A LitWits activity from the Conflict

This simple project lets kids “do what Laura and Mary did,” and gives us a great opportunity to talk about frost and the conditions that create it. The coming of winter also represents the Conflict of this story, and the theme of "making the most of little."

 In our workshop we chose to do a slow-reveal, and not to show the kids a sample or tell them what they were working on until the prep work was finished. They were completely intrigued, and delighted when they realized what we were actually doing.

INSPIRATION

Ma said that Jack Frost came in the night and made the pictures, while everyone was asleep. Laura thought that Jack Frost was a little man all snowy white, wearing a glittering white pointed cap and soft white knee-boots made of deer-skin. His coat was white and his mittens were white, and he did not carry a gun on his back, but in his hands he had shining sharp tools with which he carved the pictures.

Laura and Mary were allowed to take Ma’s thimble and make pretty patterns of circles in the frost on the glass. But they never spoiled the pictures that Jack Frost had made in the night.

SUPPLIES

• white half-sheets of cardstock for window
• assorted very dark crayons for sky
• white tempera paint and brushes, jars of water  for frost
• toothpicks and/or skewers, paper clips for designs
• light brown cardstock for cabin walls
• black and/or brown markers for logs, knotholes
• glue sticks for paper and wet glue for fabric
• pocket folders (if you’re using them for storing handouts, as we do) or cardstock for backing
• dark brown cardstock cut into 1/2 x 8 1/2  strips (2 per) and 1/2 x 5 strips (2 per) for window frames
• dark brown cardstock cut into 1/4 x 8 1/2  strips (2 per) and 1/4 x 5 strips (2 per) for mullions
• calico cut into 8 ½ x 5 ½ sections and torn up the middle almost to the top for curtains (yes kids, they do look like pants)
• raffia in 6″ strands for curtain tiebacks
• colored paper for title tags, about 1 x 5

2.   Tell them to obliterate their art with a thin layer of white paint — again, don’t explain why.  Let the paint dry while you do another activity or a handout.

• What are some other examples from the story of making ordinary things feel special?
• Just what is it that makes something special, anyway? 
• Why did Ma put red felt in the kerosene oil, and go to the trouble to color and mold the butter? 
• What turns a corncob into a doll, besides a handkerchief? 
• How do the girls play with the pig’s bladder?
• Why do they look forward to Pa’s fiddle playing so much? 
• Would you be excited about just getting mittens and peppermint sticks for Christmas?

2.   Once the etching is done, have them glue a piece of brown cardstock to a folder (if you’re using folders), glue the window in the middle of it, and use markers to draw logs and knotholes on the cabin wall.

3.   Frame the “frosted window” with brown strips of paper to resemble window panes and trim. Tell the kids their window scene will include something to represent every member of the family (except Jack). The girls helped etch the window, but of course Pa built the log cabin wall and the window frame.

5.   Add the book’s title at the top or bottom, wherever it best fits.

• metal pan lid
• two baskets and cloths to cover them
• two jars or snack bags of cloves
• two apples
• two snack bags of cracklings
• two jars of maple syrup--add an antique label if you like, included with printables
• recipe/illustration form, 1 per team + pencils--included with printables
• maple sugar for after-contest treats

3.   Ask each team to choose a book-appropriate name (Wild Wolves? Stinging Wasps? Big Bears?), a recipe writer, and an illustrator.

DIRECTIONS

1.   Say “Chefs, open your baskets!” and watch the fun begin!  You can play some of Pa’s fiddle music (you can purchase the official collection) to keep the mood festive.

2.  After 20 minutes (or however much time you allow), countdown from 10 and say “Hands up! Step back, chefs!” Then ask each team to present their recipe and show their illustration. Give lots of serious judge-like responses to each dish. Pretend to confer with other judges (you can just turn your head and mumble “confer confer confer”), then turn back to the kids and say “We have reached a decision!”

3.  Collect the recipes and put them under a pan lid. Say “Whose dish has been chopped?” and lift the lid, which reveals — nothing, because you have yanked all the recipes away as you lifted the lid, and hidden them behind your back. No one is chopped! It’s a tie! Everyone’s a winner! Pass out maple sugar, one bite of which is easily worth $10,000.

A LitWits activity from the Rising Action

BookBites is the part of our literary experience when we get to “taste the story.”  We choose a food right out of the book, and it has to meet at least one criterion:

• it’s important to a plot point

• it has thematic significance

• it’s unfamiliar for reasons of culture, era, or location

Though there were many, shall we say interesting foods in this story, vinegar pie hit on all three points. It’s definitely unfamiliar to most of us, and it’s important to the conflict in the plot (how will the Ingalls survive the winter? By eating things that don’t tend to rot!). It also exemplifies the themes of “preservation” and “making the most of little."

Vinegar pie was made from inexpensive ingredients anyone might have on hand, and it tastes a lot better than you’d think — sort of like a bland custard. Our fearless kids were relieved — they’re used to us offering them interesting foods, but this one had sounded ickier than most.

You’re not likely to find vinegar pie in your local bakery, so here’s the recipe.

We also offered a taste of venison, because it too was connected to the core conflict and those same two themes, as well as the theme of “nature as friend and foe”--which applies to the vinegar pie too, for that matter. :)  The kids found it quite tasty, though some said they’d rather be friends with living deer — and indeed, so might have the Ingalls. Though the story opens with two deer being slaughtered, it closes with three being spared.

That fact gave us a chance to talk about narrative license, and leaving readers with a happy ending, never mind what we know must happen afterward, as another winter arrives.