Little House and SOO MUCH MORE

Do you know the TV series Little House on the Prairie?  What about the book series it was based on?   Well I've made a few posts (here and here) and have mentioned in our last few newsletters about how we are reading The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This story takes place before Pa, Ma, Mary, Laura, and Carrie move out to the prairie. It tells the tale of them moving out to their little house, the trials they take on, and they ways of living in the pioneer days.

Mrs. Englebrecht reads little bits of the book to the classroom each day, taking time to stop and explore what's really happening in the book.  This time to really dig into the book and understand has brought about lots of learning opportunities.  They've researched black bears. They have learned about covered wagons, and how people lived and traveled back then.  They've studied Wisconsin (where the family is living) and taken that opportunity to learn about how weather is different in different locations.  They know too how the weather in Wisconsin affects life for the family and animals.   They've explored dried foods, rag dolls and why that's all they had, traps, phrases like "Saved my bacon", and so so sooo much more.

I know the kids have enjoyed the book and we're not even close to finishing it! It has been quite the learning opportunity and the kids don't even realize that we're sneaking some valuable learning time into their read aloud.  We've had several opportunities to take this learning a little bit further and give them the chance to see it in action.

After learning about how the family dried their foods and some plants they got to taste beef jerky (which got mixed reviews).  I borrowed a food dehydrator and students brought in foods to dehydrate - big success.  I'll get another post with pictures up later this week, documenting that adventure.

We had Ms Anne come in and model for us the music of those times, getting a chance to envision ourselves in that moment, doing what Laura and Carrie and Mary might have done (see that posting here).

Recently they discussed how Ma would spend an entire day doing a chore, like drying foods or making butter or mending. They thought about how it would take a whole day to make something like butter - something that we can just go to the grocery store and get when we need it.  Closer to our Thanksgiving break we'll be making our own butter...and bread!

I can't wait to see where this book and the kiddos lead our learning in the next few months.  I can guarantee you another few posts and updates as we continue this journey.  Mrs. Englebrecht and I already have a few ideas but we're waiting to see where the kids take us.

I really hope your child is talking to you about this experience as well as sharing with you their favorite key moments.  If not, use this post and the following posts to spark a conversation with your Cantrell's Class kiddo. And I also hope you continue to follow this amazing journey!

Mrs. Cantrell