 & 28
State Study
- This week we will study Montana.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play USA Games
Development of the Plains
Homestead Act
Pa Filed The Claim!
- Learn about the cost of living in the 1800s below:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Continue learning about the Development of the Plains:
Famous People:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Continue reading a book about Louis Braille. Report Due: Week 9.
- Complete and activity from HERE.
- Check out a Braille book.
Bonus
- Read about why false fronts were used HERE.
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 8: Chapters 29, 30, 31 & 32
State Study
- This week we will study Ohio.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Play USA Games
Development of the Plains
Timber Culture Act of 1873
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Why was this act so important?
- Continue learning about the Development of the Plains:
- Development of the Plains Flashcards
- Homesteading the Plains: Toward a New History
- The Homestead Act and Westward Expansion: Setting the Western Frontier (Spotlight on American History)
Famous People:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
- Continue reading a book about Louis Braille. Report Due: Week 9.
- Complete and activity from HERE.
Bonus
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 9: Finishing Up
State Study
- Review the states we learned about and choose a state to research more.
- Write a report about your favorite state or add some new facts to your previous report.
Development of the Plains
Test
Development of the Plains TEST
Famous People:
-
Report Due: Louis Braille!
Bonus
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
Extra:
- Live the Adventure Club you can also find some of them on AMAZON.
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play US Landmarks Game
**BE SURE TO SAVE A FEW SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO! TAKE PICTURES OF BIG PROJECTS!
**This post does contain affiliate links to products and/or services that we use. If you happen to click through a link and make a purchase we may earn a teensy-weensy small commission (at NO EXTRA cost to you) if a purchase is made through these links. These links help to support our family, our blog, and our homeschooling mission. This means that we can keep bringing you great recipes, ideas, and tips for FREE! Click HERE for a full disclaimer.
–Thank you!
Kirby's Kabin Blog 
10 thoughts on “By the Shores of Silver Lake: Geography And History Lessons”