By the Shores of Silver Lake Week 1 Lesson Plans

These weekly 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!

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 HERE and 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.

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.

Answers can be found HERE.

Answer Key Password: momsrock

Here are our lesson plans for the week:

Language Arts

Week 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4

(Unexpected Visitor, Grown Up, Riding in the Cars, End of the Rails)

We plan to use this FREE Lapbook to go along with our study.

Reading:

READ CHAPTERS 1, 2, 3, & 4

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

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Chapter One (Unexpected Visitor):

What was wrong? What had happened to Mary?
Who was the new member of the family?
Where did Pa want to go? Why?
What was the plan for the move? Who would go first? Second?

Chapter Two (Grown Up):

How did the family prepare for Pa’s departure?
What was the plan for taking Jack along? How was this different from other moves?
How had Laura neglected Jack? Why? What did she do to fix it?
What happened to Jack? Where did Pa say he went?
How old was Laura?

Chapter Three (Riding in the Cars):

What did they do before leaving?
How was traveling by train different than traveling by wagon? How was it similar?
What made Carrie feel safer?
How did Laura help Mary see? Give three examples.
Where would they be eating dinner?

Chapter Four (End of the Rails):

How did the train turn around?
How did Laura feel that Pa compared to ‘railroad men’?
What was a roller towel? Click HERE for pictures.
How much did the dinner cost?
Where did they wait for Pa? Describe the room.

Additional Reading:

OLDER CHILDREN:

Each child will 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: By the Shores of Silver Lake Vocabulary Word List Week 1

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:
- By the Shores of Silver Lake Vocabulary Week One 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 making a journal to record some of our pioneer adventures in. The link to the journal is HERE.

Play this writing game HERE.

CHOOSE ONE PROMPT BELOW:

Pretend you are being Mary’s eyes and write two descriptive paragraphs about your day.

**Remember to use the thesaurus to come up with different words.

WATCH THESE VIDEOS ON IDIOMS:

Have you ever heard this expression before? What does it mean?

Have you ever heard any of these phrases? If so, which ones?

Other Activities:**

GROUP:

Work on your lapbook.
Play Hold The Phone – Idiom Game
Watch Signing Times: My Favorite Things
Work on your Moby Max account
Start reading through In a Pickle: And Other Funny Idioms or get a copy of Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms to help with some of the lessons.

OLDER KIDS:

Reading: Free Choice from Kirby’s Kids Grade by Grade Homeschool Reading List.
Play Grammar Gorillas
Bonus Points: Read to a younger sibling
Free Choice Spelling/Vocabulary Game

YOUNGER KIDS:

Reading: Curious George Takes a Train
Tell someone about the book. (Oral Book Report)
Work with the Alphabet Theme Box from Lakeshore Learning.
ABC Mouse
Listening Center (Choose one book to read/listen to together)

Math

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

Group:

Figure up how much the dinner would’ve cost for your whole family to have eaten with Ma and the girls. see page 34 for the cost.
- How much did it cost for the Ingalls’ family to eat? (Ma + 3 girls)
- How much is the difference compared to your family?
Get the prices for an all-you-can-eat buffet near you (or use the prices from the picture below) and figure up how much it would cost for your family to eat there.
- How does this compare to the Ingalls’ meal? (note the different prices for different ages)
Do an activity from Building Thinking Skills® Level 1.
Do an activity from Math Games.
When you are finished with your math work you can play an Educational Game.

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

ROTATE THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES:

Older Kids:

We will be learning about budgeting during this unit. The settlers had to budget carefully because jobs were often scarce. DO you know what a budget is?
- Read through and complete pages 9-11 of this pdf workbook

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

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

Science

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:

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.

Week 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4

Memory Verse:

We will be memorizing Romans 8:31-39 during this unit study. Print it HERE.

Work on memorizing one verse during the week for a special prize.
- Verse 31:What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Older kids can copy the memory verse down in their notebook.

Character

Taking Care of Ourselves

Why was Laura so tired?
What had happened to the family?
Why is it important to take care of our bodies?

Manners

Let’s start reading about hospitality. Choose one of the books below to read from:

Read:

A Life That Says Welcome p. 11-20
Practicing Hospitality p. 19-46

Discussion:

What are some things you learned?
What are some areas you need to work on?

Try one of these activities:

Fun Activities

Watch how this train turns around:

Other:

Watch this scene from the book:

Have you ever lost a pet?
How did you feel? How do you think Laura felt?

Find some ways to make your chores a little bit more fun.
Watch The Polar Express.
Research ways to preserve foods with Preserving Everything.
Click HERE to learn about fun and unusual holidays.

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.

Susie’s Chem Free Zone

Can you find the flu virus, bacteria, and protein in the picture below? Compare these to the size of the frog egg.

It is so important to clean well, especially when someone in the family is sick so that you can remove the viruses and bacteria and prevent them from making anyone else ill. Viruses and bacteria are tiny and can’t be seen by the naked eye… just like the proteins from the raw chicken in the Norwex demo video below:

Discuss what you’ve learned.
Write out your family’s cleaning process for dealing with sickness.

Kids Cook Real Food

Work on your next lesson.
Help to prepare a meal using your new skills.
Packing and Eating Real Food on Road Trips

Skill Trek

Work on at least one task a week.
Practice your new skill this week.
Coughs, Colds, and Bees? Learn how honey and other BEE products can keep our kids healthy!

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

A Kid’s Herb Book: For Children of All Ages

Trim Healthy You

Read through your lesson.
Discuss what you learned.
Complete any bookwork.
Try out a recipe using your new information.

PE, Health & Safety

Health & Safety

WHAT IS SCARLET FEVER?

WHY DO WE GET VACCINES?

HANDWASHING

Discuss what you have learned.
What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
Research some diseases and illnesses that you could get from being unvaccinated.
Go to Kids Health and find a related topic to learn more about. Play a game with permission.

Games/Outdoor Play

Play Germ Tag p. 155 of The Ultimate Homeschool Physical Education Game Book by Guy Bailey
Go outside and play for 30 minutes.

Bonus:

Did you know that Square Dancing is a good exercise for helping you to have strong bones?

If you haven’t already signed up for classes have your parents check for a local club near you.

Music, Arts & Crafts

Crafts:

Or choose a craft from Pioneer Crafts For Kids

Art:**

Green Creativity Pressed Flower Art Kit – Arts & Crafts DIY Recycle Floral Press Gift
Try techniques from Zentangle for Kids p.20
Choose a coloring page from one of these:

Music:

We will be learning some of the hymns written by Fanny Crosby

Waterbirds

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!