The following resources are available in the Kreamer Street School Library for students working on the third grade pioneer project. Third grade students are creating their own picture books about westward expansion.
Available Books
The Ring in the Prairie; a Shawnee Legend by John Bierhorst-Relates how an Indian warrior, his wife, and son became the first eagles on the Earth.
Iktomi and the Coyote : a Plains Indian Story by Paul Goble- After tricking some prairie dogs into becoming his dinner, Iktomi is himself outwitted by Coyote. Asides and questions printed in italics may be addressed by the storyteller to listeners, encouraging them to make their own remarks about the action.
Christmas in the Big Woods : adapted from the little house books by Laura Ingalls Wilder - A young pioneer girl and her family celebrate Christmas in their cabin in the Wisconsin woods.
A Prairie Boy's Winter by William Kurelek - Text and twenty color paintings depict the rigors and simple pleasures of winter on the prairies during the stark 1930s.
Pioneer Summer by Deborah Hopkinson- Charlie Keller has trouble feeling at home after his abolitionist father, wanting to cast a vote for freedom, moves his family from Massachusetts to the Kansas Territory which is on the verge of deciding whether to enter the Union as a free or a slave state.
The Prairie Train by Antoine O Flatharta- As a young Irish immigrant boy travels by steam-engine across the American prairie to a new life, memories of the old country pull at his heart.
The Prairie Fire by Marilynn Reynolds- When a prairie fire threatens his house, Percy must help his parents save their farm animals and home.
Trouble River by Betsy Byars - When he builds his raft, a twelve-year-old boy never dreams that it will serve as the sole means of escape for him and his grandmother when hostile Indians threaten their prairie cabin.
Kirsten Learns a Lesson by Janet Shaw- After immigrating from Sweden to join relatives in an American prairie community, Kirsten endures the ordeal of a strange school through a secret friendship with an Indian girl.
Pioneer Recipes by Bobbie Kalman- This book presents information on pioneer cookery and instructions for recipes prepared in the spirit of the pioneers, including multicultural dishes, historical methods, and current adaptations.
The Kitchen by Bobbie Kalman- A look at the role the kitchen played in the pioneer daily life, not just as a food preparation area, but also as the social center of home life. Includes photographs of many period kitchens.
The Gristmill by Bobbie Kalman- Discusses the necessary steps for building a gristmill and grinding grain into flour.
Home Crafts by Bobbie Kalman- Discusses pioneer crafts: Spinning, weaving, quilts, leather goods, wood, straw, feathers, soap making, and dipping candles.
Visiting a Village by Bobbie Kalman- Discusses the various services, homes, specialized workers, education, and recreation offered to settlers in a pioneer village.
Apples to Oregon: Being the (slightly) true narrative of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries (and children) across the plains by Deboroah Hopkinson- A pioneer father transports his beloved fruit trees and his family to Oregon in the mid-nineteenth century. Based loosely on the life of Henderson Luelling.
Kindle Me a Riddle : a pioneer story by Robert Karim- The riddles that a pioneer family share explain the origin of such things in their lives as their log cabin, johnnycakes, the broom, a cloak, candles, and more.
Available Videos/DVD's
Little House on the Prairie: the pilot- The television movie that started it all! Based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Pioneer Life for Children: The Pioneer Journey Westward- Learn how pioneer families made their decision to move and how they prepared for their journey west. Visit everyday life on a wagon train on the Oregon Trail as pioneers cross hazardous rivers, encounter severe weather and see majestic landmarks.
Pioneer Life for Children: Daily Pioneer Life- Learn about the difficulties of daily life in pioneer settlements, from cooking in a log cabin to tending animals on the cattle drive. See how geography affected the economy and settlement patterns of this nation.
Websites
Who are the pioneers? by Thinkquest- http://library.thinkquest.org/6400/who.htm
The American West
Western Expansion and Reform
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/reform