Chapter One: On the Trap Line
Can your older siblings do things you can’t? What activities can you join in on? Can you do things without your younger siblings?
John teases Kirsten. Do your brother’s friends tease you?
Have you cared for a wounded animal?
Why should they leave the raccoon?
Talk to your parents or a park ranger about the difference between a wild animal and a pet.
Chapter Two: Fire!
What do you do in the winter?
Do you have a baby sibling?
What promises did Kirsten break?
Have you had to start over? What was it like?
Talk to your parents about an escape plan for your family in case of a fire.
Chapter Three: Good News?
What does your family do in troubling times?
Chapter Four: Old Jack
Have you ever been lost?
Chathper Five: Welcome Home
What changes has Kirsten experienced in the series?
Looking back
Talk to your mom, grandmothers and aunts about what appliances make their lives easier. Find out how daily life has changed in three generations.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Kirsten Saves the Day
Chapter One: The Bee Tree
Have you seen a bee tree?
Does you mother worry?
Have you gone fishing?
Have you been stung by a bee?
Do you think Kirsten can get the honey? Should she try?
Talk to your parents about the dangers of bees, and their benefits.
Chapter Two: In the Berry Patch
What is your favorite fruit?
Ask an adult to take you berry picking.
Should Kirsten worry about the bear cub?
How do you celebrate the Fourth of July?
Chapter Three: Bears!
Have you ever recklessly put yourself or someone else in danger?
How do your parents punish you?
Chapter Four: Bringing Back the Bees
Have you ever tried to help, only to have it not work out how you anticipated?
Chapter Five: The Best Basswood Honey
What gift do you want, more than anything in the world?
Looking Back
Have you gone camping?
Would you want to live in the wilderness forever?
Have you seen a bee tree?
Does you mother worry?
Have you gone fishing?
Have you been stung by a bee?
Do you think Kirsten can get the honey? Should she try?
Talk to your parents about the dangers of bees, and their benefits.
Chapter Two: In the Berry Patch
What is your favorite fruit?
Ask an adult to take you berry picking.
Should Kirsten worry about the bear cub?
How do you celebrate the Fourth of July?
Chapter Three: Bears!
Have you ever recklessly put yourself or someone else in danger?
How do your parents punish you?
Chapter Four: Bringing Back the Bees
Have you ever tried to help, only to have it not work out how you anticipated?
Chapter Five: The Best Basswood Honey
What gift do you want, more than anything in the world?
Looking Back
Have you gone camping?
Would you want to live in the wilderness forever?
Happy Birthday, Kirsten!
Chapter One: Tornado!
Have you been in a tornado? What did you do?
If you’ve moved, what do you have to remember your friends? If you haven’t moved, have you ever given someone something to remember you by?
Chapter Two: New Babies
Do you think it’s still dangerous to have a baby?
What things does your mom worry about?
Have you and your friends surprised someone?
What gifts have you given your teachers?
Do you help with younger siblings?
Compare your chores with Kirsten’s. Which would you prefer?
Have you seen new kittens or puppies?
Chapter Three: Big Enough
Wood Thrush:
Chapter Four: Party Plans
How do you celebrate your birthday?
Chapter Five: Friends Come Around
Make a daisy chain with your friends.
What music does your family listen to?
Have you danced with your dad?
Looking Back
Midwife is the term traditionally used to describe the art of assisting a woman through childbirth.
How do you help your family?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Have you been in a tornado? What did you do?
If you’ve moved, what do you have to remember your friends? If you haven’t moved, have you ever given someone something to remember you by?
Chapter Two: New Babies
Do you think it’s still dangerous to have a baby?
What things does your mom worry about?
Have you and your friends surprised someone?
What gifts have you given your teachers?
Do you help with younger siblings?
Compare your chores with Kirsten’s. Which would you prefer?
Have you seen new kittens or puppies?
Chapter Three: Big Enough
Wood Thrush:
Chapter Four: Party Plans
How do you celebrate your birthday?
Chapter Five: Friends Come Around
Make a daisy chain with your friends.
What music does your family listen to?
Have you danced with your dad?
Looking Back
Midwife is the term traditionally used to describe the art of assisting a woman through childbirth.
How do you help your family?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Kirsten's Surprise
Chapter One: Pestering
Have you pestered your parents or siblings?
How do you prepare for winter?
Chapter Two: A Crown for a Queen
Read about Saint Lucia, also known as Saint Lucy.
Chapter Three: To Town at Last
Have you ever wanted to go somewhere that badly?
Chapter Four: Braving the Blizzard
Have you been in a blizzard? What was it like?
Do you think Kirsten should’ve told her father about Singing Bird?
Chapter Five: Silent Night, Lucia Night
Have you surprised your family?
Have you taken part in the feast of Saint Lucia?
Looking Back
Read some of the “Little House” Christmas stories. Compare their celebrations with Kirsten’s, and your own.
Have you pestered your parents or siblings?
How do you prepare for winter?
Chapter Two: A Crown for a Queen
Read about Saint Lucia, also known as Saint Lucy.
Chapter Three: To Town at Last
Have you ever wanted to go somewhere that badly?
Chapter Four: Braving the Blizzard
Have you been in a blizzard? What was it like?
Do you think Kirsten should’ve told her father about Singing Bird?
Chapter Five: Silent Night, Lucia Night
Have you surprised your family?
Have you taken part in the feast of Saint Lucia?
Looking Back
Read some of the “Little House” Christmas stories. Compare their celebrations with Kirsten’s, and your own.
Kirsten Learns a Lesson
Chapter One: Miss Winston
Have you ever been the new girl in school?
Have you had a new teacher?
How do your teachers get acquainted with the students?
Have you ever had to learn a new language?
Read the words to the song. Imagine the class singing it together.
What games do you and your friends play?
Indian: What images come to mind?
Chapter Two: A Secret Friend
Have you memorized a poem or verse?
How do your teachers reward you?
What do you think of the Indian girl?
Chapter Three: Visitors
Would you want your teacher to live with you? Why?
Do you have a secret fort?
Our remaining Indians live on Reservations. Have you been to one?
Chapter Four: Singing Bird and Yellow Hair
How do you exercise your memory?
Have you lied to your parents? What happened? Why is telling the truth better?
Chapter Five: Belonging
Why do you think Kirsten memorized the poem so easily?
Have you ever preferred a friends family over your own? How were the families different?
How did Singing Bird help Kirsten?
Do you think they will see each other again?
Looking Back
What time do you get out of school?
How old were you when you first went to school?
Have you ever been the new girl in school?
Have you had a new teacher?
How do your teachers get acquainted with the students?
Have you ever had to learn a new language?
Read the words to the song. Imagine the class singing it together.
What games do you and your friends play?
Indian: What images come to mind?
Chapter Two: A Secret Friend
Have you memorized a poem or verse?
How do your teachers reward you?
What do you think of the Indian girl?
Chapter Three: Visitors
Would you want your teacher to live with you? Why?
Do you have a secret fort?
Our remaining Indians live on Reservations. Have you been to one?
Chapter Four: Singing Bird and Yellow Hair
How do you exercise your memory?
Have you lied to your parents? What happened? Why is telling the truth better?
Chapter Five: Belonging
Why do you think Kirsten memorized the poem so easily?
Have you ever preferred a friends family over your own? How were the families different?
How did Singing Bird help Kirsten?
Do you think they will see each other again?
Looking Back
What time do you get out of school?
How old were you when you first went to school?
Friday, July 27, 2007
Meet Kirsten
Meet Kirsten
Chapter One: America!
Where do you and your friends like to play?
Do you have relatives who live far away?
What would you do if you were on Kirstens ship, traveling to America for the first time, and someone in your family was sent back?
Chapter Two: Lost!
Chapter One: America!
Where do you and your friends like to play?
Do you have relatives who live far away?
What would you do if you were on Kirstens ship, traveling to America for the first time, and someone in your family was sent back?
Chapter Two: Lost!
Cloudberries: The ripe fruits are golden-yellow, soft and juicy, and are rich in vitamin C. When eaten fresh, cloudberries have a distinctive tart taste. When over-ripe, they have a creamy texture and flavor somewhat like yogurt. They are often made into jams, juices, and tarts. In Sweden, they are also used as an ice cream topping.
Due to its high vitamin C content, the berry is valued as protection against scurvy. Its high benzoic acid content acts as a natural preservative.
Have you ever been lost? What did you do?
How did you reunite with your parents?
What could Kirsten have done differently?
Chapter Three: Across the New Land
How do you try to stay close to family?
This is my favorite picture in the book, which is your favorite?
Chapter Four: A Sad Journey
Cholera
Has a friend of yours died? How did you feel?
Chapter Five: Home at Last
What would you bring to a new world?
What’s the longest distance you’ve walked?
Meadowlark
Looking Back
What would you take on a journey like Kirstens?
Just a word of help....
Feel free to use the questions on this blog when discussing the books with your daughters. The questions are written for the girls to answer, but if you feel comfortable, answer them yourself first and discuss your answers with your daughter. This is meant to be a link to the past, to help you and your child find further adventures together. I've tried to stay away from the recipes in the books for copyright reasons. Play the games, listen to the music, sing the songs. When possible, visit the locations to involve your child in history. Happy reading, and above all, HAVE FUN!
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