By The Shores of Silver Lake Activities

By the Shores of Plum Creek is a little different from the earlier books in the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. There are fewer descriptions of everyday pioneer life - and, overall, the book is more "quiet" and contemplative. Still, my children loved it. Here are the activities I planned for use while reading the book.

* Make a By the Shores of Silver Lake lapbook.

* Check out a photo of the surveyor's house, plus a photo of a replica of their homestead house.

* Take a virtual tour of the prairie. Also Also watch a video about the surveyor's house.

* Learn: Did Mary really go blind from scarlet fever? No! Read more here.

* K is for Kernels

Building the transcontinental railroad.
* Learn more about the transcontinental railroad (also here) - and read an eyewitness report of it's completion.

* Make a scrapbook, lapbook, or notebook about birds on the slough. List each birds on its own page, then draw a pictures of it; or print pictures from the Internet, cut, and paste them into the book. If you like, look each bird up in an encyclopedia to learn more about them. Good choices include: geese, ducks, herons, pelicans, cranes, mud hens, and swans.

A mud hen (a.k.a., American coot), via Wikipedia.
* Make your own sourdough starter and bread. Then make a simple yeast bread to compare taste and technique.

* While you're at it, learn a bit about the science behind sourdough!

* Cook some fried salt pork and gravy Or some bean soup, or baked beans.

* Plant a tree.

* Make a tree life cycle craft, like this one.

* Review what to do if your children get lost.

* Learn about buffalo (a.k.a. American bison).
American bison track (via Wikipedia).

* Watch a buffalo wallow.

* Make a paper horseshoe to hang over your door.

* Learn why horseshoes were considered lucky.


Check out the Entire Little House series of Posts:

Little House in the Big Woods Activities
Pancake Men (from Little House in the Big Woods)
Little House on the Prairie Activities
Little House on the Prairie Birthday Party
On the Banks of Plum Creek Activities 
Little Town on the Prairie Activities
Activities for The First Four Years
These Happy Golden Years Activities 
Farmer Boy Activities

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