Any simple unit study for a 4 yo using Little House

[Susie in MS]

I am currently using HOD and loving it. I fear that when we move out of Little Hands my dd will not be ready for much of Little Hearts. So I would like something that we could use for a year. I will be using R&S simple Pre and K workbooks for motor skills and basic numbers, that sort of thing (Hannah loves these!!), LLFLO, and maybe Reading Lesson for deeper phonics if can come up with the $20. If I can't come up with the money I do have blend ladders that I can use. I already have the Little House books so I was thinking of something to do with these. I would love to do the Prairie Primer, but that is too mature for a wee one. Any recommendations?

[Chris in VA]

For a 4yo, I'd use Little House in the Big Woods, and maybe ...On the Prairie.

I don't know of any studies, exactly, but you could do some very simple crafts, make butter, mash berries to make jam, make johnny cake (corn bread), learn to sew a straight seam (maybe make a little coin purse), write out what she likes to do on Sundays (how have they changed for little girls?), make a puppet show of one of Pa's stories, play "Pease Porridge Hot," wrap a corncob in a hankie and make a doll, boil molasses and make "snow candy" (boil it, pour it over ice that dc has crushed with a hammer in a ziplock), make a pie, walk in the woods, visit a mill, visit a working farm, listen to the music of the time, etc etc etc!!!
Basically, preread, choose something that coordinates, and do it.

Take pictures of each activity and let her tell you about it. Have fun!

[Susie in MS]

Thanks Chris!! I think I'll get started on the plans now! Maybe I can get her the paper dolls. That would be an added plus! I am thinking some simple science and maybe some Bible lessons that relate in some manner would be good too!! I will print up your suggestions as soon as I get to a puter with a printer. Thanks again!!

[LadyAberlin]

You know they make Little house picture books. The library has them.

[Homemama2]

also most libraries will have the Little House Cookbook that has the actual recipes from the books. I've been reading these to my boys (ages 4 and almost-6). The "big woods" book went well, but my four yr. old is losing interest in the little house on the prairie (but then, he has NO attention span! LOL!)

[Susie in MS]

Thanks ladies! These are great ideas! I do have the My First Little HOuse picture books and they are great. I was also wanting to do the regular Little HOuse books too as Hannah is starting to want to read more and more. We can do 3 My 1st books in a setting with no problem. By the time she is 4 we will need more. :001_smile: But adding the pictures will be great!

[MomOfOneFunOne]

The Little House books are wonderful and make a wonderful unit/lit study. However, I always want to say to moms of little ones who want to read these books, please use discretion. These books are generally rated at a 4th or 5th grade level, I think. I dont believe that this is based on the reading (or decoding) level but for mature themes. Being forced off their land by the government, racism or percieved racism, strained relations b/t settlers and native americans, archaic/possibly insulting language, death of young children: these are all mature themes covered in these books.

Just a heads-up.

[Marsha]

How about this...
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cabin/1836/myfirstlittlehouse.html

[claussenpc]

http://lapbooklessons.ning.com/ has a free lapo book on the first LH book. Geared toward the very young.

[Kayaking Mom]

The Little House books are wonderful and make a wonderful unit/lit study. However, I always want to say to moms of little ones who want to read these books, please use discretion. These books are generally rated at a 4th or 5th grade level, I think. I dont believe that this is based on the reading (or decoding) level but for mature themes. Being forced off their land by the government, racism or percieved racism, strained relations b/t settlers and native americans, archaic/possibly insulting language, death of young children: these are all mature themes covered in these books.

Just a heads-up.

I would second this. I've recently read a couple of these and had to edit for content and ended up not finishing one. I will be saving these for when the kids are older and can really savor them (Logos school has them on their 2nd grade reading list, though I think I would wait a little longer for my kids). There are so many brilliant, wonderful books to share with a 4 or 5 year old - please don't rush ahead and miss them.