Objectives:

TLW identify the main characters in the Ingalls family and describe the relationships between the characters.

TLW locate the setting of the book on a map of the Upper Mid- West.

TLW understand that the books are set in the late 1860s and the 1870s.

TLW learn that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote these books from her memories of when she was young.

TLW write a short two-paragraph essay about a memory they have about when they were young.

The teacher dresses up as an old Laura Igalls Wilder and introduces herself. She tells the students that when she was young in the 18605 she lived in the Big Woods in Wisconsin. She lived with her Pa, her Ma, and her sisters, Mary and Carrie.

She shows them where she lived on the big map and tells them that this area was mostly covered with trees. She talks about the little log cabin in the woods. Eventually she tells them that she has written down some of her memories about her childhood in this book. "Why don't I just read you a bit."

1. Read a portion of the first chapter of Litt/e House In the Big Woods.

2. Tell the children that she has written many books about her childhood memories.

Show the children the original copies of the books she has written. Let the children tell about any of the books they have already read.

3. Tell them that you have heard from Mrs. Pilkington that they are going to have the opportunity to read parts from all these books. Explain the format of the adapted Little House Chapter Books and show them how they are divided into different themes.

4. Tell the children that they have a lot of memories from when they were younger, too. Ask them think about one special memory and write just two paragraphs telling me about this memory .Mention different things they may want to think about.

Ideas to jog memories:

Your very first memory
Your first toys
When you began school- Can you remember you teacher's name?
The first book you read by yourself
When you met you best friend
When your fIrst tooth fell out
The house you lived in when you were little
Your favorite toy when you were young.
Your favorite TV show when you were in pre-school
A fight you had with your sister or brother
A time when you did something naughty

5. I tell them your eyes are bad and it hurts to read stories that are really long.
Inform them that you have to be leaving soon and that they will have to do this quickly. Mention that you are not very picky about spelling and that it will take too much time to ask the teacher how to spell words.

6. Allow time for the students to write their memories. Ask them to place them in her lap and that she will read them before she goes.

Closure:
Laura tells the children goodbye and tells them that she hopes to receive a letter from them to find out if they enjoyed her books.