Lesson 7: The Sugar Snow
Activities
Activity 1: Life in the Woods vs. Life Today
On the "Life in the Big Woods vs. Life Today" page, your child can record one thing that he learned about how life in the woods was different than his own life today.
Activity 2: Vocabulary Mini-Book
Materials: colored pencils or markers, dictionary, scissors
Let your child cut apart the pages from the "Vocabulary Mini-Book" and put them in order according to the page numbers. As he reads the last half of the book, he will locate the words and write them in context using a sentence from the book. Then he will record the dictionary definition of the word and write his own sentence using each word. In the box, he can draw a simple graphic or illustration to help him remember the word.
As your child continues to read the chapters in the book, encourage him to locate new words he does not know and to make a page for them, too. Before he begins, ask him to pronounce each vocabulary word. Show him the correct pronunciation of words in the dictionary. Demonstrate how to use the dictionary to find the correct pronunciation of two or three words familiar to your child, and then let him find the pronunciation of the new vocabulary words.
The following answer key shows the first quotation using each vocabulary word. Some word are used more than once, so other sentences are possible. The definition should be similar to the one provided. Sentences and illustrations will vary.
As your child continues to read the chapters in the book, encourage him to locate new words he does not know and to make a page for them, too. Before he begins, ask him to pronounce each vocabulary word. Show him the correct pronunciation of words in the dictionary. Demonstrate how to use the dictionary to find the correct pronunciation of two or three words familiar to your child, and then let him find the pronunciation of the new vocabulary words.
The following answer key shows the first quotation using each vocabulary word. Some word are used more than once, so other sentences are possible. The definition should be similar to the one provided. Sentences and illustrations will vary.
Answer Key:
- ladle: "Grandpa skims it with a big, long handled, wooden ladle that he made of basswood."
Definition — large long-handled spoon with a cup-shaped bowl - bugle: "When supper was over, Uncle George went outside the door and blew his army bugle, long and loud."
Definition — a brass instrument like a small trumpet - petticoats: "Then Aunt Ruby and Aunt Docia put on their flannel petticoats and their plain petticoats and their stiff, starched white petticoats with knitted lace all around the flounces."
Definition: light, loose undergarments hanging from the shoulders or the waist, worn under a skirt or dress - glimpses: "After a long time Laura began to see glimpses of blue water between the trees."
Definition — momentary or partial views - greedy: "And another time, don't be so greedy." or "She did not mind very much when Pa laughed at her for being such a greedy little girl that she took more than she could carry away."
Definition — having or showing an intense and selfish desire for something - whetstone: "He could fetch the whetstone when the blades needed sharpening."
Definition — a fine-grained stone used for sharpening cutting tools - sumac: "Along the rail fence the sumac held up its dark red cones of berries above bright flame-colored leaves."
Definition — type of tree, shrub, or woody vine that has leaves turning to brilliant colors in the autumn, small flowers, and loose clusters of red or whitish berries - chaff: "And chaff and dust blew over everything."
Definition — the outer part or husk of wheat, oat, or other grains
Student Activity Page
Student Activity Page
Student Activity Page
Activity 3: Maple Sugar Farming
Materials: scissors
In this activity, your child will order the steps that Grandpa took to make maple syrup. In Option 1, he will put the steps in the correct order. In Option 2, he will use the book to record the steps himself. Choose an option for your child to complete.
Option 1
On the "Maple Sugar Farming" (Option 1) page, your child will cut out and order the steps Grandpa took to make the maple syrup.
Answer Key:
- Split out little sticks, cut the stick half through, and split one half off.
- Bore a hole through it and whittle the wood until it is only a thin shell around the hole.
- Hollow out the flat part of the stick until it is a little trough.
- Bore a hole in the maple tree.
- Hammer the trough part of the stick in the tree.
- Put a bucket on the ground under the flat piece to collect the sap.
- Boil the sap collected from the trees in an iron kettle.
- Skim the sap.
- Fill the bucket with the syrup.
- Boil the sap until it grains and put the syrup into milk pans so it can harden and make brown sugar.
Student Activity Page
Option 2 (Advanced)
On the "Maple Sugar Farming" (Option 2) page, your child will record the steps that Grandpa took for making maple syrup while he refers to the text. See answers for Option 1. Answers may not match exactly but should be similar. He may combine some steps so that he will have fewer steps.
Student Activity Page
Activity 4: Maple Sugar Recipe
Materials: baking powder, chopped walnuts, egg, flour, maple syrup, measuring cup and spoons, rolled oats, shortening, square pan, vanilla
For this activity, your child will follow the directions found on the "Maple Sugar Recipe" sheet to make maple bars. Provide assistance as needed.
Ask your child to think of something he can cook or make in the kitchen. Then encourage him to make a recipe card that provides step-by-step directions.
Ask your child to think of something he can cook or make in the kitchen. Then encourage him to make a recipe card that provides step-by-step directions.
Student Activity Page