Aim

The purpose of this online project is to help fourth grade students understand the life of pioneers in the Midwest during the time that the stories that Laura Ingalls Wilder tells the  of her life.
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Rationale

Students need to get a full understanding of the obstacles that the pioneers had to overcome during the time of the Westward movement and how the Homestead Act of 1862 affected the lives of many farmers and their families.
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Goals and Objectives

Students will produce make a time capsule of items that will show the movement the states that the Ingalls family moved to and the obtstacles they had to face.  Also, the students will include 3 of the following:  types of shelter, ways to gather food, chores of the children, illnesses that were prominent causes of death during the late 1800's, careers, and clothing.
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Audience

• 4th grade students

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Prerequisites

• basic computer skills
• having read or heard at least one of Laura Ingalls Wilder books

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Subject-Matter

• use of the internet to find information about the lifestyle of the pioneers
• use of the resources made available
   
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Instructional Plan

• Students will be given the rubric and project requirements as well as the list of additional activities to choose from
• Students will read or listen to one of three Laura Ingalls Wilder Books (Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek)
• Students will take notes as they come across information pertaining to the activities they must complete
• Upon completion of the reading of the book(s) the students will work to complete the following:

• A  time capsule of items that will show the movement the states that the Ingalls family moved to and the obtstacles they had to face
• Any 3 of the following:  types of shelter, ways to gather food, chores of the children, illnesses that were prominent causes of death during the late 1800's, careers, and clothing
• Choose from the  following projects to complete the above listed activities:
  • written report
  • timeline
  • diorama
  • poster
  • friendly letter
  • Venn diagram
  • T-chart
  • video

   

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Materials

• Computers
• Books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Note taking materials
• Art Supplies

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Resources

Frontier Girl

Laura Ingalls Wilder Background

Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society

Little House on the Prairie on the web

Laura Inglalls Wilder Organization

Laura's Little Homes

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

Laura's homes

Laura Ingalls Wilder Website