American Girl Kirsten- Pioneer America Unit Study
American Girl Kirsten-
Pioneer Unit Study
Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854:
Growing up on America’s Frontier
This is an exciting, hands-on study of our country’s Westward Expansion.
We will be discovering what pioneer life was like through the eyes of Kirsten Larson, a kind and brave young girl who has just arrived in New York, from her home far away in Sweden. We will read about her adventures traveling west to Minnesota, explore the life of the other pioneers she meets along the trail, her new neighbors, and what life is like in her new home!
Enjoy some Swedish treats that Kirsten’s mama cooked for her, create your own quilting squares, and say goodbye to boring history lessons!
LET’S LOVE LEARNING together!
If this is the first time you are doing one of these units, you can read what topics are covered in each unit in an overview FREE American Girl History Units post.
* Pioneer Unit Study- With American Girl Kirsten*
How Do I Use This Unit?
Though this unit is written as a 3 Week Plan, the best way to use it is however it works best for YOUR family! Think of it as an outline, and work through it on your own time frame! Your older kids can work independently through the lessons (I’d recommend the PDF Version for this), or even help by reading some of the read aloud books to younger siblings!
Are you teaching a younger kiddo(s)?
Pick one or two choices from each part of the daily plan and just do those!
Leave lots of time for reading together and doing the hands-on projects. My Littles LOVED to work on the suggested coloring pages while I read aloud. You’d be amazed at how much they absorb even when it doesn’t appear that they are listening! I let them make their own scrapbooks too which helped them have some “school work” to be proud of and show grandparents!
The Hands-On History Christmas Posts are extra fun and great for all ages, or to extend a unit!
The Kirsten Christmas post should be up in time for 2023, but many of the activities will span time frames.
Working with older kids, or some that are extra excited to learn about this part of history in greater detail?
Then you’ll probably want to use most of the suggested resources, adding in the printables, and lots of the reading books. You could easily stretch this unit out for several months or more if everyone is enjoying it and hungry for more!
Add in more hands-on projects, more field trips, expand the art, science, or geography studies!
The choice is YOURS!
Cut out the hands-on if your family doesn’t enjoy that kind of thing, or complete every single one and host a Pioneer Museum Night to display all your handiwork!
This is the beauty of homeschooling (and of a FREE curriculum lol)!
You get to tweak it and use it however it benefits your family most.
*Helpful Resources For Kirsten’s Pioneer Unit Study:
*Try the Printable PDF Version of this unit study!
Over 100 pages !
Get the complete unit study (with live links), planners, note pages, week at a glance, and lots more… and no ads or distractions!
*NEW UPDATE!
250 page companion Pioneer America Printable Power Pack created just for this unit study! You’ll find lots of printables for each week of the study for your students, AND weekly planners, note keeping pages, and field trip ideas for the teacher! Themed copy work pages, History Detective pages, Vocabulary Bingo Games, timeline page, Science Experiment printables, and LOTS more!
*FREE* Kirsten’s Swedish Pioneer Christmas Unit
Homeschooling through the Holidays is fun and STRESS FREE when you make the holiday the lesson! Learn about the Pioneers and how they celebrated Christmas on the 1800’s Frontier!
*Pioneer America (AG Kirsten) Resources… so far 🙂
+Kirsten Printable Power Pack
+Pioneer America (Kirsten) Unit Study- PDF Version
+FREE* Kirsten’s Swedish Pioneer Christmas Unit
+A Pioneer Christmas- PDF Version
+A Pioneer Christmas Printable POWER Pack
+Kirsten- Pioneer America Pinterest Board
+Pioneer America (Kirsten) Christmas Pinterest Board
*If you are looking for even more resources, or resources for your older kiddos, you can also find more ideas for this unit, in this post-
FREE Early American History Curriculum
(Scroll down to Week 6)
*Books and Resources List
My favorite list of Fiction and Non-Fiction Books, Read Alouds, Movie Suggestions, related Board Games, Activity Books, Craft Kits, and more!
Definitely check out the TOP 10 HISTORY HELPS series for even more ideas!
There are ideas for every type of learner and every age student!
+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS (Seriously the ULTIMATE history book list!!)
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 HANDS-ON History Projects
+Top 10 History PRINTABLES
+Top 10 History FIELD TRIPS
And a bonus…
+Top 10 History for the HOLIDAYS
*American Girl- American History Units Overview
In this post you will find the Overviews/Scope & Sequences for ALL of the American Girl Unit Studies… in one neat place!
*Note:
I am in no way affiliated with, or compensated by the American Girl Company. This post does contain links to products on Amazon (just for some extra fun resources and books). If you choose to purchase any of them, I’d really appreciate if you clicked through these links ! There is NO extra cost to you whatsoever, and I will get a small commission from each sale. Thanks friends! 🙂
*Read It…Watch It…Explore It…Try It!
Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854
No other books are required.
This is the spine and creates the outline for the unit… BUT actually, even if you do not purchase or check out this book, you can still complete this unit.
However, this is a great book to use, and you can also find a list of great “extras” for this unit study in the American History Book List (literature, paper doll books, cook books, activity books, science books, etc…).
American Girl Kirsten Book Set
You will see that I also have included 3 of the 6 books from the Kirsten series in the lessons, but they aren’t necessary or integral to any activities in the unit. I think your children would love this series and they’d make great read alouds!
AND I just learned that you can also get the Audiobook versions on Amazon.
Right now you can get the first book in the series, Meet Kirsten, for FREE with the Audiobook Membership Trial.
*Pioneer Unit Study Reading Schedule-
*Week 1: Pioneer America – Kirsten’s World
1. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Meet Kirsten in Sweden (p. 1-3, 40-41)
2. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Journey to America (p. 4-7)
3. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Go West ! (p. 8-11)
4. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Home on the Prairie- Pioneers (p. 12-13)
5. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Home on the Prairie- Native Americans (p. 14-15, 24-25)
*Week 2: A Day With Kirsten
1. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Pioneers Daily Life ( p. 22-23, 26-27)
2. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Pioneer Fun & Games for Everyone! (p. 16-17; 32-35)
3. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Family, Love & Marriage In Pioneer Days (p. 18-21)
4. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Pioneer Fashion (p. 36-39)
5. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Medicine in Pioneer Times (p. 30-31; 49- inset)
*Week 3:Friends and Foes on the Prairie
1. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Kirsten Around Town (p. 44-45)
2. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Kirsten’s Neighbors & Friends (p. 42-43; 46-47)
3. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- The Dakota Conflict (p. 48-55)
4. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Conflicts Continue (p. 48-55)
5. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- The Great Land Rush (p. 56-58)
*Week 1: Pioneer America – Kirsten’s World
*Important Note!
Below you will find just the Week 1 outline for Daily Reading, Videos, Online Activities, Coloring Pages, etc that are directly related to the core reading for each day. Continue to scroll down to find the other section for each week’s Writing, Copy Work, Vocabulary, Bible, Science, Geography, and Art plans!
* American Girl Kirsten Series, Book 1, “Meet Kirsten”
(There are 6 books in this series, so you could choose how much to read each week depending on your child’s level and interests. I just listed one book per week. You can usually find these books in your local library, or you may like to find them on Amazon)
+Day 1: Meet Kirsten in Sweden !
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 1-3, 40-41
(Meet Kirsten in Sweden)
– “Meet Kirsten”
*Read It!
–“Meet Kirsten”
Brief introduction to Kirsten and the Larson Family!
–Introduction to Kirsten and her family.
Nice focus on her personality & character. Look on the right hand side to click on equally as detailed descriptions of each of her family members.
-Brief introduction to Ryd (Linköping), Sweden.
-Introduction to Swedish Emmigration to America in the 1850’s…from “My Family History”.
It’s nice to read these true stories ! What an adventure ! (Other great links here too!)
*Watch This!
–American Girl Meet Kirsten Video introducing Kirsten & her family
–Meet Kirsten!
–All About Sweden
–The Sweden Song
(Learn a little bit about Sweden with this fun song! We’ll talk more about Sweden in our Geography lesson this week!)
–Take a Tour of Linköping !
(You may only want to watch a bit of this, especially the tour of the old part of town, which is from 2:52 to 5:45)
*Explore It More!
-Kirsten’s family packed an “America Trunk” with their most precious belongings.
They had to leave everything else behind in Sweden. Here is a cute writing idea (geared toward the Mayflower- but would work for this study –> link to the photo )
+ Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Map of Sweden with Ryd
– Swedish Woman in Traditional Dress Coloring Page
– Children in Sweden Coloring Page
– Traditional Swedish House Coloring Page
+Day 2: Kirsten’s Journey to America
Kirsten’s journey to America began when she said goodbye to her home in Sweden and boarded a ship with her family. Leaving behind the people, places, and life she knew was a big change, and the trip across the Atlantic Ocean would take many days. In this lesson, we’ll learn why families like Kirsten’s decided to come to America, what the journey was like, and what it might have felt like to leave Sweden behind and begin a new life in a new country.
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 4-7 (Journey to America )
– “Meet Kirsten”
*Read It!
–What Is Immigration? (For Kids!)
– ‘The Long Way Westward’ read aloud and printable activities
(Not about Kirsten’s family, but the story of another Swedish family on a very similar path across the United States!)
– “My Family History”.
This is “chapter 2” that continues where we left off in yesterday’s lesson… scroll down to read the exciting adventure of the Andersson family as they arrive in New York and begin their journey west.
–From Sweden To America: Swedish Immigration
–A Swedish Immigration Story 1854
This is a real account of Anders Gustaf and Ingrid Elis Sohlberg. Probably best as a read aloud, or at least to scroll through the wonderful photos included!
–Immigration to America in the 1800’s
LOTS of really good pictures & information! The format may be a bit difficult for your child to weed through, but you may like to use some of the material for your notebooks or reading about a topic of particular interest.
–Life Aboard! What It Was Like To Cross the Atlantic
–Aboard a Packet
–What Was It Like To Cross The Atlantic In 1800’s?
(Best for parents to preview and read aloud)
-You might like to include a short lesson/unit on Ellis Island.
I did not include other links to study this until the Turn of the Century- American Girl Samantha Unit, because Kirsten’s family came to America before Ellis Island was used as entry to the United States.
*Watch This!
-‘Coming to America- New York’s Immigration‘
Video is about 5 min- all about immigration to America in the 1800’s covering many, many angles of the topic.
–“The Great American Melting Pot” School House Rocks
– ‘The Swedish Immigrant Trail’
(Historic content up to about the 4 minute mark…then it is more about the attempt to establish a biking, walking, etc. trail in these communities today)
– ‘An Immigrant Tale’ documentary
This video is about 20 minutes. This is a personal retelling by Matt Mattson of his family’s immigration to America from Sweden. He includes many family photos and stories…some funny, some very poignant. This may be too much for younger children, but I thought it was worth sharing here.
–Famine Ships
(This short video tour is of a ship that would have taken Irish immigrants to America in the 1840’s. Though not exact, it gives a good idea of what the ship that carried Swedish immigrants to America might have been like)
*Explore It More!
–“Klara’s New World”
You will find lap books for both Sweden and Minnesota, a template to make an America Chest, and even a recipe for special Swedish Christmas cookies- Yum !
-Short slide show ‘Swedish American Heritage’
-Lesson and activities about understanding immigration…Geared toward a traditional classroom, but those who are homeschooling still may like to use some of the printable activities for sure!
–Kirsten Photo Booth
(Please be aware that there is a pop up asking if you want to use the camera on your computer to add your photo to the Kirsten photo)
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
–Swedish Child Coloring Page
–Immigrant Ship Arriving in America Coloring Page
–Immigrants Arriving in America Coloring Page
This text notes immigrants arriving in Ellis Island. The coloring page will be fine, but just a reminder that Ellis Island wasn’t in use until the late 1800’s!
+Day 3: Kirsten Goes West !
In the 1800s, many Americans began moving westward in search of land, jobs, and new opportunities, including immigrant families like Kirsten’s. They traveled into unfamiliar territories and built their new homes and communities there. This is sometimes called Westward Expansion. We’ll talk about this more in later lessons.
Kirsten and her family had made the long voyage to America and finally arrived!
But the journey to Minnesota was far from over. There were many miles yet to go… by train, steamboat, wagon, and even by foot!
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 8-11 (Go West ! )
– “Meet Kirsten”
*Read It!
–How People Traveled in the 1800’s
–Transportation in the early days.…a brief overview
– ‘The Prairie Traveler’ –
A very detailed account of the journey west written by Randolph Barnes Marcy, in the 1800’s after his trips west… including many historical sketches
An abundance of information, but if you’re super curious,the index is super helpful for finding answers to all your questions!
*West By Steamboat
The steamship was invented in the early 1800s, and in 1807, Robert Fulton’s North River Steamboat became the first steam powered boat that took passengers from New York City to Albany, New York. By the time Kirsten and her family arrived in America, traveling by steamboat was much more common. Boats now regularly traveled rivers such as the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio, as well as the Hudson River and even north to the Great Lakes.
–Steaming to Minnesota
–The Mississippi Steamboats
–Steamboat History!
*West By Wagon-
Many of the stories below mention the Oregon Trail .
Though this trail did not go through Minnesota, the stories and information are great for learning about life on the journey westward in pioneer America.
–What Were Wagons Like?
–Daily life on a wagon train headed west
–Journal Entries From Trail Travelers
–What Was The Trail Really Like?
–Hour By Hour : A Day On The Trail
*West By Train
Kirsten’s family had traveled nearly every way possible… and now by TRAIN! Kirsten was excited to see what the country looked like as they traveled west. Everything was NEW! Including trains! She had never even seen a train before today. It was huge and very loud! Once aboard, it rattled and shook as it gained speed along the tracks. At first it was scary, but soon she could see forests, rivers, prairies, and small towns passing by outside her window. I’m sure she wondered what her new home would look like when they finally got there!
The first transcontinental railroad had not been built yet, so there was no train that could carry you all the way across the country. The transcontinental railroad would not begin construction until 1863 and would not be completed until 1869. For many immigrants, traveling west meant taking trains where tracks existed and then continuing their journey by boat, wagon, or by walking.
–Rails West is a brief introduction to the transcontinental railroad
–From NY to Minnesota- What Was It Like?
–Transcontinental Railroad– Mr. Donn’s history page with tons of links to related reading and activities
–Henry David Thoreau’s travel west from Massachusetts to Minnesota by train and steamboat.
*Watch This!
–“Elbow Room” School House Rocks
–‘Travel in America in the 1840’s‘
About 12 minutes…”The film follows a young man as he travels from New York State to Illinois, showing him as he journeys by stagecoach, works as a mule driver on the Erie Canal, travels by lake steamer, and rides the new steam train!” by Periscope Film
–What is a Steamship?
–Robert Fulton and the Steamship
–Steamboats on the Mississippi
–Wagon Trails West
– Oregon Trail Video
–The First Trains!
–The Transcontinental Railroad Begins!
-BBC series ‘Transcontinental Railroad‘ (Part 1 of 5)
*Explore It More!
–Play the Oregon Trail Game
Yes! The same one! Be sure to press the “esc” escape button if you can’t see your cursor
–Explore The Oregon Trail (Interactive Map)
–Webquest– Westward Ho!
Be sure to read through the lesson plans under the scouts/teachers tab
-‘Westward Trail’ online interactive map and game
–Play The Great Railroad Race Game
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Steamboat Coloring Page in the 1800’s
– Robert Fulton- Steamboat Coloring Page
– Prairie Schooners Coloring Page
– Covered Wagon Coloring Pages
– Train Coloring Page
– Oregon Trail Coloring Page
– Life on the Trail Coloring Page
– Children On The Trail Coloring Page
– Life on the Wagon Trail Coloring Page
+Day 4: Home on the Prairie- The Pioneers
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 12-13 (Home on the Prairie- Pioneers)
– “Meet Kirsten”
*Read It!
–Who Were The Pioneers?
–All About The Pioneers
–What Is a Prairie? (Lots more on this in our Science section!)
–Life as a pioneer
From the National Heritage Ranching Center- This lesson is GREAT! It includes reading, games, paper dolls, recipes, activities, and lots of pictures that would be great to use for notebooks or for the dioramas if you are making one. Though you may not have a few of the “tools” suggested here, there’s plenty of fun. I have visited this museum and if you live in Texas, it is totally worth the trip! (Just not in August!!! Too HOT!)
*Home Sweet Home On the Prairie-
–Home on the prairie
–Finding shelter on the prairie
–Take a tour of Kirsten’s home from ‘Living a Doll’s Life’
–At home on the prairie
Photos of various household articles found in a typical pioneer home.
*Sod Houses-
–Building a Sod House and Life In A Sod House
(What it was like, the good, the bad, and the itchy !)
–‘On the Banks of Plum Creek’
Free audiobook on YouTube. The Little House series is set in the same general era as Kirsten’s books. In this book, the Ingalls family lives in a sod house.
* Log Cabins-
–Log Cabins on the prairie
–‘Little House in the Big Woods‘
Free audiobook on You Tube. The Ingall’s Family moves into their new log home!
–Reading the walls ?
*Watch This!
–The Pioneer Days
–What does a prairie looks like?
–The American Prairie from National Geographic
-Video tour of life in an 1800’s sod house
–‘Little Old Sod Shanty on My Claim‘
Spoken introduction/history/photos & original song complete with banjo. Really fun!
-‘The Living History School’s Log Cabin Tour‘
– Little House on the Prairie
This series (this episode in particular) makes a great visual of what a house on the prairie looked like inside.
–Inside a settler’s home
-‘Homesteading‘
This a full length video (54 minutes) by Prairie Public Broadcasting…all about the early “homesteaders” on the prairie during the 1800’s . Very well done.
*Explore It More!
–Explore The Prairie!
Tons of fun games and information about the Prairies!
–Build a virtual sod house online by answering question about life on the prairie.
–The Homestead Act Mini Page
-It might be fun to make a diorama of a typical Pioneer town.
Here are a few examples to spark your creativity !
– Pioneer Diorama
– Printable Templates for Log Cabin
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Log Cabin Coloring Page
– Log Cabin Coloring Page
– Inside a Log Cabin Coloring Page
– Little House On The Prairie Coloring Page
+Day 5: At Home on the Prairie- Native Americans
As pioneers pushed westward and settled in places like Minnesota, they encountered the Native American communities who also lived there. Sometimes settlers and the Native people traded, shared information, and helped each other, and at other times they had a lot of problems to try to work out.
Communication was hard, the homesteaders didn’t always know if the Native American tribes they came across were friendly or not… and the Natives didn’t know if the Pioneers were coming to steal their land, or to settle there peacefully. Life on the prairies could be uncertain for everyone!
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 14-15; 24-25 (Home on the Prairie- Native Americans )
– “Meet Kirsten”
*Read It!
–An introduction to Native Americans
–Native America- American Girl Kaya Unit
*Ojibway Indians
*You will notice variations of names for this tribe : Ojibwe, Anishinaabe, and Chippewa
– The Ojibway
– The Ojibway Tribe of Minnesota
– Ojibway Wigwams
– Ojibway homes– very nice photos & drawings of the insides & outsides of Ojibway homes
– Ojibway People
*Dakota Indians
– Introduction to the Dakota Tribes
–The Sioux Nation (The Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota Tribes)
– The Plains Indians (Sioux)…lots and lots of links to follow
– Sioux Tribe Daily Life
– Indian Summer Homes (Longhouses)
*Watch This!
–‘The Very First Americans’
–The Ojibway Indians
–Who Were The Chippewa?
–Let’s Speak Ojibway!
–What Is The Sioux Nation?
–Who Are The Sioux?
–Who Was Crazy Horse? (Story for kids)
–The Lakota Tribe
*Explore It More!
*Add to your diorama or make an Indian Village diorama today!
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Ojibway Coloring Book
– Wigwam , Birch Bark Houses
– Tipis
– Teepees 🙂
– Dakota Indian Tribes (be sure to look to the left & scroll down a bit)
–Native Americans Notebooking Pages
*Week 1- America’s Pioneers Hands-On History Activities!*
At the end of each week’s daily lesson plans, you will find a few suggestions for hands-on history projects and activities related to the week’s focus.
You can totally skip these, do all of them, or pick a few! You can do them scattered throughout this unit, or take one whole PROJECT DAY to work on the ideas you’ve chosen! Have fun making the history you’ve study come to life!
–Free Sweden Activity and Coloring Packet
–Make a Swedish Stenciled Box like Kirsten’s
(You can purchase a similar box and supplies here- Round Wooden Box Unfinished and Kid’s Stencil Kit)
–Shoebox Steamer Trunk
Kirsten’s family’s most precious belongings all had to fit in the large steamer chest they carried with them to America. Try making your own trunk using a shoe box. Write the special things you’d take with you on strips of paper and stick them inside.
–> Examples of Swedish Steamer Trunks
–> Rose pattern
–Make a No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll
(Kirsten’s special doll was named Sari in the story, “Meet Kirsten”)
–Make an Edible Log Cabin!
–Create A Sod House
–Build A WigWam
–DIY No Sew Teepee
(This looks totally do-able! )
– Simple paper Indian Homes (different types)
– Make your own cardboard teepees
*Week 2: A Day With Kirsten
* American Girl Kirsten Series, Book 2, “Kirsten Learns A Lesson ”
*Week 2: A Day With Kirsten
1. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Pioneers Daily Life ( p. 22-23, 26-27)
2. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Pioneer Fun & Games for Everyone! (p. 16-17; 32-35)
3. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Family, Love & Marriage In Pioneer Days (p. 18-21)
4. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Pioneer Fashion (p. 36-39)
5. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Medicine in Pioneer Times (p. 30-31; 49- inset)
Life was busy for Kirsten and the pioneer families!
There was no running to the store when you ran out of milk, bread, or soap! There were no washing machines, or quick trips to the restaurant when you didn’t feel like cooking. Most pioneer families had to make, grow, fix, or find most of the things they needed themselves.
For Kirsten and her family, every day brought plenty of work. They had to care for animals, grow and preserve food, cook meals, wash clothes, gather wood, make and mend clothing, and cut wood to cook with and also to keep the house warm!
But pioneer life wasn’t all hard work. Families also made time for fun! Telling stories, playing games, holiday celebrations, visits with neighbors, and music were some of the ways. Do any of those things sound similar to ways modern families have fun today?
This week we are going to be learning all about what an ordinary day really like for a pioneer child like Kirsten.
What kinds of chores did children do? What did people back then eat? How did they wash their clothes?
What questions do YOU have?
+Day 1: Pioneers Daily Life
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 22-23; 26-27 (Daily Life)
– “Kirsten Learns A Lesson”
*Read It!
–What Was Life Like On The Frontier?
–What Did People Do On The Frontier?
–Daily Life On America’s Frontier
–What Did The Pioneers Do All Day?
The following are set in Tacoma, Washington, but still give us a great idea of what a day in the life of a Pioneer child might have been like!
–A Pioneer Child’s Morning
–Did Pioneer Kids Go To School?
–A Pioneer Child’s Night
+The Daily Work-
+Washing Clothes
– Washing clothes
(Make the soap, chop some wood, build the fire, haul the water, then finally wash the clothes!)
–Pioneer Soap Making & Washing
+Making Candles
–How Did the Pioneers Make Candles?
+Spinning
–How Did The Pioneers Make Clothes?
–Pioneer Clothing
+ Cooking on the Frontier
– Pioneer Food
– What Did Pioneers Eat?
–What Did Pioneers Eat On The Trail?
– Cooking on the Homestead
– Cooking on the frontier…from the PBS series Frontier House
– Churning Butter– Milk to cream to butter, finally…Phew !
+Farming
–Pioneer Farming
– Farming
– Daily Pioneer Life On A Farm
*Watch This!
–A Day In The Life Of A Pioneer Family- 1850
–Life On A Homestead- 1850’s (about 6 minutes)
–Scholastic Time Machine 1840’s (about 3 minutes)
–Pioneer Children’s Chores (about 15 minutes)
–Mini Living History Farm Visit (about 3 minutes)
–Farming life in the 1800’s
–Frontier House
This is episode 1 of the PBS series that chose two modern families & challenged them to live as closely as possible to the way the early pioneers did. Very interesting idea. You can find many full versions of this program on You Tube.
Lesson plans for some of the episodes are included on the PBS site…click on the menu to find lots of other information.
–Pioneer Skills: Washing Clothes
–Pioneers Candle Making (about 5 minutes)
–Pioneers- Making Wool (about 4 minutes)
–Pioneers- Spinning Wheels (about 4 minutes)
–How Did The Pioneers Make Clothes? (about 6 minutes)
–From Flax to Linen (about 2 minutes)
–The Wool Spinner (about 2 minutes)
*Explore It More!
–Pioneer Tools
–Pioneer Paper Dolls
–Daily Life Of A Pioneer Worksheet
–Pioneer Skills Wordsearch
–Pioneer Life Crossword Puzzle
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Washing Clothes Pioneer Days Coloring Page
– Churning Butter Coloring Page
– Pioneer Daily Life Coloring Page
– Pioneer Girl Washing Clothes
– Spinning Wheel Coloring Page
–Pioneer Themed Notebooking Page
+Day 2: Pioneer Fun & Games for Everyone !
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 16-17; 32-35
(Fun and Games For Everyone)
– “Kirsten Learns A Lesson”
*Read It!
–What Did The Pioneers Do For Fun?
–Did Pioneer children play ?
*Toys & Games
–Little House on the Prairie Games
–Pioneer Children’s Toys and Games
–Fun & games on the trail
–Indoor & Outdoor Pioneer Children’s Games
–Toys the Pioneer Children Played With
(Nice photos !)
*Barn Raising
– Barn Raising Lesson Plan
*Quilting Bees
– Quilting Bees
– A short history of quilting (Nice photos of many patterns to scroll through!)
– Quilting Bees
*Husking Bees
– The Husking Bee (a very good description from the book Beautiful Belmont)
– Corn Husking Parties
*Dances
– House Dances
– Reading of Chapter 8, “Dance at Grandpa’s” from Little House in the Big Woods
– “Dance at Grandpa’s”
A book for younger children adapted from the Little House in the Big Woods series
*Watch This!
–Barn Raising
–Barn Raising Dance from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Just for FUN! )
–Entertainment on the Frontier
–Music & Instruments Of The Pioneers
–Pioneer Dancing (How-to Videos…with links to traditional music)
*Explore It More!
–Interactive Design Quilt Online
(Click on different patterns on the upper left)
– Code Your Quilt
– Paper Quilt Activity
–Pioneer Toys, Games, & Crafts
(Printable Information and Activity Book by the Frontier Culture Museum)
–Play Some Pioneer Games
–Old Fashioned Games To Play
–How To Play Jacks
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Quilt Coloring Pages
– Quilting Bee
– Pioneer Children Playing
– Pioneer Boys Playing
– Pioneer Children Games
– Dance to the Fiddle
+Day 3: Family, Love, & Marriage In Pioneer Days
If your family enjoys adding movies to your studies, “Sarah, Plain and Tall” is perfect fit for this week’s study!
You can currently watch it for free here- “Sarah, Plain and Tall” on YouTube
Or you can purchase the “Sarah, Plain and Tall” DVD
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 18-21
(Love & Marriage)
– “Kirsten Learns A Lesson”
*Read It!
I wasn’t able to find many resources that were good for younger readers on this topic, so most of today’s reading is best done as a read aloud together.
*Courtship and Marriage
–Pioneer Weddings
–Courtship & Marriage in the Wild West
–A sweet recounting of a Pioneer Courtship & Marriage
(Scroll down to that heading if you don’t want to read all the other sections)
– A Pioneer Wedding
–Frontier Wedding (1820)
–Mail-Order Brides and Marriage on the Prairie
–Anders’ and Ingrid’s Marriage and Honeymoon to America
(Scroll down to the above heading to read what a Swedish wedding was like!)
* Wedding Feasts
Most weddings on the frontier were special, but simple. People all brought a dish and pot luck was on the menu. Just like every day on the prairie, people ate what they had.
Here’s a few ideas:
* The Pioneer Wedding Cake and a recipe to try yourself
(or ask your friends to all bring a layer & have an afternoon tea )
* Or perhaps they would have had a special cake like this one from
Little House on the Prairie (recipe included)
–19 Pioneer Recipes
(Scroll down to the Molasses Cake recipe for an extra special treat!)
* Hope Chests
–Swedish Betrothal Chest
–History of the “Hope Chest”
*Suitor’s Spoons (Love Spoons)
–What is a Love Spoon? Swedish Wedding Traditions
–Love Spoons – Swedish Wedding Tradition
(Scroll through this page to see lots of photos of beautiful antique Swedish wedding spoons!)
*Watch This!
-Watch “Love Comes Softly”
(This is a sweet Hallmark Family Movie! Watch on YouTube or rent it on Amazon Prime)
–Traditional Swedish Dances
(These dances were done at most celebrations, including weddings of course!)
*Explore It More!
–Make Your Own Love Spoon (virtual game)
* Try making your own Valentine’s cards…whether it’s Valentine’s Day or not, it’s always nice to tell someone you love them. 🙂
– Here is some 1800’s Valentine’s Clip Art (just for some ideas)
*Cook a prairie meal to celebrate a special occasion in your house!
– Prairie Recipes
– Little House on the Prairie Recipes
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Hope Chest
– Hope Chest 2
– Spoon (Might be fun to design your own wedding/love spoon!)
– Bridal Crown 1 (fun to color; Or glue to poster board, decorate, and wear !) 🙂
– Bridal Crown 2
– Country Dance
– Bride & Groom From SheKnows.com
( Scandinavian brides often wore green dresses!)
+Day 4: Pioneer Fashion
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 36-39
(Pioneer Fashion)
– “Kirsten Learns A Lesson”
*Read!
*Pioneer Clothing
–Pioneer Clothing Was Functional
-Introduction to Pioneer “fashion”
–How did the 1800’s pioneers dress ?
– “Fashion” of the pioneer woman
*Traditional Swedish Clothing of the mid-1800’s
* Traditional Swedish Women’s Clothing , Accessories, and Undergarments
* Swedish Folk Costume
*Native American Dress
*Traditional Dress of the Dakota and Ojibway
* More common dress
* Native American War Bonnets
*Watch!
*Explore More!
-Make a pioneer sunbonnet together…
+Easy Sunbonnet directions
+Easy no-sew pioneer bonnet from Craft Gossip
-Try making a traditional dress for Kirsten (or another doll similar in size).
There are several really nice patterns to try HERE.
–Make an apron–
Aprons were an important part of the Frontier woman’s wardrobe…also of the traditional
clothing worn by the women in Sweden. Here’s a fun & easy YouTube tutorial with
directions on how to make an apron using a tea towel !
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Pioneer Children
– Pioneer Man & Woman
–Pioneer Paper Dolls
– Cut outs for diy paper dolls
+Day 5: Pioneer Medicine & the Traveling Show
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 30-31; 49 (inset)
(Pioneer Medicine)
– “Kirsten Learns A Lesson”
*Read!
–Pioneer Medicine
–Medicine in the Old West
(an audio interview from the book “Medicine in the Old West”… about 16 minutes )
–Old Time Cures and Remedies
–“Patent Medicine” and Receipt Books
–Remedies of the 1800’s Yikes!
–Mrs. Winslow’s Receipt Book
You can read this original copy online !
–Druggists and Teeth Pullers
(Hold on to your teeth kiddos!)
*Watch!
PLEASE preview the following videos before showing them to your children!!
They are mostly slapstick funny in style, but there could be some objectionable things too 😀
–Frontier Dentistry
–Medicine On the Frontier
–Emma and Emma: Pioneers In Medicine
(PBS Artifact Spotlight)
*Explore More!
-Make your own patent medicine from the 1800’s.
Rock Candy was used quite frequently as a treatment for all kinds of ailments.
Make your own and feel great. 😀
Recipe, history of the “candy”, and science lessons included!
-Just for fun- but maybe good to do first to give everyone a kind of picture of what some of the more unfamiliar/complicated reading may be ahead in this topic.
Little House on the Prairie- “Circus Man” (full length episode)
A traveling “medicine man” comes to Walnut Grove appearing to heal all kinds of ailments with his mixture of magic and medicine. What will Doc Baker do ?
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Kilmer’s Swamp Root poster
– Patent Medicine
– Pioneer Medicine
– Elixir Poster
*Week 2- America’s Pioneers Hands-On History Activities!*
At the end of each week’s daily lesson plans, you will find a few suggestions for hands-on history projects and activities related to the week’s focus.
You can totally skip these, do all of them, or pick a few! You can do them scattered throughout this unit, or take one whole PROJECT DAY to work on the ideas you’ve chosen! Have fun making the history you’ve study come to life!
–Soap Making
–Try Soap Carving
–7 Pioneer Recipes To Try Today!
–Make Your Own Ball & Cup Toy
–DIY Button Spinner Pioneer Toy
–Make your own Thaumatrope
–How To Make An Easy Rag Doll
–Make a Johnny Appleseed Dancing Doll
– Try a quilting bee with this easy quilt making tutorial
-Make some Risgrynsgröt (Rice Porridge served at Swedish Weddings and Christmas)
*Week 3: Pioneer Friends & Foes on the Prairie
*Week 3:Friends and Foes on the Prairie
1. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Kirsten Around Town (p. 44-45)
2. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Kirsten’s Neighbors & Friends (p. 42-43; 46-47)
3. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- The Dakota Conflict (p. 48-55)
4. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- Conflicts Continue (p. 48-55)
5. “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- The Great Land Rush (p. 56-58)
* American Girl Kirsten Series, Book 3, “Kirsten’s Surprise ”
+Day 1: Around a Pioneer Town
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 44-45
(Around the Pioneer Town)
– “Kirsten’s Surprise”
*Read!
–Around Town (Brief introduction to community life)
–Pioneer Village
(Introduction to & pictures of a typical pioneer town…audio of text for young readers is nice too!)
* The General Store
* Harkin’s General Store Museum in West Newton, Minnesota
* The General Store
* A Personal Story of a General Store
*The Hotel
* The Main Street Hotel
(Though this history is from Iowa, it is a good depiction of a frontier town)
*Frontier town hotels in the 1800’s
(Photo tour is on the right hand side of the page. Click on the first photo to open the slideshow…click on each individual photo to read a brief description)
*What to See on an 1800’s Main Street
(Be sure to click links on the bottom right for pictures)
– The Livery Stable and Blacksmith Shop
–The Pharmacy
– The Millinery
–The Saloon
(Be sure to click on the photos to see a larger version…if you click through to page 3, there
are lots of other links too. Page 3 begins the mention of “saloon girls”….just a heads up.)
*Watch!
–Spring Mill Pioneer Village
–Video Tour of Historic New Ulm, Minnesota
–The Train Depot
(This is a video of lovely old photos circa late 1800’s early 1900’s of Castle Rock, Washington. It’s a FUN way to see the old trains and depots, as well as the pictures of an active main street of this period, all set to music.)
– The Jail
-Video Tour of Bodie, California Ghost Town
(There are tons of these home videos on YouTube…this one includes a tour with some commenting by a park ranger)
*Explore More!
-Take a virtual tour of Bonanzaville Pioneer Village
–Build a Pioneer Town!
Printable templates to build you own pioneer town! If you have already started your diorama for this unit, use some of these pieces to add to it.
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– Old West Town
– Western Main Street
–Pioneer Village
– Blacksmith
+Day 2: Kirsten’s Pioneer Neighbors
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 42-43; 46-47
(Kirsten’s Neighbors)
– “Kirsten’s Surprise”
*Read!
*Kirsten’s German Neighbors*
– German Immigration Facts in Brief
– History
– A brief history of German immigration to Minnesota with audio
–German Immigrants Bring Beautiful Toys To America
–German Children’s Toys Noah’s Arks
*Kirsten’s Norwegian Neighbors
– History (in brief)
– History of Norwegian Immigration to America
(be sure to click on the photos to the left of the reading)
– Photos of Traditional Norwegian Clothing
(This is actually an entire article, but it’s full of beautiful photos, so skim on through!)
*The Dakota and Ojibway
– A Plains Indian Child in the 1800’s iAdventure
(This is a very well done interactive/choose your own adventure type iAdventure…lots of information here about what it would have been like to be a young indian girl or boy in the mid 1800’s.)
– Life on the Reservation 1800’s
– Indian Children’s Games
(Do you recognize any of these games? )
*Watch!
– Video history/tour of New Ulm, Minnesota
–Learn Ojibwe
–Ojibwe Children’s Counting Song
*Explore More!
*Kirsten’s German neighbors brought many new customs to her town
+ Afternoon Coffee (or tea) and Cake …. Kaffee und Kuchen
(This was also customary in many parts of Peru…one of my favorite things when we
lived there!)
+Recipe for Apfelkuchen (Apple Cake)…for an afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen, fun for sure!
+Recipe for Butterkuchen (Butter Cake) Scroll to bottom of recipe for “quick” version
– German Language
Kirsten’s neighbors often spoke different languages, making it hard to understand
one another…. Try playing some fun games and listening to the German language.
*Kirsten’s Norwegian neighbors brought their own language, recipes and customs
–Lefse (a traditional favorite, lefse is a thin pancake served in a variety of ways)
–Easy Lefse Recipe
–Skolbrod
(My daughter had this sweet treat “School Bread”, from the bakery in “Norway” while on a
trip to Epcot. She enjoyed them so much she asked me to make them for her birthday
cake. I think after reading all the recipes I could find I came up with a fantastic version.
The one above is a bit complicated and omits the toasted coconut which is so good. If
you’d like me to send you my recipe, just leave me a message in the comments and I’ll
be glad to send it to you. 🙂 )
-Try some fun learning games for speaking Norwegian
-Learn a bit of Swedish with this fun video!
*Kirsten’s Native American neighbors also had their own amazing culture, language, and delicious and unique foods! Sometimes this made communication between them and the new settlers coming into their land very difficult. The Native Americans and the Pioneers didn’t always get along, but they were determined to try.
+The Plains Indians used a type of sign language that made it possible for them to understand both people from other tribes and the settlers, despite language barriers.
This is a fun interactive game to try your “hand” at it. 😀
–Talking Hands Game
-Here are some Dakota and Ojibway recipes to try !
+ Wojapi
+ Lakota Plum Cakes
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
– German Girl Paper Doll
– Norwegian Paper Dolls
– Swedish Paper Doll
– Sioux Child Paper Doll
– Sioux Children Paper Dolls
– Ojibwe Coloring and Activity Pages
+Day 3: The Pioneers and the Dakota Conflict
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 48-55 (The Dakota Conflict)
– “Kirsten’s Surprise”
*Read It!
–The Dakota Conflict: The Treaties
(short audio explanation of the beginnings of The Dakota Conflict….approx. 3 minutes)
–Interactive Map of Treaties
–The Dakota Conflict (Lessons and Videos)
–The Conflict Begins
–The Dakota Conflict WebQuest (complete interactive lesson)
–An Oral History of the Dakota
(including the Dakota Conflict…click through to find the appropriate reading)
* Little Crow (“Welcome to Kirsten’s World- 1852” pages 50-51)
*Little Crow
*Little Crow (a short audio biography about Little Crow… approx. 3 minutes)
*Little Crow’s Speech on the eve of the Sioux uprising
*Watch This!
–The Dakota Conflict- Introduction (short video with good photos…approx. 3 minutes )
–The Dakota Conflict- Newcomers (video…approx. 2 minutes)
–The Dakota Conflict- Treaties (video…approx. 2 minutes)
–The Dakota Conflict- War (video…approx. 3 minutes)
–“The Dakota Conflict” a longer video from PBS…. 56 minutes
OR you can chose to watch different segments of the above video indexed HERE
*Explore It!
–The Dakota Uprising!
(This is a mapping activity with good discussion questions)
-Take a Virtual Field Trips to see some of The Dakota Conflict Monuments
+Day 4: The Dakota Conflict Continues
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 48-55
(Conflicts Continue)
– “Kirsten’s Surprise”
*Read!
–The Dakota War of 1862
–The Attack on New Ulm and Related People
(Be sure to look on the right sidebar for all kinds of related links!)
–Holl Family Account of life on the frontier and the Attack on New Ulm
(This account was written by Irene Persons after interviewing Ms. Margareta (Holl) Hahn.
The interview took place on March 24, 1937. )
*Watch!
–The Dakota Conflict- Aftermath (video…approx. 2 minutes)
–The Dakota Conflict- Internment (video…approx. 4 minutes)
–The Dakota Conflict- 150 Years Later (video…approx. 4 minutes)
* The Erd Building in New Ulm, and an account of the attack on New Ulm
* The Kiesling House in New Ulm, and the Dakota attack
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
+Day 5: The Great Land Rush
*Core Reading:
– “Welcome to Kirsten’s World 1854″- p. 56-58
(The Great Land Rush!)
– “Kirsten’s Surprise”
*Did You Know?
“The Homestead Act of 1862, which gave away 160 acre claims, was repealed in the lower 48 states in 1976. In Alaska, claims could be filed up to 1986! ” ~NPS
*Read!
– Free Land! The Homestead Act from The Mini Page
(Do you remember these coming in the Sunday paper??? Fun find of the day! )
–Homestead History
(From the National Park Service with many links to related reading, videos, etc…)
–Homestead History (Not the same as the above link!)
(Short Lesson about the Land Rush from the National Parks Service… it is written for use in a classroom, but there are some really good ideas included, as well as a printable game your whole family may enjoy playing!)
–The Great Land Rush
*Watch!
–History of the Homestead Act
(This is a short video with nice photos & illustrations….VERY thorough, but entertaining!
While I try to keep everything in my units completely free online, near the very end of this video you are requested to sign up for a free 5-day trial. I felt like the main “meat” of this topic was covered in the free beginning of the video. I’m not familiar with this site, but you may like to sign up after seeing this. There is a similar free video with similar material. You can watch it HERE.)
–Oklahoma Land Rush Scene from Far and Away
(YouTube clip…3 minutes. You may want to preview…could be a bit intense for the littles.)
*Explore More!
–Homestead Webranger Challenge from the NPS
(Interactive Game- be sure to click on the menu at the bottom right corner for the
next pages)
–Land Rush Mini-Unit Study from DIY Homeschooler
+Coloring pages to use for notebooking, lap booking, etc…. or just for fun!
–Westward Ho!
–Land Rush Cowboy on Horse
*If you’d like to read the rest of the Kirsten series, I’ve included them below!
–Happy Birthday Kirsten!
–Kirsten Saves The Day!
–Changes For Kirsten
*Reading Comprehension Ideas:
Show what you know about the Pioneers !
This is the same list for each week! Choose which ideas you’d like to work on each day, then come back for more!
*Reading Comprehension Ideas: Show what you know!
+ Meet Kirsten Comprehension Questions from American Girl
+You can find American Girl Kirsten interactive quizzes here and for the other American Girl Dolls too!
+ Meet Kirsten learning games, discussion questions, and more!
*Keep a Pioneers History notebook!
-Design a notebook, lapbook, scrapbook, folder, etc…to show what you’re learning.
If you have crafty, creative, or artistic kiddos, any one of these choices are a great way for the kids to show what they know about the Pioneers!
-Check out some examples of Notebooking , Lapbooking , and Folders (with templates!)
-See how we made some of these!
–>How To Make A History Binder (I also made a video if you’d rather watch than read 🙂 )
-Make sections and just quickly add in important people (scientists, artists, musicians, leaders, etc), important places (Sweden, NY, Chicago, Minnesota, etc), important events (Swedish immigration, the Dakota Conflict, etc), and important ideas as you study this period of time. Use these lists later for writing prompts, notebooking, lapbooking, creating a timeline, etc…
* Make a Timeline!
If you haven’t started a Timeline, I HIGHLY recommend making one for this unit!
Timelines are like a constant visual review of history! And if you are continuing on with the rest of the American Girl Units, you can just keep adding to it!
I have made a list of my favorite ways to Create Your Own Timeline… seriously, I have ideas for pretty much every personality of family… creative, tech loving, small spaces, hands-on, and MORE!
*FUN Book Reports
Can a book report possibly be FUN?!? Don’t believe me? Try this Book Report… OR show what you know with a Book Report Cake, a Rainbow Report, or a Pizza Box Book Report! See doesn’t this sound fun?!? If you’re still not convinced may try making a book report poster. This family made a giant poster from the Kristen series!
*Make a Pioneer History Museum!
If this sounds like a bit of a stretch, it’s really not. 😀 Think of it as a mini-museum!
Here are some ideas on how to make your own history museum (not history specific, but you’ll get the idea)! I have done this just with my kids, but also in a co-op. SUPER fun!! This would be a great project to work on throughout this unit study, adding all your hands-on projects, pictures from field trips, creative book reports, art, and even recipes you’ve made to the museum! We hosted a night for friends and family to come learn all about what we had been studying.
* Find whatever outlet that excites your kids!
One video featured a girl showing how to create different period hairstyles on her AG doll for example ! Or perhaps you’d like to set up a scene to scale with your Kirsten doll & make a video to share like this one… Kirsten Larson’s Christmas Cabin ( a bit longish, but you get the idea that it is a way to show what you’ve learned).
“Minds in Bloom” has a really great post for some ideas… 72 to be exact!!
*LOTS of Hands-on Activities
Be sure to try some of the weekly Hands-on History ideas!
*Make a short video
Plan a short video showing what you have learned about some aspect of Pioneer life during the 1800’s.
+You could be a kid reporter, reporting on news of the year 1854.
+Print out some small pictures of Kirsten, her family, Singing Bird (or other characters you’ve learned about), a Steamer Ship, a train, or whatever else you’d like to focus on, glue them to popsicle sticks, create a background, and film a short video. Get creative!
*Write a song using a familiar tune. Change the lyrics to focus on some part of Kirsten’s journey!
Here are some Fun History Song Examples to get you started!
*Host a Pioneer themed party (could just be prairie trail snacks, or a full feast!). If it is near the holidays,
a Christmas themed party would be PERFECT !!
You may like to check out my –> Kirsten’s Pioneer Christmas <— for some fun ideas !
*Top 10 Hands-On History Projects For Kids!
Need more ideas? I wrote this post (so of course there are WAY more than 10 ideas lol) to share all of my favorite ways to really bring history to life for kids!
*Language Arts/Grammar Ideas-
*Grammar Ideas-
You may choose to use your regular grammar curriculum, add just a few of the ideas below into the mix, or use all the ideas below. Isn’t homeschooling wonderful sometimes? 🙂
+Here’s a website of very short daily grammar reviews
+Fun Grammar offers interactive online games, and Education World has fun editing worksheets.
+FREE Grammar Resources For Homeschool
+My personal favorite… choose a sentence, or photocopy a page of the reading. Depending on what skill you want to emphasize, have your child diagram a few sentences, or find and circle all the verbs, nouns, etc…, or whatever grammar skill needs work.
*Pioneer Vocabulary ideas-
+Choose any list of vocabulary you’d like to use for this unit.
I have included a brief list for each week from the core reading for younger students.
+You will also find Vocabulary Word Searches and Vocabulary BINGO in the Pioneers (AG Kirsten) Printable POWER Pack.
+Learn some words in Swedish!
This unit spends a bit of time learning about Kirsten’s native land, Sweden. It might be fun to find some words that are still used today that originated from Swedish.
–Swedish words
–Pioneer Alphabetizing Activity
–Pioneer Word search
+Teaching multiple ages?
Start with the lists below taken from each week’s core reading. You could add more words, easier or more difficult related words, or choose a list of words from some of the suggested Pioneer/Kirsten books that suit your needs best! You can find a great list of suggested resources for this unit American History Book Lists and Early American History Curriculum .
+You will also find Vocabulary Word Searches and Vocabulary BINGO in the Pioneers (AG Kirsten) Printable POWER Pack.
1. immigrant 2. pioneer 3. frontier 4. port 5. merchants
6. reunited 7. idle 8. settlers 9. lye 10. flax
1. bud 2. birch 3. livestock 4. bee (quilting) 5. courtship
6. Scandinavian 7. serenade 8. calico 9. prairie 10. diagnose
1. nationality 2. trappers 3. produce 4. Yankee 5. coward
6. ration 7. conflict 8. captive 9. surrender 10. reservation (Indian)
*Pioneer Copy Work/Narration ideas-
*Bible Copy Work-
+This week’s Scripture verses-
–Romans 5:3-4
–2 Timothy 4:7-8
–Hebrews 10:32-36
–Hebrews 12:1-3
–James 1:2-4
+It might be fun to try copying one of the Bible verses in Swedish ! Bible Gateway has the Swedish Bible in several versions. You can easily print the verses out & use them for each day’s copy work. You may also like to check out an English/Swedish dictionary for help!
*Sing & Copy-
+Listen to “Let It Go” from Frozen in Swedish with lyrics. It is the first version on the video. Fun to see if you can pick out any of the words….Then copy the chorus in Swedish maybe ?
+Talk about what it must have been like for Kirsten to hear all the foreign languages upon arriving in America. This was fun even if you just listen. 🙂
*Character Quotes-
–Helen Keller Quotes
-Printable sheet of great quotes about persistence and perseverance with lines to copy!
–Helen Keller Paper– good to use for copy work or for note booking
* Bible Copy Work-
+This week’s Scripture verses-
–Isaiah 30:18 and James 1: 17 (The best example of a Giver)
–Psalm 37:21
–Proverbs 11:25
–1 Peter 4:10
–Acts 20:35
–1 John 3:17
–1 Timothy 6:18-19
+It might be fun to try copying one of the Bible verses in Swedish !
Bible Gateway has the Swedish Bible in several versions. You can easily print the verses out & use them for each day’s copy work.
*Pioneer Songs Copy Work-
+ You could try copying an old prairie pioneer song such as…
* Oh, Shenandoah * We’re Goin’ out West * Sweet Betsy From Pike
*Cook & Copy-
+Did you try one of the cooking activities this week? Copying recipes is a fantastic exercise. There are all kinds of skills to be practiced!
You can copy one of the recipes from the lesson or you might like to try one of these:
*Swedish Pepparkakor Ginger Cookies
*Swedish Rice Pudding, Julgrot
*Character Copy Work-
+” The Lord is Good To Me ” lyrics
+Johnny Appleseed Paper– you could use this for copy work or for a note booking page
*Bible Copy Work-
+This week’s Scripture verses-
–Proverbs 3:1-2
–John 14:15
–John 14:21
–Colossians 3:20
–1 John 2: 5-6
+It might be fun to try copying one of the Bible verses in Swedish !
Bible Gateway has the Swedish Bible in several versions. You can easily print the verses out & use them for each day’s copy work.
*Copy A Pioneer Poem!
+You might like to copy the poem “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman.
*History Accounts Copy Work-
+Copy an excerpt from this Eyewitness to History account of the Great Land Rush
+Copy a portion of the Homestead Act
*Character Copy Work-
+You might like to copy a part of Sojourner Truth’s famous speech “Ain’t I A Woman?”
or some of her inspirational quotes.
*Miscellaneous Copy Work Extras
* Nice covered wagon copy work printable (with lines)
* Pioneer draw & write printable
*Santa Lucia is a traditional holiday song…try copying a part in English or Swedish
(It’s a BEAUTIFUL song…here’s one version to listen to HERE )
*If you’d just like to hear some beautiful Swedish Christmas Carols while you work,
try these !
*Creative Writing Ideas-
+Idea #1- Pick What To Pack!
Imagine that your family is leaving your home in Sweden for America
Or if you are an American child, you could imagine you are leaving for Sweden!
The ship will leave soon, and there is only room for each family to bring a few belongings. Your father tells you that you may choose just ONE special object to bring with you.
You look around your home. What do you choose?
Why is this one object worth carrying thousands of miles to a completely new country?
Write a short story or journal entry describing what you are thinking and how you make the choice of what to bring.
Need help getting started?
+What object did you choose?
+Who gave it to you?
+Why can’t you leave it behind?
+What happens to the object during the journey?
+What does it mean to you when you finally reach America (or Sweden)?
+Would you still choose the same object?
+Idea #2- Modern Mystery!
Imagine it is the year 1854. You are one of America’s pioneers.
Your family works very hard every day to build a new life on the land you’ve recently settled. You have no electricity, cars, internet, modern appliances, or phones to make the work easier. Even your nearest neighbors are miles away!
Then one morning, you discover something amazing! You wake up and find a strange object sitting outside your log cabin.
Nobody knows what it is. You discover that it is a modern invention. And it does something WONDERFUL!
Write a short mystery story!
Need help getting started?
+Choose what the object is.
+What does it look like?
+Who finds it?
+What do they think it is?
+How do they figure out what it is?
+How does the family react?
+How would this one invention change your life?
+What new problems could the invention create?
+In the end, does your family keep the invention, or do you give it up? Why?
+Idea #3- What If??
Choose one or more of the “What If…” prompts below to write about!
+What if pioneers had one modern invention?
+What if you woke up in 1854?
+What if your whole family had to move to a part of the country you’ve never been to before?
Where would you go and how would you get there?
+What if you could send text messages to a pioneer kid?
How would the conversation go?
+What if you met an Ojibwe child, but you couldn’t understand each other? How could you communicate without speaking?
+Idea #1- A Day Without Electricity
Imagine you wake up tomorrow morning, stretch, and flip on the light switch. Nothing happens.
You try to turn on the light in your bathroom. Nothing.
You walk into the dark kitchen. The refrigerator isn’t humming. The microwave won’t work.
Your family has discovered nothing is working either.
Your sister tries to turn on the television, but the screen stays black.
There is no electricity anywhere!
You still have water. You still have food.
You still have your home, your family, and everything that doesn’t require electricity.
But not any electricity.
You might be VERY surprised at how many things you do every day need it!
Your Mission-
For one day, you will become an electricity detective!
Keep a running list of every time you try to do something that requires electricity.
Don’t just think about the obvious things like television, computers, and video games. Look carefully at your entire day. Is your toothbrush electric? Do you like to take a warm shower?
Ask yourself the following questions, and use your answers to write a short essay about what a day without electricity would be like!
+What do I use when I first wake up?
+Is it cold or hot inside the house?
+How do I get ready?
+What do I eat for breakfast?
+How is my food prepared?
+How do I start the school day?
+What do I do when I finish schoolwork?
+How do I communicate with people?
+What do I do for fun?
+What happens when the sun goes down?
+How do I get ready for bed?
+What would be difficult to do in the dark?
At the end of the 24 hours, the electricity suddenly comes back on. Everyone cheers!
What is the very first thing you do?
+Idea #2-
Imagine you are a child living on the prairie in the 1800s. What did kids do for FUN?!?!
You don’t have a television.
You don’t have a computer.
You don’t have video games.
You don’t have a tablet or cell phone.
There aren’t even any McDonald’s down the road!
You and a group of friends are finished with your chores, but you have nothing to do.
Someone says, ”Let’s invent a game!”
Your assignment is to create the game that these pioneer children might have invented.
But there’s a catch…
You can only use things you could find around a pioneer home!
That means no batteries, no electricity, no plastic toys from a store, and no modern sports equipment.
Most homes would have had some string, buttons, cloth, paper, and of course lots of things you’d find outside still today!
You have to use what you’ve learned in this unit about the pioneers and mostly your imagination!
Write the directions for your game, and draw a sketch.
Be sure to include how to play, the rules, and what it takes to win.
*Idea #3- Pioneer People and Wild West Who’s Who!
The 1800s were filled with all kinds of really fascinating people!
Some were the very pioneers who traveled west, built homes, farmed, raised families, or started new communities. Others became famous (or infamous!!) as outlaws, lawmen, scouts, explorers, performers, traders, trappers, soldiers, or adventurers.
For this project, you will choose ONE person from the Pioneer or Wild West era and become an expert on that person.
+Step 1: Choose Your Person
Choose a real person who lived during the 1800s and had a connection to the pioneer or American West era.
+Step 2: Become a History Detective
Find out all the Who’s, What’s, Where’s, Why’s, and How’s!
+Step 3: What’s the most interesting thing about this person?
+Step 4: Decide how you’ll share what you’ve learned!
You could write-
+A Short Biography
+A Poem
+A Folk Song
+A Fact Sheet
Your goal is to teach your reader something interesting about this person and explain why they are remembered in history.
*Idea #1- The Day Everything Arrived!
You live in a small pioneer town where everyone knows everyone. One morning, something REALLY exciting arrives!
It’s a huge wagon carrying supplies, a mysterious looking traveling merchant, a new family, and an important piece of news.
+What does everyone in town do as the wagon rolls through?
+Who are these people that have just arrived?
+What’s inside the wagon?
+And WHAT in the world is the news the new family has to tell!?!
Write a short story telling about the day that EVERYTHING arrived!
*Idea #2- Two Talks
There are two children living in Minnesota in the 1850’s.
One child is from a Dakota community.
One child is from a settler family, perhaps a Swedish immigrant family like Kirsten’s that has recently arrived in Minnesota.
The two children meet for the first time.
They may speak different languages, have different traditions, live differently, and have very different experiences with the land around them, but they are both KIDS!
Your job is to imagine what might happen when they meet.
+What would they notice about each other?
+What might they be curious about?
+What could they learn from each other?
+What might they have in common?
Now choose ONE of the ways below to tell their story.
+Choice 1: Write a Short Story
Write a story about the day the two children meet. Try to include lots of details, and what the two children are thinking and feeling!
Your story should include:
+Who the two children are
+Where they meet
+What happens
+At least one misunderstanding or difference
+At least one thing they discover they have in common
+Something each child learns about the other
+Choice 2: Write a Letter
Imagine that after meeting the other child, you go home and write a letter to a friend or family member back home.
Tell them about the new person you met. “Today I met someone I have never met before…”
+Who you met
+What surprised you
+What you learned
+What you wondered about
+How the meeting made you feel
+Choice 3: Write Side By Side Diary Entries
Tell the same meeting from both points of view.
Fold a piece of paper in half long ways. Write one diary entry from the Dakota child’s perspective and one from the settler child’s perspective.
Think carefully!
+Would they notice the same things?
+Would they feel the same way about what happened?
+What might each child misunderstand about the other?
+What might each child learn?
*Bible Studies: Great Christian “Pioneers”
*Week 1: Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan- Perseverance
*Week 2: Johnny Appleseed- Generosity
*Week 3: Sojourner Truth- Obedience
*NOTE:
While most of these American Girl Unit Studies can (after review) be completed independently by older children, the Bible studies would be most enjoyed together !
*Week 1: Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan-
Perseverance & Patience
“While they were saying it couldn’t be done, it was done.”
~ Helen Keller
Life on the frontier was full of difficulty and seemingly impossible challenges.
One’s perspective on life and the determination to persevere through endless hardships could literally be a matter of life or death for the pioneers. Helen Keller was born in 1880, and though she didn’t cross the prairie with a pioneering family, she certainly showed the same amazing courage to overcome as the Pioneers who did. She and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, have been great examples of what can be accomplished through faith, patience, and perseverance !
*Read It!
* Kids Bible Study on Perseverance
(Click on each red box to read the Scripture and questions to talk about!)
* Perseverance…The Word of the Day !
(Need a little encouragement yourself Mama ? Don’t Ever Give Up !!)
* Family Bible Study on Perseverance
* Perseverance Family Devotion
* Patience Family Devotion
* Perseverance Bible Study for Kids
* Patience Bible Study for Kids
* Helen Keller (short introduction)
* Who Was Helen Keller?
* Biography of Helen Keller For Kids
* Who Was Anne Sullivan?
* Short Biography of Helen’s Teacher: Anne Sullivan
* “The Race”
(This poem would make a great introduction to the topic of perseverance and to the lives and achievements of Helen and Anne!)
* Wisdom From Helen
Keep in mind the character traits of perseverance and patience as you read.
*Watch This!
* What Is Perseverance? What’s The Scoop?
* Adventures from the Book of Virtues: Perseverance
* Helen Keller (Animated Hero Classics)
* Ivy Green: Helen’s Story (about 5 minutes)
* History of Helen Keller For Kids
* Adventures from the Book of Virtues: Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan
(A lesson on the virtue of patience! This video is geared for younger kids, but I enjoyed it too 🙂 )
* The Miracle Worker
(There are several different versions of this movie. Look on YouTube for one that you
like best. So good!)
*A Bug’s Life
(Not about Helen Keller or Pioneer themed, but this is such a cute movie all about PERSEVERANCE!)
*What Does The Bible Say About Perseverance?
*Romans 5:3-4
*2 Timothy 4:7-8
*Hebrews 10:32-36
*Hebrews 12:1-3
*James 1:2-4
*Ideas to Think About & Discuss-
* What is perseverance ? Define it in your own words!
* Does perseverance only mean not giving up? Why or why not?
* How did Helen and Anne show patience?
* In what ways did they persevere?
* Do you think that they ever wanted to give up?
* What helped them keep working hard to overcome the obstacles?
* What is one thing (at least) that Helen and Anne’s stories challenged you to persevere in?
* Have you ever had to practice perseverance?
* Discuss some difficult things your child/family has faced and how they have persevered.
* Can you be discouraged and still be persevering?
* When you feel like quitting, what could you remind yourself about God?
* What is one small step you can take instead of giving up completely?
* Read through some of the Scriptures below, or others that are about perseverance.
*Romans 5:3-4
*2 Timothy 4:7-8
*Hebrews 10:32-36
*Hebrews 12:1-3
*James 1:2-4
* What does the Bible say about perseverance?
* Do you think God knew we would face hard times in our lives?
Why or why not ?
*Romans 5 says that suffering can produce perseverance.
Why do you think difficult experiences can sometimes make us stronger?
* What has God given us to help us persevere?
* James 1:2-4 talks about letting perseverance finish its work. What do you think that means?
* How can we have patience to not give up during the challenges we face?
* What can we do to “push through” the hard times in life and and find the energy to keep on working toward our goals?
*Sing It!
*“What An Awesome God” in ASL ! (check out the poster on the wall too 😀 )
*You might also enjoy Hayden Daum’s YouTube channel if you want to learn more!
*“Perseverance: Consider It Joy!”
*Learn and Sing “Jesus Loves Me” in ASL
* “I Have Decided”
*Romans 5:3-4 Memory Song
*“Run The Race”
*Hebrews 12 Memory Song
*Hebrews 12:1-3 Memory Song (Learn the dance too!)
*Explore It More!
*Sign Language Mini Unit (from Fields of Daisies)
(You could use one idea from this unit, or make this another part of your Kirsten Unit Study! I have listed many resources, printables, stories, and activities to get children (of all ages…babies too!) started on learning basic American Sign Language !)
* Keep a journal of any quotes or inspiring thoughts you may read about during this study.
(Printable pages you can use for this are found in the companion Pioneer America Printable Power Pack!)
* Use the Sign Language Alphabet chart to spell words into each other’s hands.
Play a game to see who can guess the most words.
Did you find it difficult?
How do you think Helen felt as Anne tried to teach her to communicate in this way?
-Print a ASL Chart PDF
* Try learning a bit of Braille … then try “writing” your name or another word in braille.
– Play Lots of Sign Language Games and Learn Braille!
–More Games to Learn About Sign Language
– Arthur: You’ve Got Braille (full episode!)
– Braille Alphabet Coloring Cards
*Add a page for Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan to your Timeline!
* Color It!
* Helen Keller Notebooking Page
*Helen & Anne at the water pump coloring page
*Perseverance coloring page
*If you’d like a coloring page or printable activity to go along with any of the stories from the scriptures listed above, you can find them here: – http://www.calvarycurriculum.com/childrens-curriculum-ot.php
*Week 2: John Chapman- Generosity
*Read It!
*John Chapman was a young man with a simple dream. He wanted to share apples with people all over America. He ended up sharing a whole lot more than apples along the way as he traveled among the pioneers and the Native Americans. His knowledge of plants and nature, his kindness toward all people, and his great generosity became legendary. Up to this very day people from all over the world have heard about his story and his simple message lived out in an extraordinary way.
* A lovely biography of John Chapman, published by Harper’s New Monthly Magazine in 1871.
* Introduction to Generosity
* Kids Bible Study on Generosity from Kids of Integrity
*Watch This!
* Johnny Appleseed Video Biography from The Story of Liberty
(This is a nicely narrated type of video…not animated)
* American Legends: Johnny Appleseed (about 9 minutes)
* Adventures from the Book of Virtues: Generosity
*Explore It More!
* “Johnny Appleseed” mini unit from Garden of Praise
*EVERYTHING “Johnny Appleseed” from Free Homeschool Deals
* Johnny Appleseed Lapbook
* John Chapman printables
*Make a list of some ways that you (or maybe your whole family) can intentionally be generous! You won’t believe how much fun this is or how much JOY you will feel by being
kind to others!! (There is a printable sheet in the Power Pack ! )
Need a few ideas ?
Ian McMillan– YouTube clip from ABC News
Rosie’s 21 Acts of Random Generosity
Video that will… (I don’t know anything about the person who posted this video, but it is a lovely example of how each small act of kindness can have a ripple effect and make a real difference. Watch all the way to the end!)
*What Does The Bible Say?
–Isaiah 30:18
–James 1: 17
–Psalm 37:21
–Proverbs 11:25
–1 Peter 4:10
–Acts 20:35
–1 John 3:17
–1 Timothy 6:18-19
*Ideas to Think About & Discuss-
* John Chapman preached his message of the love of God best perhaps by his love for others.
-What is generosity?
-Name some actions that are generous.
-Can you think of a time in your life that someone has been generous to you?
-How did it make you feel?
Did the kindness shown to you make you want to go and do something kind in return for someone else?
*Many people laughed at John and thought he was quite strange. Some people were even angry that John showed kinds to everybody, including the Native Americans who some people saw as enemies.
John didn’t let this stop him from continuing his work and his kind ways.
-What do you think motivated John to live such a different kind of life?
-Have you ever been afraid to show kindness to someone because of what other people’s reactions might be?
* Read this week’s Scriptures if you haven’t already.
You may also like to read through this short and FUN Bible lesson on Generosity.
There’s lots of activities and ideas and questions to talk about in your family or
in during a quiet time all by yourself.
-What does God have to tell us about generosity in His Word?
-What were some of the ways you’ve read about in the Scriptures above to
show generosity?
-Who does God tell us to show kindness toward?
-In what ways did “Johnny” show this kind of generosity ?
-What lessons can you learn from Johnny Appleseed?
-Did anything inspire you to show generosity in a creative new way?
* Sing!
* Learn the “Johnny Appleseed Song” (“The Lord’s Been Good To Me)
– Hands & Feet
*Color!
* Johnny Appleseed Notebooking
(These are really nice pages…not cartoonish)
* Johnny Appleseed Paper– you could use this for copy work or for a note booking page
* Johnny Appleseed Coloring Page
* John Chapman Coloring Page (Hidden Picture)
*Generosity Coloring Page
*Week 3: Sojourner Truth- Obedience
“Lord, I have done my duty, I have told the whole truth and held nothing back.”
~Sojourner Truth
“The Lord gave me ‘Sojourner,’ because I was to travel up an’ down the land, showin’ the people their sins an’ bein’ a sign unto them. Afterwards, I told the Lord I wanted another name ’cause everybody else had two names, and the Lord gave me ‘Truth,’ because I was to declare the truth to people.”
~Sojourner Truth
*Read!
* What is Obedience?
* Sojourner Truth mini-unit study from Garden of Praise
* Sojourner Truth – biography
* Biography from PBS
* Bible Study on Obedience from Kids of Integrity
* Bible Study on Obedience from Confessions of a Homeschooler
(Really nice week long study- check out this site for other similar Bible studies for kids
& lots more!)
*Watch!
* Sojourner Truth Video Biography from The Story of Liberty (about 5 minutes)
* Alice Walker reads “Ain’t I a Woman” – YouTube about 3 minutes
*Explore More!
* Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” Speech and discussion questions
* Activity for “Ain’t I a Woman Speech” from Scholastic
*Related Scriptures for Further Reading-
-Proverbs 3:1-2
–John 14:15
–John 14:21
–Colossians 3:20
–1 John 2:5-6
*Ideas to Think About & Discuss-
-What do the following words mean? You can define them in your own words!
+sojourner +truth (also John 17:17) +obedience
*Sojourner Truth couldn’t read. Sojourner Truth couldn’t write. And she was a slave.
She had only a few possessions and endured incredible hardships.
Yet as she lived out all her days, she had spoken in Universities, dined with some of the most famous people of her day, and even met the President !
-What happened that made Isabella Baumfree change her name to “Sojourner Truth”?
-What are some of the achievements she had in her life that really stuck out to you?
Why?
*Sojourner had a very personal experience with God and continued to want to know Him her whole life. Think about Sojourner’s close friendship with God.
-How do you think her friendship with God helped her to accomplish so many amazing things?
-What kinds of ways did Sojourner honor God?
*Spend some time just being quiet with God yourself.
You could just sit silently, you could pray, or you could slowly read some of this week’s Scriptures.
-Does any thing come to mind that might be a way for YOU to be obedient to God’s direction for your own life?
(You could also use the printable “Truth” journal sheet for this activity in the Printable Power Pack.)
*Sojourner Truth tried hard to listen to God.
When she believed she knew what He wanted her to say or do, she did it. She lived to be obedient to the Lord. Near the end of her life, she said she would like to be able to say, “Lord, I have done my duty, I have told the whole truth and held nothing back.”
-Have you ever known that God wanted you to say or to do something?
-Were you obedient? Why or why not?
-What happened?
*Sing!
* “Lord, I Done Done What You Told Me to Do “
* “I Will Follow”
*Color!
* Sojourner Truth Coloring Page
* Sojourner quote page header
* Sojourner Truth Coloring Page 2
* Obedience Coloring Page
*If you’d like a coloring page or printable activity to go along with any of the stories above, you can find them here:
– http://www.calvarycurriculum.com/childrens-curriculum-ot.php
*Science Ideas for Pioneer Unit Study-
*Week 1: Using a Compass & Orienteering
*Week 2: Simple Machines & Inventions
*Week 3: Great Inventors of the 1800’s
*Week 1: Using a Compass & Orienteering For Kids
Kirsten traveled a long way to reach America!
First, she traveled across the ocean from Sweden to New York in America. Then she crossed miles and miles of land between there and Minnesota to find her new home.
So… how did the ship’s captain know which direction he was traveling in the middle of the ocean? How did he know where to find the harbor in New York? And once they reached land, how did the pioneers find their way across the great plains, through forests, and over mountains? Did they just use Google Maps on their phones to tell them where to go? NO, of course not.
They used a compass!
A small compass could be a very important tool for someone traveling into unfamiliar places. But how does a compass actually know which way is north? Who invented the first compass? Do people still use compasses today? And why might knowing how to use one be a useful skill, even in our modern world where we just find the directions to where we want to go on our phones?
In this lesson, we’re going to learn how a compass works, discover a little of its history, and try our hand at orienteering!
You might discover that getting a little lost is sometimes the beginning of a great adventure!
+ Read It!
–What Is A Compass?
– Who Invented the Compass and How Does It Work ?
– Compass 101 (video- 3 minutes)
– How To Find Your Way (video- 6 minutes)
– How A Compass Works Song
– All About Compasses
– Wrong Way Corrigun and The Compass Mini Unit
– The Story of “Wrong Way Corrigun” (video- 2 minutes)
+ Discover & Do!
* How to make a simple compass
* DIY Make a Simple Wet or Dry Compass
* Compass belonging to Lewis & Clark, circa 1804
* Are You A Navigation Master? Try this activity and find out!
* Finding Directions Using a Compass
*Did you know that orienteering is a very popular sport in Sweden?
It is also becoming more known to families in America too! This would be a super fun idea to try along with this week’s lesson on using a compass. The Orienteering USA site has LOTS of ideas for different types of orienteering activities for people of all ages, from toddlers all the way up ! Have fun !!
–What Is Orienteering?
–How To Use a Compass For Orienteering (video- 5 minutes)
+Orienteering Activities To Try!
–Beginning Orienteering Activities To Practice
– Orienteering Activities for younger kids
– Learning Orienteering from the beginning
– Orienteering Activities for all ages
*Find a Permanent Orienteering Course near you!
* More Compass related games to play online ! Have FUN!
* 3 Active Compass Games
+Try Geocaching!
*What Is Geocaching? (video by kids!)
*All About Geocaching For Kids
*Geocaching (which uses a gps instead of a compass)
+ Color It!
* Compass Rose
* Compass Mapping Printables
* Mariner Compass
* Compass Roses
*Week 2: Simple Machines & Inventions
*The 1800’s were a-buzz with exciting happenings!
People in young America were exploring, and inventing, and pushing the borders of all they knew. Did you know that the sewing machine, the bicycle, the steam engine, the washing machine, the first postage stamp, staplers, calculators, matches, safety pins, typewriters, microphones, batteries, photographs, zippers, straws, and toilet paper were ALL invented during this time? And in 1898, the very first roller coaster was patented. 🙂
Phew! What an exciting time to be alive !
This week’s science ideas (Simple Machines), go along with next week’s lessons (Great Inventors of the 1800’s).
You might like to switch the order !
+ Read!
*Simple Machines
*Simple Machines & Inventions Unit! This is so much fun !!
Includes videos, experiments, and lots of links to more reading…you won’t be bored. 🙂
from Fun, Hands On Unit Studies
– Inclined Planes and Wedges
– Levers and Screws
– Wheels and Axels
– Gears and Pulleys
– Inventions and Rube Goldberg Machines
* Who is Rube Goldberg and what were his machines ?
(scroll down to see MythBuster related video !)
* Did you know that inspiration for an invention can come from the simplest daily activities?
Can you guess what invention came about after a walk around the block ?
Find out here.
Teacher’s guide is here. (includes printables)
+ Discover & Do!
–EXPLORE Simple Machines (DK FindOut!)
–What Is A Machine? (Video)
–Simple Machines (Video)
–The Simple Machines Song
–I Spy Simple Machines Printable
(Scroll down to the bottom to download the printable)
–Make a Simple CANDY Machine!!
–Build A Snack Machine!
–Simple Machines Mini Book
–Rube Goldberg Machines for Kids (Sesame Street style 🙂 )
-Try at designing a Rube Goldberg Machine yourself !!
-Sid the Science Kid Shorts-
Sid’s Amazing Invention
The Tree House
The Broken Wheel
+ Color!
– Inclined Plane and Wedges
– Levers and Screws
– Wheels and Axels
– Gears & Pulleys
– Rube Goldberg’s Machine from Education.com
*Week 3: Great Inventors of the 1800’s
+ Read!
* Mini-Units of Great Inventors from Garden of Praise
(Be sure to keep scrolling down for activities, videos, coloring pages, projects, and further reading. You could spend weeks on these ! )
– Alexander Graham Bell
– Cyrus McCormick
– Thomas Edison
– The Wright Brothers
– Henry Ford
– Nikola Tesla
* Stories of Great Inventors by Hattie Macomber from Project Gutenberg
(This story is written in a very entertaining and conversational manner, much like Hillyer’s
‘A Child’s History of the World’. Nice black and white drawings. Give it a try… it isn’t boring either.)
+ Discover & Do!
*Enjoy these videos with the Inventor Units above!
–Alexander Graham Bell (Nest Video- 24 minutes)
–Cyrus McCormick (about 2 minutes)
–Thomas Edison (Nest Video- 24 minutes)
–The Wright Brothers (Nest Video- 26 minutes)
–Henry Ford (about 3 minutes)
–Nikola Tesla (Brain Pop movie free- about 7 minutes)
+ Color!
– Some Notebooking Pages for Great Inventors from Homeschool Share
You can find coloring pages for the above inventors by clicking on each unit and scrolling down.
– There are coloring pages included in each of the above mini-units as well. 🙂
*Geography Ideas- Pioneer Unit Study*
*Week 1: Sweden
*Week 2: Across America: The Prairie
*Week 3: Minnesota
*Week 1: Life In Sweden
+ Read It!
* Sweden
* Sweden Mini-Unit
* Around the World in 12 Dishes- Activities, Recipes, and Books About Sweden
* Sweden Facts for Kids
* Sweden Virtual Video Tour (YouTube- about 6 minutes)
* Country Study
* Kids World Travel- Sweden
*Kirsten’s Swedish Pioneer Christmas Mini-Unit
(I’ve included LOTS of history, recipes, crafts, activities, and more!)
+ Map It!
*Sweden Map: Labeling Activity
*The Geography of Sweden
(After reading through this page, print out one of the blank maps of Sweden.
*Try labeling the major bodies of water or other geographic highlights of Sweden…You may also like to print out a world map (or at least a map showing Europe and North America. Label Kirsten’s journey from her home in Ryd, Sweden to America… and from New York Harbor to Minnesota…see pages 1-11, in ‘Welcome To Kirsten’s World 1854.)
*Interactive map of Sweden
+Explore It More!
*Make Kirsten’s Swedish Pancakes With Strawberry Jam
*Lots of activities to learn about Sweden including many to learn a little of the language from Enchanted Learning.
*Printable Sweden Lap Books
(It’s a little hard to find where to download these. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click the links with the green arrows. I’ve included a picture of what that looks like below!)
*Short Stories about Sweden to read together:
-‘Our Little Swedish Cousin‘ by Claire Coburn
-‘Little Erik of Sweden‘ by Madeline Brandeis
-‘Peeps at Many Lands- Sweden‘ by Mrs. Liddle and William Liddle
*Watch the original “Pippi Longstocking” Movie
(Remember this? The cutest! This is free in its entirety on Youtube when I posted it)
–> Pippi Longstocking (Or rent it on Amazon Prime)
–> Animated Pippi Longstocking (Also on Amazon Prime)
+ Start a diorama.
You may like to create several, one for each week’s theme, or just add on each week to make one larger diorama. I have included lots of links to coloring pages & paper dolls that would be good to use.
+Color It!
–Sweden Flag Coloring Pages
–Stockholm Coloring Page
–Dala Horse Coloring Page
–Swedish Christmas Coloring Page
–Swedish Christmas Morning Coloring Page
–Sweden Map Coloring Page
*Week 2: Across America- The Prairie
+ Read!
* Ecosystems and Biomes
(You might want to start with these short video clips about what an ecosystem is and what a biome is… not specifically about prairies, but a good starting point. Excuse the whiny girl character- Eeks!)
* Minnesota’s Biomes (a brief intro)
*Wild Kratt’s Mystery on the Prairie (about 27 minutes)
* From the National Parks Service, short intros to Prairies
– All About Prairies
– Minnesota Prairies
– Plants of the Tallgrass Prairie
(Click on each one to see colored photos and a brief description!)
– Oak Savanna
* Explore the Prairie !
(Interactive site from Camp Silos)
* American Serengeti
(45 minute video about the American Prairie by National Geographic…if you didn’t watch this during week 1)
+ Map It!
* Print out a blank map of the United States here.
– Label Minnesota ; outline it in a dark color
– Label the state in which you live
– Label the 3 types of prairies (or grasslands) found in America
(Here is some help from the National Parks Service… Grasslands and Prairies
of North America)
*Activities- Biomes of Minnesota (look for the printable pdf)
+ Explore More!
* Biomes- Prairies from Enchanted Learning
( A brief intro to the topic and LOTS of links to different animals common to the prairie lands of North America)
* Read about some of the wildflowers and grasses that grow in the Minnesota prairie here.
Try planting your own little prairie where you live.
* Want to study more?
The Young Naturalist’s Stories and Teacher’s Guides are an EXCELLENT resource !
Each topic includes a short story with nice sketches and a teacher’s guide with questions and links to other resources for further study! You could spend months on these mini-lessons!
* Add items studied this week to your diorama…
OR you may like to make a separate diorama this week of a prairie habitat
OR you may like to make a collage of what you might find on the Minnesota Prairies.
*Week 3: Minnesota
+ Read!
* State of Minnesota from the History Channel
(Nice, funny, short intro to the state of Minnesota…YouTube about 8 minutes)
* Minnesota Unit Study from Easy Fun School
(Lots of ideas for fun activities including projects, recipes, and crafts!)
+Map It!
* Watch this short tutorial on reading a map by the National Parks Service – http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/activities/readingmap/
* Minnesota maps and other printable activities from Enchanted Learning
* Mapping Lesson Plans for the state of Minnesota from
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
* Minnesota Road Trip !
(Here’s a fun alternative way to study the state!)
+ Explore More!
* Links to Everything Minnesota !
* Minnesota Coloring Book (printable)
* FREE State Notebooking Pages from The Notebooking Nook
* FREE State Lapbooking Pages from Homeschool Helper Online
(Be sure to scroll down to see the LONG list of printables !)
* Minnesota Animals
– Learn about 10 common animals in Minnesota and the actual size prints they make.
Do you have any of these same animals in the state where you live ?
* Minnesota State Interactive Quiz
*Add to & finish up your diorama (It might be fun this week to add some of the major landmarks or landforms that we have studied this week to your diorama….)
*ART- Swedish Artist- Carl Larsson!
* This would be a good unit to study the Swedish artist Carl Larsson.
His paintings are bright, lovely, and happy. I think you and your children would enjoy his work, if only just to click through some of his pieces. 🙂
– Lesson plans for a simple study of Carl Larsson
– Brief biography
– Scroll through a beautiful slideshow of Larsson’s paintings
– Links to lovely photos of many of Larsson’s works
– Larsson’s Wikipedia page and WikiArt page
– Making Art Fun – a show what you know kind of printable
– Some more artist study ideas to use from my favorite Kitchen Table Classroom!
– Worksheet on How to Analyze a Artwork
*Misc. Recipes, Crafts, Activities, and other Fun Stuff
* Recipe for St. Lucia Buns
* Recipe for Swedish Rice Porridge
*AG Kirsten event planner…games, printables & some ideas for related activities
*Little House on the Prairie is a super site with loads of activities, crafts, history, stories, recipes and more. All set in this time period!
*Dala Horse craft
* Other fun Swedish crafts & cooks for kids 🙂
*Make a yarn doll from Little House Living
*Make a Native American Talking Stick
*Ojibwe Lessons….arts & crafts, science, literature, math, etc…
*Remember these unit studies are designed so that your family can enjoy them for FREE anywhere there is internet access ! There are so many wonderful books that you could add to these studies, please by all means use as many as you have access to. You could easily stretch these units out for 6 weeks or even 9 weeks by adding some great historical fiction! 
Also, check out my Kirsten: Pioneer America and Kirsten’s Christmas Pinterest Boards, and look for some great supplementary books for each of the unit studies HERE
OR you can check my Pinterest “EXTRAS” boards for each unit and HERE.
If you decide to purchase any of these extra books, I would appreciate it greatly if you could click directly from my links. Amazon will pay me a small commission for it, and it will NOT cost you anything additional. Thanks for your support!
***Hope you have enjoyed the Kirsten Unit Study !
Follow along as we learn all about Civil War America, Addy’s Unit Study! ***
This unit took me about 6 months to create, and I’m SUPER excited to share it!
If you have been blessed by these FREE unit studies, would you share some love and help me keep offering them to other homeschooling families for free? Many thanks friends!
*Other FREE American Girl History Units from Fields of Daisies~
*Overview of All American Girl Unit Studies
(An outline of the scope and sequence covered in each of the AG Units)
*FREE Native America Unit Study- AG Kaya
+Kaya Printable Power Pack (Free!)
+Native America (Kaya) Unit Study- PDF Version
+Native America (Kaya) Printable HISTORY Cards and Bingo Game
+Native America Books and Resources List
+Kaya Native America Pinterest Board
*FREE Colonial America Unit Study – AG Felicity
+Felicity Printable Power Pack
+Colonial America (Felicity) Unit Study- PDF Version
+A Colonial America Christmas- Hands-On History (Free)
+A Colonial America Christmas- Printable Power Pack
+Felicity- Colonial America Pinterest Board
+Colonial America (Felicity) Christmas Pinterest Board
*FREE Southwest Frontier America Unit Study – AG Josefina
+Josefina Printable Power Pack
+Southwest Frontier (Josefina) Unit Study- PDF Version
+America’s Southwest Frontier (Josefina) Books & Resources List
+Christmas Southwestern Frontier- Hands-On History (Free)
+Josefina’s Southwestern Frontier Christmas POWER Pack
+Josefina’s Southwestern Frontier Christmas PDF Version
+Josefina- Frontier America Pinterest Board
+Southwestern Frontier (Josefina) Christmas Pinterest Board
*FREE Pioneer America Unit Study – AG Kirsten
+Kirsten Printable Power Pack
+Pioneer America (Kirsten) Unit Study- PDF Version
+FREE* Kirsten’s Swedish Pioneer Christmas Unit
+A Pioneer Christmas- PDF Version
+A Pioneer Christmas Printable POWER Pack
+Kirsten- Pioneer America Pinterest Board
+Pioneer America (Kirsten) Christmas Pinterest Board
*FREE Civil War America Unit Study – AG Addy
+Addy Printable Power Pack
+Civil War (Addy) Unit Study- PDF Version
+Civil War Unit Book and Resources List
+Addy- Civil War America Pinterest Board
+Civil War (Addy) Christmas Pinterest Board
*FREE 1900 Turn of the Century America Unit Study – AG Samantha
+Samantha Printable Power Pack
+Turn of the Century (Samantha) Unit Study- PDF Version
+Turn of the Century Books and Resources List
+Samantha- Turn of the Century Pinterest Board
+Turn of the Century (Samantha) Christmas Pinterest Board
*FREE The Great Depression Unit Study- AG Kit
+The Great Depression (Kit) Unit Study- PDF Version
+The Great Depression (Kit) Printable Printable Power Pack
+Great Depression Books and Resources List
+Kit- The Great Depression Pinterest Board
*FREE World War 2 Unit Study- AG Molly
+World War 2 (Molly) Unit Study- PDF Version
+Molly Printable Power Pack
+WW2 File Folder Game
+World War 2 Unit Study Printables BUNDLE!
+World War 2 Books and Resources List
+Molly- World War 2 Pinterest Board
*American Girl Christmas School- Homeschooling Through the Holidays
–> Check out all the American Girl Printables in the Book Store!
If you loved this Unit Study, check out the Printable Power Packs and the live PDF Versions of the American Girl History Units all in a neat BUNDLE!
And nicely DISCOUNTED of course!
30 Comments
Heather
These look amazing. Are the power pack and the pdf the same thing or different?
willowchenoah
Hi Heather~
Great to hear from you! And great question.
The printable power packs and the pdf versions are completely different.
Here’s the details in a nutshell…
The PDF Versions are the entire unit study that you will also see online (including live links) minus all the ads and other distractions. Your child can work directly off the downloaded PDF. The PDFs are pretty much everything you need all in one place in a day by day format. You will find daily lessons for reading, science, geography, Bible study, etc…organized very clearly for you week by week instead of having to scroll. I’ve also included some extra planners and places to for both students and parents to take notes!
The Printable Power Packs are more geared for the students, created as companions for each specific unit. Copy work pages, themed writing paper, Vocabulary bingo games, word searches, science worksheets, map work, History Detective pages, Bible Study puzzles, coloring pages, etc…
If you go here-> AG Printable Power Pack Bundle and scroll down you can read a more detailed description of what is in each individual power pack, and also see some example pages. If you want to read the detailed scope and sequence of each of the units I wrote a post for that- American Girl Unit Studies Overview
Just a note- The Great Depression (AG Kit) Unit printables and the brand new World War 2 (AG Molly) Unit printables haven’t been added to the bundles yet, but you can find them in the Book Store to purchase separately.
Hope this helps! I’m always available to answer any questions you may have, feel free to comment here, send an email, or message me on Facebook! 🙂
~Chenoah
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Helen Keller Quotes
Excellent. Thanks for the nice post. I love so much this post.
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EdithTorma
Jane hancock papers
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Anna
Any chance you are going to do the other 3 books?
willowchenoah
Hello ~
Yep! I’m finishing up with Samantha now…the rest will follow !
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Happy Bunch 6
Seriously, I see LOTS of homeschooling ideas. I have 4 children and have been at this a while. Its not very often I fall in love with something immediately but this study is AMAZING! We are currently on “Christmas Break” and we start back on Monday but my girls say they don’t want to, we should start school today. I am super impressed! I will absolutely be checking your blog for regular reads and more brilliant ideas. THANK YOU!!!
willowchenoah
Hello !
Thank you so much for the encouraging comments, and for taking the time to write. What a lovely way to start my day! 🙂
I’m so glad to know someone else is able to use all the ideas.
I will continue posting units for all of the historical dolls soon, and hope to add companion units so that the brothers can join in with some more guy oriented reading.
As a newbie to the whole blogging world I am a little slow on the learning curve. I have been having some issues with word press, so the posts have been sporadic, but please don’t give up on me! Come back again soon!!
Wishing you and your family wonderful holidays~
Linda
Thank you for this! We live in MN and my husband and daughter are part Ojibwe. Can’t wait to do it with my six-year-old.
willowchenoah
Hi Linda!
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I’m so glad you’re going to give the unit a try. I’d love to hear from you as you and your daughter work through it. I don’t have any personal knowledge of the Ojibwe and wrote based mostly on what I have read online. Please let me know if you find any inaccuracies or have any additions that might be good!
Wishing you a great day~
Chenoah
Rhonda
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful resource. I went back and checked out everything on your site and you have been so generous in sharing your unit studies. We have been homeschooling our four children for eleven years, and our oldest daughter is about to graduate. Our youngest, who is only three, is our only other girl. These American Girl studies will be perfect to use with her when she is older. I look forward to seeing your other unit studies as you post them.
willowchenoah
Hello Rhonda ~
Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate the encouragement. A lot.
There’s lots more units I am excited about sharing…I promise they all won’t be geared toward girls. 🙂
Please stop by again!
Hugs and cheers to you and your oldest! Wishing you and your family lots more happy years of homeschooling!
~Chenoah
Jackie
I love your Kristen unit. I was wondering if you will be putting it into a pdf form with links that go to the site.
If you could write me I would like to ask a question of you.
Thanks for your help
willowchenoah
Hi Jackie~
Thanks for commenting !
I have thought about doing that to make it easy to print out and access all in one place. I’ll add it to my list to do soon. I’m very new to WordPress and blogging too. Thanks for your patience. 🙂
Suzanne
LOVE this!! Thank you for sharing! Former teacher now mommy who will be homeschooling and first generation American Girl here, I completely appreciate this on every level!!
willowchenoah
Hi Suzanne ~
Thank you so much for your comment ! I wish you a WONDERFUL year of homeschooling and enjoying all the fun with your family! 🙂
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Cherie
This is an amazing resource! Thank you for sharing it! Wow!
willowchenoah
Thanks for taking the time to comment Cherie !
So glad you found me. Lots more units to come. 🙂