The Floating House by Scott Russell Sanders is a great way to jump into a mini unit on pioneers. This adventure story is set in 1815 on the Ohio River. The ice has just broken up on the Ohio River and the McClure family shoves off in a flatboat, loaded with household goods, livestock, a wagon and their farmtools to find the land where they will build their new home.
This is a great way to teach history to elementary children. Historical fiction becomes the hook on which young children hang further information as they learn.
Highly recommended.
Unit Study Ideas:
Ohio River - Map the McClure's journey on the Ohio River. What kind of geographical topography did the McClures travel through? Note the cities/towns mentioned, if possible. Do as many or as few as your children's interest allows. (Steubenville, Wheeling, Marietta, Point Pleasant, Gallipolis, Maysville,Cincinnatti...ending at Jeffersonville, across the river from Louisville) Look for the states of Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana) Note that Indiana, was not yet a state in 1815.
Geography terms - island, bluff
What was happening in the world in 1815?
Who was the president and vice-president?
Steamboats
Trotlines
Owls
Wolves
©2008 Y.M.F.
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