The Little House series is a wonderful teaching tool to incorporate history and literature through unit studies.  The box set is composed of nine books: Little House in the Big Woods, Farmer Boy, Little House on the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek, By the Shores of Silver Lake,  The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years and The First Four Years.

     Each of the unit studies available here have been complied from various sources, both online and in print.  For a complete listing of sources used, please visit our Little House Sources webpage.  The unit study available here covers Little House in the Big Woods, the first book in the series.

     The "Big Woods" - the place of Laura's birth and the beginnngs of a very enchanting childhood are revealed in Mrs. Wilder's first book.  Little House in the Big Woods portrays a little girl with eyes full of wonder and a heart full of love for her Ma and Pa and sister Mary.  The theme of this book is very clear and simple - caring, sharing and growing up during a time when, even though you are a little girl, you do your part to help your family.  The theme is brought out simply in each chapter.  Laura and Mary had thier "chores" each and every day.  They were done - without hesitation or pushing from Ma and Pa - completely and thoroughly; then and only then would Laura play.  Little House in the Big Woods is one adventure after another in Laura's life.  It's a book of vivid description and first-person happenings for Laura.  There's the dance at Grandpa's where Laura watches all the "big girls" dress up.  There is Laura's first experience at seeing town, and of course the fun at butchering time roasting the pig's tail!

Chapter One