Log Cabin Craft for the My First Little House Books

50 bloggers have teamed up for the for the Booking Across the USA project to bring you a picture book about each state. Here's my contribution for Wisconsin...

Although Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family lived many places, she was born in Wisconsin and lived there during her earliest years. Little House in the Big Woods, the beginning of the Little House series, is set there.  I loved the series when I was young, so when I got the opportunity to represent Wisconsin, I knew it was time to introduce my son and daughter to Laura.

We read several of the My First Little House books. I'm normally not a fan of abridged versions, but my kids and I really enjoyed these stories. They're a manageable length for preschoolers but still contain all the charm of the novels. The illustrations are even done in the same style as the original books.

Each book we read began, "Once upon a time, a little girl named Laura lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin in a little house made of logs."  We made our own log cabins from paper and drinking straws. I cut a house shape with an open door, glued it to another piece of paper, and the kids used straws to represent the logs.

Next we chose our favorite character or scene from one of the books to place inside the log house. They were not interested in drawing, so they each chose an illustration and we made a color copy of it. They cut out their picture and glued it inside the door.

Lainey chose Baby Carrie from Going to Town

Drew chose the deer from The Deer in the Wood
(Considering he's only four, I'm so impressed with his ability to use a scissors talk his dad into cutting stuff out for him.)

Wisconsin has other literary claims to fame. Kevin Henkes is a native of Wisconsin and has written some of our favorite books. (Find 50+ ideas for Kevin Henkes book activities in this post.)  Lois Ehlert was also born and raised in Wisconsin, and lives there still. (There's over 100 Lois Ehlert book activity ideas here.)

You can check out the other states by clicking on the links:

All 50 States for Booking Across the USA Blog Hop, A book review and crafts, activities, or freebies are included in each post. All the posts were live on February 25, 2013.
Booking Across the USA Host: Growing Book by Book	Alabama Blog Post by Everyday Snapshots Blog	Alaska Blog Post by Little Wonders' Days Blog
Arkansas Blog Post by Homeschooling in Arkansas	Arizona Blog Post by Simply Kinder	California Blog Post by Juggling with Kids California Blog Post by The Outlaw Mom
Colorado blog Post by Learners in Bloom Colorado Blog Post by Living Montessori Now	Connecticut Blog Post By Teacher Park Blog	Delaware Blog Post by Mama Miss
Florida Blog Post by the Teaching Stars Blog	Georgia Blog Post by Fabulously First Blog	Hawaii Blog Post by Teaching with Style
Idaho post by True Aim Education Blog	Illinois State Post by Growing Book by Book	Indiana State Post by Teach Pre-School Blog
Iowa Blog Post by Surviving a Teacher Salary Blog	Kansas Blog Post by KCEdventures	Kentucky Blog Post by Chicken Babies
Louisiana Blog Post by Your Child's Next Book and Project Blog	Maine Blog Post by Country Fun	Maryland Blog Post by Picture Books and Piourettes
Massachusetts Blog Post by Mama Smiles Blog	Michigan Blog Post by Play Dr. Mom	Minnesota Post by the Wise Owl Factory Book a Day Blog
Mississippi Blog Post by Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk	Missouri Blog Post by Ready, Set, Read Blog	Montana Blog Post by The Honey Bunch
Nebraska Blog Post by The Good Long Road	Nevada Blog Post by Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy Crafts Blog	New Hampshire Blog Post by Elementary Matters
New Jersey Blog Post by The Pleasantest Thing	New Mexico Blog Post by The Enchanted Homeschooling Mom Blog	New York Blog Post by What Do We Do All Day Blog
North Carolina Post by the Realistic Teacher Blog	North Dakota Post by ND Health Works	Ohio Blog Post by the Smart Chick Teacher Blog
Oklahoma Blog Post by Herding Kats in Kindergarten	Oregon State Post by Journey of a Substitute Teacher Blog	Pennsylvania Blog Post by the Land of Once Upon a Time
Rhode Island Blog Post by Smiling in Second	South Carolina Blog Post by Cookies and Kiddos	South Dakota Blog Post by Wise Owl Factory Book a Day
Tennessee Blog Post by No Monkey Business	Texas Blog Post by Curls and a Smile Texas Blog Post by Kid World Citizen	Utah Blog Post by Teach Beside Me Blog
Vermont Blog Post by Vermont Moms Blog	Virginia Blog Post by Once Upon a Story Blog Virginia Post by the Freckled Homeschooler Blog	Washington Blog Post by Home Learning Journey
West Virginia Blog Post by Great Peace Academy Blog West Virginia Blog Post by Mamas Like Me	Wisconsin Blog Post by Reading Confetti	Wyoming Blog Post by No Twiddle Twaddle
USA Blog Post by the Corner on Character Blog

 

  

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