students | educators | activities

Left, Laura Ingalls Wilder at the height of her writing career. Right, Laura's daughter,Rose Wilder Lane.
Both photos from the Hoover Library collection.

For Students

Pioneering Journeys of the Ingalls Family Information and activities relating to the travels of the Ingalls family.

De Smet, South Dakota in the 1880s Activities to explore the town of De Smet during the time Laura lived there.

Farmer Boy Information relating to the book Farmer Boy.

Pioneer Counting Book: A counting book for younger children with themes from the Little House books.

Activities: Timeline activity, Mapping the journeys of the Ingalls family, Patterns for constructing a pioneer town, Map of De Smet, South Dakota, Making a nine-patch quilt, Cousin Ed's straw hat, Grandma Minnie's sunbonnet, Wildflower seed packet.

View a Chronology of events in Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder's lives.

Bibliography: Books by and About Laura Ingalls Wilder and Books on the Pioneer Experience

For Educators

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum Rose Wilder Lane Collection
An explanation of what is in the collection and why it is housed at the Hoover Presidential Library. (this link will open a new window)

Laura Ingalls Wilder Teaching Unit Pioneer Life With Laura, a social studies and language arts teaching unit prepared by teachers David Bousfield and Nancy Westlake of the Iowa City Community School District.

Activities: Timeline activity, Mapping the journeys of the Ingalls family, Patterns for constructing a pioneer town, Map of De Smet, South Dakota, Making a nine-patch quilt, Cousin Ed's straw hat, Grandma Minnie's sunbonnet, Wildflower seed packet.

Bibliography: Books by and About Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Pioneer Experience

Activities

Timeline Activity Create a timeline of Laura Ingalls Wilder's life.

Mapping the journeys of the Ingalls family Follw the pioneer journey of Laura's life.

Patterns for constructing a pioneer town Print out templates for assembling your own pioneer town.

Activities relating to a map of De Smet, South Dakato Learn about the places in De Smet.

The One, Two, Threes of Pioneer Life: A Counting Book Open and read A Little House Counting Book

Making a nine-patch quilt activity Template for a simple pioneer nine patch block.

Cousin Ed's straw hat activity Directions for making a "straw" hat.

Grandma Minnie's sunbonnet activity Directions for making a girl's paper sunbonnet.

Wildflower seed packet activity Prairie flower seed packet instructions.