On the Banks of Plum Creek - Week 2

HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE SPIN TOY:

Great Toy from Button Homemade - For more funny movies, click here

LEECHES:






BLUE HERON:




Blue Heron Facts at EnchantedLearning.com

Little House Vanity Cakes
from the Little House Cookbook

Ingredients:
2 lbs Lard (for frying)
1 large egg
1 pinch Salt
1/2 cup Flour
Powdered sugar

Preparation:
Use large fryer to produce depth of 3", heat lard to 350* F.
In bowl beat egg & salt for a full minute.
Beat in 1/4 cup flour, a tablespoon at a time, until batter is too stiff for beating but too soft to roll out.
Cover a dinner plate with flour.
With a teaspoon, spoon batter onto plate in 6 separate portions.
With knife turn each over to flour, then drop into hot fat.
Aim for limp but compact dough mass that will not string out when it leaves the knife.
Cook each cake for at least 3 1/2 minutes, during which time it may need help in turning.
If it darkens too quickly, fat is too hot.
Drain cakes on paper & dust with sugar.


SCHOOL VS. EDUCATION (Meanings of according to the Webster's 1828 Dictionary)


SCHOOL, n. [L. schola; Gr. leisure, vacation from business, lucubration at leisure, a place where leisure is enjoyed, a school. The adverb signifies at ease, leisurely, slowly, hardly, with labor or difficulty. I think, must have been derived from the Latin. This word seems originally to have denoted leisure, freedom from business, a time given to sports, games or exercises, and afterwards time given to literary studies. the sense of a crowd, collection or shoal, seems to be derivative.]
1. A place or house in which persons are instructed in arts, science, languages or any species of learning; or the pupils assembled for instruction. In American usage, school more generally denotes the collective body of pupils in any place of instruction, and under the direction and discipline of one or more teachers. Thus we say, a school consists of fifty pupils. The preceptor has a large school, or a small school. His discipline keeps the school well regulated and quiet.
2. The instruction or exercises of a collection of pupils or students, or the collective body of pupils while engaged in their studies. Thus we say, the school begins or opens at eight o'clock, that is, the pupils at that hour begin their studies. so we say, the teacher is now in school, the school hours are from nine to twelve, and from two to five.
3. The state of instruction.
Set him betimes to school.
4. A place of education, or collection of pupils, of any kind; as the schools of the prophets. In modern usage, the word school comprehends every place of education, as university, college, academy, common or primary schools, dancing schools, riding schools, &c.; but ordinarily the word is applied to seminaries inferior to universities and colleges.
What is the great community of christians, but one of the innumerable schools in the vast plan, which God has instituted for the education of various intelligences?
5. Separate denomination or sect; or a system of doctrine taught by particular teachers, or peculiar to any denomination of christians or philosophers.
Let no man be less confident in his faith - by reason of any difference in the several schools of christians -
Thus we say, the Socratic school, the Platonic school, the Peripatetic or Ionic school; by which we understand all those who adopted and adhered to a particular system of opinions.
6. The seminaries for teaching logic, metaphysics and theology, which were formed in the middle ages, and which were characterized by academical disputations and subtilties of reasoning; or the learned men who were engaged in discussing nice points in metaphysics or theology.
The supreme authority of Aristotle in the schools of theology as well as of philosophy -
Hence, school divinity is the divinity which discusses nice points, and proves every thing by argument.
7. Any place of improvement or learning. The world is an excellent school to wise men, but a school of vice to fools.

SCHOOL, v.t.
1. To instruct; to train; to educate.
He's gentle, never school'd, yet learn'd.
2. To teach with superiority; to tutor; to chide and admonish; to reprove.
School your child, and ask why God's anointed he revil'd.

EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.

Little House on the Prairie Websites










Other Helpful Websites That Go Along With the Prairie Primer Curriculum:














On the Banks of Plum Creek Lesson Plans



Prairie Primer/On the Banks of Plum Creek - Week 1

CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING THINGS:





KidsBiology.com

GRASSHOPPERS:
Weather's Effect on Grasshopper Populations
Grasshopper Plague

"Hurt No Living Thing" Poem

Hurt no living thing:
Ladybird nor butterfly,
Nor moth with dusty wing,
Nor cricket chirping cheerily,
Nor grasshopper so light of leap,
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,
Nor harmless worms that creep

WATER PURIFICATION:

The Importance Of Water Purification To The World
Water Purification Lesson Plans
Dirty Water Science Experiment

WEEPING WILLOW TREES:

Care of Willow Trees
Willow Trees at EnchantedLearning.com

METHODS OF HEAT TRANSFER:
Conduction, Convection and Radiation
Heat Transfer and Efficiency at BBC

BUTTERFLIES:



Butterfly Links at Kid's National Geographic Magazine On-Line
Butterflies at EnchantedLearning.com
Butterfly Lesson Plans

Prairie Primer/Little House on the Prairie - Week 4

SAND CREEK MASACRE




PIONEERS AND WESTWARD EXPANSION
Tons of great links at Kidinfo.com
Power Point Presentations
Western Expansion with Mr. Donn
The West by PBS

VIDEOS RELATED TO LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE




Prairie Primer/Little House on the Prairie - Week 3

CHICKEN POX


What Is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox Overview at Web MD
Pictures of Chickenpox

NATIVE AMERICAN FOOD




Foods & Recipes of Native Americans
Guts and Grease: The Diet of Native Americans
Lifestyle of the Plains Indians

TREES






Trees at Enchanted Learning
Tree Lesson Plans at A to Z Teacher Stuff
American Field Guide: PBS Tree Videos
Trees Sprout Classroom Lessons Throughout the Year

FOXES




Foxes at Enchanted Learning
Can Animals Be Nice?
Preschool Fox Activities

BEAVERS




Beavers at Enchanted Learning
Beaver Lesson Plans
Beaver Badminton On-Line Game

MUSKRATS




Muskrats at Enchanted Learning
Facts About Muskrats
More Facts About Muskrats

MINKS


Minks at Wikipedia
Minks at Enchanted Learning
Minks at e-Nature

PANTHERS


Panthers at Enchanted Learning

Prairie Primer/Little House on the Prairie - Week 2

MULES

Grand Canyon Mule Rides
Raising Mules
What Is A Mule?
Mule Characteristics
Mule Facts
Mules at A to Z Animals


MALARIA & MOSQUITOES


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mosquitoes at Enchanted Learning
Stop Malaria - Donate a Mosquito Net

WOLVES

Wolf Printouts at Enchanted Learning
Wolves at National Geographic Magazine
Wolves at Nova
Wolves at the Wild Ones

SNAKES




Snakes at Backyard Nature for Kids
Snake Printouts at Enchanted Learning
Snake Safari at National Geographic Magazine for Kids
Facts About Rattlesnakes

NATIVE AMERICAN LIFESTYLES




Life Style Photos
Native American Facts for Kids
Native American Indian Lesson Plan Links

THE SUN






Sun Printouts at Enchanted Learning
Sun Proof by the CDC
Sun Wise Kids

Prairie Primer/Little House on the Prairie - Week 1

Mustangs




Horse Lesson Booklet
Horse Lesson Plan Resources
Horse Facts
Horses at Kid's Farm
2,029 Horse Lesson Plans
Horses at Enchanted Learning

HOW TO MAKE MOLASSES

Tim Thrift "Making Molasses" from Macrosystem on Vimeo.



NATIVE AMERICANS/OSAGE INDIANS






Activities to Celebrate Native American Heritage!
Osage Nation
Osage Indian Fact Sheet for Kids
Native Americans Graphic Organizer Worksheet with Map
Native American Crafts for Kids
Odell Borg's Native American Flute Lessons

HEALTH HAZARDS OF CHEWING TOBACCO



PRAIRIE ART

SIMPLE MACHINES

Prairie Primer/Little House in the Big Woods - Week 4

California Gold Rush








We are finishing up reading Little House in the Big Woods this week. For the past four weeks, we have been working on activities that will go into a Little House in the Big Woods lapbook. Here's a video that explains how we put it together and I'll post pictures of our finished product soon!



We had a great time with this book and we look forward to reading the next one!

Beautiful Day To Do School Outside!

We had such BeAuTiFuL weather today, we just had to do our schoolwork outside!

Mom's work station :-)
The girlz school desk...
Doing a math project sorting & counting M&M's...
Of course, eating a few, too...
Our Science Curriculum is Apologia Zoology 3. We are learning about habitats and how when animals are camouflaged with their fur or skin, they are harder for prey to find. So we conducted a science experiment camouflaging M&M's in a matching color habitat of construction paper. We discovered the M&M's were more difficult to find if they matched their surroundings.
Then we made Corncob Dolls like what Laura Ingall's used to make and play with.
First we took a corn on the cob...
and took off the husks and silk...
We set the husks and silk aside for later...
Then we scraped off the corn with a sharp knife...
After that, we put the silk on top of the cob for hair, made a face on one of the husks & wrapped it over the "head" and "hair". Then we wrapped them in bandanas. They turned out pretty cute...

The girlz had so much fun playing with the dolls they made. Thank you, God, for this beautiful weather! We love doing school outside :-)

Prairie Primer/Little House in the Big Woods - Week 3

We read this week in Little House in the Big Woods that Ma made homemade cheese so we watched a video on how to make cheese...


We also read that Pa harvested honey from bees so we learned about harvesting honey...


Here's a few more topics we studied about this week...

The Moon











The Moon @ Enchanted Learning
Data Record - Moon Observation
Moon Crossword Puzzle
Shape Book - If I Lived On The Moon

Yellow Jackets


Yellow Jackets at Enchanted Learning
How To Treat a Yellow Jacket Sting
Yellow Jackets at Wikipedia

Ma weaved straw hats for her family so we watched a video of women from Ecuador that have perfected this craft...

How To Make Your Own Straw Hat
Cowboy Straw Hats
Cousin Ed's Straw Hat

OATS




Eat More Oats
Make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder
Quaker Oats (Recipes and More)
Health Benefits of Oats

And last but not least, we learned how to make Johnny cakes, similar to what Ma used to make...

Video on About.com
Pioneer Cooking at Easy Fun School
History of Johnny Cakes

Prairie Primer/Little House in the Big Woods - Week 2

Pa's grandfather made his own maple syrup. Here is a video about making maple syrup...

The Ingalls girls loved to hear Pa playing his fiddle. We listened to fiddle and folk music on pandora.com by searching for "Old Man Tucker" - a favorite song sung by Pa.


Laura and Mary said this prayer every night. It reminds me of the prayer I used to say when I was little, too. My girlz memorized it when they were younger but have since forgotten it so we are re-learning it this week.
Pa kept a loaded gun above the doorway of his house so we studied about gun safety...

The Ingalls family went to a grand party at Pa's father's house where they had a great time eating and dancing. Being city girlz, I had to educate my girlz as to what square dancing was...

Children in pioneer days learned how to knit at a very young age. My girlz know how to crochet but I think they would like to learn how to knit, as well...

SKIN




Prairie Primer/Little House in the Big Woods - Week 1

Pa whittles wood in the Little House in the Big Woods so we watched a video of a man whittling wood and heard about the tools he uses for his craft...


The Ingalls family had a brindle bulldog. So we studied bulldogs...
This is a video of a bulldog giving birth...


Ma churned her own butter. Here is a video of someone making butter...

Pa had several run-ins with bears so we studied bears & hibernation:

http://www.saskschools.ca/%7Egregory/winter/win2.html

http://members.enchantedlearning.com/coloring/Hibernate.shtml

http://members.enchantedlearning.com/painting/Hibernate.shtml

http://members.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/bear/

http://atozkidsestore.com/hibernation.html

http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/hibernation.html

The Ingall's lived off the land and grew their own crops so we learned about nutrition and eating healthy. We've been reading Food and You - an American Girl book about making wise food choices. Great book with lots of colorful photos!

The Ingalls girls loved to make dolls from corn husks. Here's directions for making your own...

http://www.ehow.com/how_2057762_make-corn-cob-doll.html

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-make-thanskgiving-corn-husk-dolls-258084/view/

http://www.michigan.gov/mikids/0,1607,7-163-15941_20571---,00.html

Ma had to preserve much of their food to last them through the cold winters when they couldn't go looking for food. Here are a few sites on food preservation...

http://www.preservefood.com/

http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/fo/Food_preservation

http://www.lucygardens.com/storing-fruit-and-vegetables-preserving-fruit-and-vegetables.html

http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/kids-cooking-lessons-senior8.html

Our First Week of our 4th Year of Homeschooling ;-)

So the girlz and I just started our first week of our 4th year of homeschooling! We're already having so much fun & we really enjoying learning together. The past 2 years, we've used a curriculum called My Father's World and have really loved it. But this year we are taking a break and are doing Prairie Primer which is based on the Little House on the Prairie books. My girlz looove Little House on the Prairie so I thought this would be a great time to try the Prairie Primer curriculum. We will read one Little House on the Prairie book a month and all of our history, science, art, Bible study and writing will be based around topics from the books.

There are a few things we'll be skipping over that are in the curriculum like blowing up a pig's bladder like a balloon, eating venison and baking cracklings in cornbread! But there's lots of other fun things we'll be doing and we're so excited to get started! Here's a few pics from our first week...

The girlz looove getting new school supplies...
"A" working on handwriting...
Snack time...
We store school work that we want to save in pizza boxes. (They stack easily and are a great size for keeping things! We buy our pizza boxes at Arris' Pizza. I like them because they are white with just a little bit of writing on the top that we can cover with paper. They sell them to me for $3.50 for 6 boxes.) The girlz decorate a new box every year and we put their favorite things in their boxes. Here's "M" decorating her box...

And here's "A's" box. I love the strategically placed stickers...
Painting log cabins (containers that held blackberries we picked earlier this summer)...
Putting together miniature teepees...

While making our teepees, I found some pretty neat Indian music to listen to at pandora.com. You'll be able to find it if you do a search for "Indian flute radio". It's really peaceful and calming to listen to. Fortunately, the girlz stayed awake while it was playing but it almost put me to sleep! ;-)




Our Native American and Prairie villages...
I found these miniature characters at Owasso's Classroom Corner. It's called "Wild West Toob" and can also be found at amazon.com here.
Not real sure why some are on the roofs ;-)
We look forward to everything we'll be learning this school year based on the Little House books!