By the Shores of Silver Lake Week 4 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 4: Chapters 13, 14, 15 & 16

(Breaking Camp, The Surveyors’ House, The Last Man Out, Winter Days)

Reading:

READ CHAPTERS 13, 14, 15 & 16

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

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Chapter Thirteen (Breaking Camp):

What were they getting ready to do? How did Lena feel about it? And Laura?
Where did Pa say they should go for the winter? Why?
Where did they stay for the winter?
What did Mr. Boast need help with?
Where was Mr. Boast headed? Why?

Chapter Fourteen (The Surveyors’ House):

What was behind each of the three doors?
What was in the ‘store’? What was this room?
How did everyone help out? What was Mary’s job?
Where was everyone going to sleep? Where would Grace sleep?
What were they celebrating? What was the special treat?

Chapter Fifteen (The Last Man Out):

Who helped with breakfast?
What tracks did Pa see? What did Pa say about Buffalo wolves?
What song did Mary want Pa to play? And Laura?
What did Pa show the girls?
Describe the girls’ room.

Chapter Sixteen (Winter Days):

What did Pa trap?
Why did Mary say she could sew when Laura couldn’t?
What were the household routines?
What did Pa make? How did he make it?
Why did Pa say checkers was a selfish game?

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 4

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 Worksheet Week 4

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:**

Watch this video on semicolons:

COPY BY DICTATION:

Copy (by dictation) the first paragraph about Mr. Boast’s laughter on page 137.
Check for and correct any mistakes.

WATCH THIS VIDEO ABOUT IDIOMS:

What does ‘curiosity killed the cat’ mean? (p.160)

Other Activities:**

GROUP:

Work on your lapbook.
Play Later Gater
Continue reading: Gutsy Girls: Strong Christian Women Who Impacted the World: Book Three: Fanny Crosby (Volume 3) Be sure to finish it up by next week!
Continue 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.
Watch Signing Times: My Favorite Things
Work on your Moby Max account

OLDER KIDS:

Finish reading your book.
Write a book report. Use one of these forms HERE.
Play Grammar Gorillas
Play this grammar game HERE.
Bonus Points: Read to a younger sibling

YOUNGER KIDS:

Reading: Free Choice from Kirby’s Kids Grade by Grade Homeschool Reading List.
Work with the Alphabet Theme Box from Lakeshore Learning.
Teach Your Monster to Read
Busy Box Activity

Math

** 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.
When you are finished with your math work you can play an Educational Game.

ROTATE THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES:

Older Kids:

Pa had to be careful when he was figuring up the time-checks but he had to rely on the accuracy of others. Let’s practice adding up a meal ticket:
- Print and complete page 18-20 of this PDF
Pa had to figure up the men’s pay every two weeks.
- Read through and complete pages 24- 29 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

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:
- DK Eyewitness Books: Train: Discover the Story of Railroads from the Age of Steam to the High-Speed Trains o from the Age of Steam to the High-Speed Trains of Today
- Famous Trains (Dover History Coloring Book)

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!
- Fanny Crosby’s Life Story: Autobiography of a Christian Poet, Lyricist and Mission Worker Blind from Infancy
- Gutsy Girls: Strong Christian Women Who Impacted the World: Book Three: Fanny Crosby (Volume 3)

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

Science

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:
- Blizzards – Weather Events
- Snow – Weather Events

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:

Life Skills

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 34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Older kids can copy the memory verse down in their notebook.

2. CHARACTER

What worries do you think the family might have had?
What should you do with your worries?
Read Anxiety – when you are worrying about things
Work on Let’s cooperate.

Manners

Continue reading about hospitality. Choose one of the books below to read from:

READ:

A Life That Says Welcome p. 41-62
Practicing Hospitality p. 73-100

DISCUSSION:

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

TRY ONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES:

Fun Activities

Why is having a pantry so important?

OTHER:

Play Checkers
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

Toxic chemicals in household products can be as dangerous as cigarettes! Dangerous chemicals are part of the reason we switched to Norwex products.

Discuss what you learned.
What are some changes you can help to make in your home?

KIDS COOK REAL FOOD

Work on your next lesson.
Help to prepare a meal using your new skills.
Quick, easy, and healthy meals are the name of the game when your family is busy, and fall is the perfect time to break out the Instant Pot recipes!
Fall Comfort Food

SKILL TREK

Work on at least one task a week.
Practice your new skill this week.
Preparing food with love

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

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 TUBERCULOSIS?

HOW DO YOU GET TESTED FOR TB?

Discuss what you have learned.
What was the most interesting thing you learned? Why?
What risks did Pa face when he helped the man?
Go to Kids Health and find a related topic to learn more about. Play a game with permission.
Do an activity from the Health & Safety Theme Box

Games/Outdoor Play

Learn a simple polka dance.
Play Red Light p. 152 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:

Art:

Draw a rabbit from Draw 50 Animals
Try techniques from Zentangle for Kids
Choose a coloring page from one of these:

Music:

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

Highland Mary p. 126 Laura Ingalls Wilder Songbook

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

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–Thank you!