This study is designed so that you can go at your own pace. Depending on the ages of your children and how many of the additional resources you want to use, you could finish in a week, or you could stretch it over a month. If you are reading the Little House books as a family, you can come back to this resource as you progress through each book.
This guide is intended for parents to use along with their children. Most of the content is suitable for all ages. However, since Laura lived through many difficult experiences (for example, grasshopper plagues, diseases, and the death of her younger brother and her son), there are a few things that might be disturbing for younger children. We provide advance warning about any difficult content in the videos and external links.
This unit study includes links to external websites managed by other organizations. We have carefully chosen the pages we link to. We alert you to any questionable content we notice (offensive language, references to violence, etc.), but we have not reviewed every other page, image, or video on those external sites. Some of the websites are ad-supported, and we have zero control over the ads you may see. Websites can change, they can include content posted by users, and they can link to other sites. Please provide guidance as your child is using the Internet.
Here's a video introduction to how the unit study is laid out and how to make the most of it.
Respect for All
In the text we write and the videos we produce, we seek to use language that is respectful of members of indigenous people groups, people who were enslaved and their descendants, and everyone else. However, some historic documents, songs, and other content featured in this study use language that is not respectful and even offensive. There are even elements of the Little House books that make us uncomfortable (for example, Ma's comments about Native Americans and the blackface performance in Little Town on the Prairie.)
We cannot change the past. Neither can we simply ignore it or gloss over it. We should try to learn from it. That is our goal in presenting this unit study. When you come across something that makes you uncomfortable, we hope that you will use that opportunity for a family discussion about how we should recognize the dignity of every human being and seek to treat everyone with respect and kindness.
Images
You will find many historic photographs and some modern photographs throughout this unit study. Tap on each photo to get a closer look.
Audio
Some pages feature embedded audio files from Spotify. You need a free Spotify account to listen to the full tracks.
Videos
We have embedded many videos directly on the unit study pages. Some of these we have produced ourselves using footage and images from our travels to the Little House sites. Others are carefully chosen from other sources.
You can access most of this unit study on your desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone. There are a few things that are best viewed on a tablet or computer (not a phone).
To make it even easier for everyone to see and hear the content, you may prefer to use a TV. Tap the button below to see three ways to show a video, webpage, or other content you find on your computer or mobile device on your TV.
Watching Internet Content on a TV
Homeschool History
You will find many links to resources featured on Homeschool History. This is our web-based app that provides a searchable database of thousands of history-related resources. These include videos, games, interactive websites, field trip destinations, and printables.
Each resource listed on Homeschool History is coded with one or more of three colored circles. The letter in the circle indicates the suggested age and maturity level for students to get the most out of that resource. For example, a resource with an H symbol is recommended for high school students and adults. The M symbol is for middle school age (ages 10-14). The E symbol is for elementary (ages 5-9). Content that is suitable for all ages will show all three circles. If there is potentially disturbing or offensive content we want you to be aware of, that is listed in the Notes to Parents section on the linked Homeschool History resource page.
You do not need a subscription to Homeschool History to use the links in this unit study. However, a subscription gives you full access to all of the search and filter options, bookmarking features, and premium content. If you want to learn more about other Native American nations, military history, music in America, and a wide variety of other topics in ancient, medieval, and modern history, then start a free trial:
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