After ten weeks studying “Little House on the Prairie,” a combined birthday and celebration party was held. The event featured homemade decorations, simple pioneer-themed food, and engaging hands-on activities representing pioneer life. This memorable conclusion reinforced learning, fostered family traditions, and emphasized the importance of community and gratitude in children’s education.
Tag: Homeschooling
Introducing Place Value: Hands On Maths and Living Maths
There is a difference between doing maths… and truly understanding it. This week we began by Introducing Place Value in our homeschool using a far more hands on maths approach than I had before. The girls confidently insisted they understood. And to be fair, they can usually complete long addition, subtraction and multiplication correctly. But every so often, everything……
Summer Nighttime Pond Visit: One Year Pond Study
As part of our One Year Pond Study, we returned to the pond this week for Our Summer Nighttime Pond Visit and, well… you couldn’t actually see anything. It was dark. Truly pitch black. I know, not the most inspiring opening image for a blog post. But what we couldn’t see with our eyes made us notice so……
The First Four Years
During the penultimate week of a Little House on the Prairie unit study, the family focused on reading The First Four Years, which portrays Laura and Almanzo Wilder’s challenging early marriage. The narrative explores themes of hardship and perseverance, paralleling the family’s summer activities and emphasizing the lessons learned through practical experiences of self-sufficiency and resilience.
Atmospheric Changes at the Pond
This week’s pond study revealed significant atmospheric changes, showcasing a sense of desolation as water levels dropped, exposing rubbish and muddy banks. Observations of wildlife, such as subdued mallards and a solitary Canada goose, prompted discussions about nature’s cycles and the importance of empathy. The experience highlighted the value of attentive, hands-on learning in understanding ecological transitions.
What’s the Point of Maths?
The post discusses the benefits of “Living Maths,” a hands-on approach to learning mathematics that emphasizes understanding patterns in real-life situations over traditional curriculum methods. The author shares their experience of moving away from formal teaching, leading to newfound confidence and engagement in their children’s mathematical abilities.
How to Grow a Prairie Garden
This content emphasizes the importance of prairie gardening as a vital aspect of a Little House on the Prairie Unit Study for homeschool families. It highlights practical steps for growing a garden while integrating historical, scientific, and economic lessons. Students learn responsibility, patience, and gratitude through hands-on gardening experiences.
How to Make Rag Curls on the Prairie
This post outlines a Little House on the Prairie Unit Study that incorporates pioneer life skills, specifically focusing on creating rag curls as a historical hair styling method. It emphasizes the significance of teaching history through daily skills, fostering values like resourcefulness and simplicity, while providing practical activities and reflective questions for homeschooling families.
Spring Cleaning Day on the Prairie
The post reflects on spring cleaning on the prairie, inspired by a handwritten list from the author’s children. It emphasizes the historical significance and practical challenges of cleaning for pioneer families, contrasting it with modern conveniences. The author suggests using spring cleaning as a homeschool lesson, blending history, math, and hands-on activities.
These Happy Golden Years
The homeschooling experience allows for deep exploration and hands-on learning, exemplified in a study of pioneer life through “These Happy Golden Years.” Activities included traditional laundry methods that taught children about the demanding realities of history, cooperation in chores, and appreciation for modern conveniences, enriching their understanding of pioneer life.
Practising Number Bonds Using Pascal’s Triangle
The author shares their experience of introducing Pascal’s triangle in a fun homeschool math lesson. They aimed to spark curiosity and playful exploration, leading students to discover patterns and improve mental arithmetic skills. Hands-on activities and games reinforced their learning, emphasizing the importance of engaging math practice in homeschooling.
Summer Pollution Study {One Year Pond Study}
As autumn approaches, the ongoing pond study reveals significant changes observed since spring. The water level has dramatically decreased, exposing pollution and sediment. Children’s hands-on investigations, like collecting water samples and testing pH levels, highlighted the impact of pollution and emphasized the importance of long-term nature study for scientific learning.
How to Use Natural Dye to Colour Cloth for a Homemade Rag Doll
Homeschooling offers the opportunity to learn traditional skills, such as using natural dyes from plants for crafting items like rag dolls. This practice not only teaches history and science but also fosters creativity. Engaging in these activities connects children to pioneer life, highlighting resourcefulness and hands-on learning through experimentation.
How Pioneers Washed Clothes {Little House on the Prairie}
Laundry in pioneer times was a labor-intensive task requiring significant effort, particularly by women and children. This post outlines historical laundry methods and emphasizes their educational value for homeschooling, highlighting lessons in perseverance, responsibility, and the evolution of technology. Engaging activities and reflection questions enrich the learning experience.
Little Town on the Prairie {Little House Unit Study}
As we round the home run of our Little House on the Prairie Unit Study, I can feel the pace gently slowing—for all of us. While we’re still being productive, something else has taken centre stage: hours and hours of imaginative play inside the little house. The kind of deep, absorbed make-believe that childhood is made……