Get ready to dive into one of the sweetest classics in children’s literature — Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey! This heartwarming story of little Sal, her mother, and a blueberry-picking adventure in Maine is perfect for bringing nature, art, and family together in your homeschool. Welcome to my Blueberries for Sal book unit!
Read More! For other book units which focus on nature, check out Play With Me, which focuses on pond life.
In this book unit, we’ll explore hands-on activities inspired by Sal’s adventures — from blueberry counting games and bear crafts to nature walks and simple science lessons about plants and hibernation. Of course, no Blueberries for Sal unit would be complete without some delicious kitchen fun! We’ll mix, bake, and taste our way through the story with recipes like homemade blueberry muffins, blueberry jam, and frozen “Kuplink, Kuplank, Kuplunk” treats.
Whether you’re reading this book for the first time or rediscovering it with your kids, this unit is full of opportunities to learn, create, and make memories together. Gather your pails — it’s time to pick some blueberries and start learning!
Blueberries for Sal Summary
Robert McCloskey’s Blueberries for Sal is a timeless story that has delighted readers for generations. First published in 1948, it’s loved for its simple charm, gentle humor, and expressive illustrations. The black-and-white drawings, touched with blueberry-colored ink, perfectly match the story’s peaceful tone and natural setting.
One of the most memorable parts of the book is the sound of the berries falling into Sal’s pail — “Kuplink, Kuplank, Kuplunk.” This small detail captures the rhythm and joy of childhood, reminding readers of the simple pleasures of exploring and discovering the world.
The parallel stories of Sal and a little bear cub create a mix of gentle suspense and sweetness as each accidentally follows the wrong mother. Through this, McCloskey highlights curiosity, family bonds, and the connection between humans and nature.
Discover more! For other book units with a bear theme, do check out my Corduroy Book Unit, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt {Book Unit} and Jesse Bear Book Unit
Even after more than seventy years, Blueberries for Sal remains a favorite among readers of all ages. Its warmth, simplicity, and timeless message continue to make it a story that families love to share across generations.
Great Books to Read Alongside a Blueberries for Sal Book Unit
Jamberry Board book – by Bruce Degen
If your kids loved Blueberries for Sal, they’ll be thrilled to jump into another berry-filled adventure with Jamberry by Bruce Degen! This joyful, rhyming story follows a little boy and a friendly bear as they pick blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries on a whimsical journey through colorful, imaginative landscapes.
With its playful word rhymes and detailed, cheerful illustrations, Jamberry is the perfect story to inspire hands-on learning. This story is pure fun. With of rhythm, rhyme, and imagination it makes a perfect pick for preschool and early elementary learners.
The Bear in the Blueberry by Linda Buckley & Robin K Robbins
The Bear in the Blueberry! is a beautiful story, filled with soft watercolour illustrations. It gently teaches children how everything in nature is connected — from the sun and rain to the soil, the bear, and even the blueberries themselves.
Parents love this book because it makes science simple, engaging, and memorable for children ages 3–13. Kids will love learning how nature works together in perfect balance. And they’ll be especially amused to discover how bear “poop” helps blueberries grow!
Activities for a Blueberries for Sal Book Unit
Tray Activities
Blueberry Tennis
These tray activities were a huge hit! The tennis in particular:
For more ball activities, check out my Yellow Ball book unit
Crushing Blueberries for Jam
The smashing of the blueberries was ,well, a smashing success (sorry, couldn’t help myself!). I had attached a silicone cupcake holder to a wooden building block to give the little girls a small enough tool for smashing, and smash they did:
Making a Simple Blueberry Jam
We then added sugar to the juice and sugar and pectin to the fruit, boiled both up and made some blueberry syrup and jam:
Sorting Blueberries
The last tray was a sorting exercise and even B2 did it fairly well. They needed to separate the blueberries (blue water beads) from their leaves (green water beads):
Blueberry Hunting/Picking
I covered some tiny pots in foil and added gaffa tape silver handles to make some pails, whilst T11 went and hid all the glass beads in our front garden. The girls then went blueberry picking with their pails:
Blueberry Colouring in
They did a bit of colouring in, from photocopies of pictures in the book:
Blueberry Tiddlywinks
And finally the tiddly winks, which A4 requested to play during her quiet time. She loved them!
Food Ideas
Muffin Tin meal
We used the syrup we made to make a drink; blueberry pancakes held together with a tooth pick and 3 blueberries; homemade blueberry jam; natural yogurt mixed with the jam; and plain blueberries:
Snacks
Blueberry muffins; homemade blueberry ice cream: simply frozen blueberries whizzed up with yogurt; bread roll, brie and some delicious blueberry relish; we made up some lemonade with some stray lemons and then smashed some blueberries, drained the juice off and boiled it up with some sugar to make a syrup:
As you finish your Blueberries for Sal unit, take a moment to enjoy the simple joys this story celebrates — curiosity, family time, and the beauty of nature. Whether your kids loved picking real blueberries, making crafts, or baking tasty blueberry treats, each activity helps bring the story to life in a hands-on way.
Just like Sal and her mother, you’ve shared laughter, learning, and a few “Kuplink, Kuplank, Kuplunk” moments of your own. These are the memories that make homeschooling so special — learning together, one story at a time.
Discover More Book Units! Click here for all of my book units
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