Little House on the Prairie activities are the perfect addition to reading the books or as part of a larger unit study. Also, look at my page Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern for more activities.
If your kids love Little House on the Prairie, making paper dolls is a fun way to bring the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder to life. From sewing clothes and helping with chores to playing with simple homemade toys, children can explore what everyday life was like for pioneer families.
One of the things that makes the Little House books so special is the way Laura describes the everyday details of her childhood. Although the family lived a simple life, the little things, like clothing, toys, and family traditions, were important parts of growing up.
In the books, Laura and her sister Mary enjoy playing with dolls. Their toys were often simple and handmade, reflecting the way many children played during the pioneer era. Dolls could be made from cloth, and children sometimes created their own toys using whatever materials were available.
Clothing was also an important part of pioneer life. Families did not have the convenience of shopping for new outfits whenever they needed them. Dresses, coats, and other garments were often made at home, mended, and passed down from one child to another.
RESOURCES FOR A LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE UNIT STUDY
First, look at some book and resources to add for a fun unit study.
Little House on the Prairie Unit Study Resources
Add some of these fun resources to ignite a love for learning about the Little House on the Prairie.
The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.
Readers around the world know and love Laura, the little girl born in the Big Woods of Wisconsin and raised in covered wagons and on wide open prairies. Now Little House fans can learn more about the remarkable story of the pioneer girl who would one day immortalize her adventures in the beloved Little House books in this, the first picture book biography book of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
With the My First Little House picture book series, the youngest readers can share in the joy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books in these illustrated adaptations of the beloved series!
Laura, Pa, Ma, Mary, and baby Carrie have traveled from the Big Woods to the prairie in their covered wagon, driving through tall grass until they found just the right spot for their new home. With the help of their kind neighbor, Mr. Edwards, Pa builds a snug little house for the family in the middle of the wide-open prairie.
The second book in the treasured Little House series, Farmer Boy is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved story of how her husband, Almanzo, grew up as a farmer boy far from the little house where Laura lived. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams.
The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America’s frontier history and as heartwarming, unforgettable stories. The Little House series has captivated millions of readers with its depiction of life on the American frontier.
While Laura Ingalls grows up on the prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. Here Almanzo and his brother and sisters help with the summer planting and fall harvest. In winter there is wood to be chopped and great slabs of ice to be cut from the river and stored. Time for fun comes when the jolly tin peddler visits, or best of all, when the fair comes to town.
Almanzo wishes for just one thing—his very own horse—and he must prove that he is ready for such a big responsibility.
With this cookbook, you can learn how to make classic frontier dishes like corn dodgers, mincemeat pie, cracklings, and pulled molasses candy. The book also includes excerpts from the Little House books, fascinating and thoroughly researched historical context, and details about the cooking methods that pioneers like Ma Ingalls used, as well as illustrations by beloved artist Garth Williams.
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, based on her own childhood and later life, are still beloved classics almost a century after she began writing them. Now young readers will see just how similar Laura's true-life story was to her books. Born in 1867 in the "Big Woods" in Wisconsin, Laura experienced both the hardship and the adventure of living on the frontier. Her life and times are captured in engaging text and 80 black-and-white illustrations.
- Three Piece Set: Kid girls colonial dress, attached apron and bonnet.
A beautifully designed coloring book featuring classic artwork by Garth Williams and quotes from all nine original Little House books. Perfect for at-home creative time—return to the world of Little House with your kids...or enjoy on your own!
Join Laura Ingalls, her Ma and Pa, and her sisters, Mary, Carrie, and Grace, on their travels across the frontier as you color in your favorite pioneer characters and scenes and revisit this beloved series.
This 96-page coloring book offers hours of relaxing, stress-reducing pleasure.
Then look at some hands-on activities.
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE ACTIVITIES
You can also add a few of your favorite pioneer crafts, history lessons, and activities to create a full day of learning inspired by the Little House books.
- Make homemade butter, shake heavy cream in a jar and watch it transform into butter. Talk about how pioneer families made and prepared their own food.
- Make a no-sew pioneer ragdoll like many girls of the time period had.
- Build a log cabin: Use craft sticks, small logs, or cardboard to create a miniature pioneer home.
- Make a paper quilt: Cut colorful squares of paper and arrange them into a patchwork design inspired by traditional quilts.
- Make a pioneer rag rug just like Ma would have with this 11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft
- Explore pioneer chores: Try a hands-on activity involving washing fabric, folding laundry, or making a simple household item.
- Try these Five Pioneer Games to Entertain Today’s Children
ABOUT MAKING PAPER DOLLS
Making paper dolls is a wonderful way to explore these details with children. They can imagine what Laura might have worn while helping with chores, getting ready for bed, or playing with her sisters.
It also opens up conversations about how clothing and toys have changed over time and how children entertained themselves before modern toys and electronics.
Once everything is finished, let your child dress the doll and create little stories inspired by the Little House books. What would she wear to help with chores? Which outfit would she choose for bedtime? What might she do during a snowy winter on the prairie?
Paper dolls are just one way to explore the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder. If you are putting together a pioneer unit study, there are plenty of other hands-on activities that can help children understand what life was like in the 1800s.
HOW TO MAKE PAPER DOLLS
For this craft, I wanted to create a simple pioneer girl paper doll with a collection of outfits and a little bedroom scene.
I used cardstock and colorful patterned paper to make the doll and her clothing, along with a wood-look paper for the background.
You will need:
- Cardstock
- Colorful patterned scrapbook paper
- Wood-look patterned paper for the background
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Markers or colored pencils
- Glue
- Extra paper for the bed and window
Start by drawing a simple person on a piece of cardstock. You can draw a little girl inspired by Laura Ingalls or create your own pioneer or modern character; outline the hair and simple undergarments.
Once you are happy with the drawing, carefully cut out the doll.
Use markers or colored pencils to color the skin, hair, and undergarments.
Finally, draw in the facial features.
To make the clothing, turn a piece of patterned paper over and trace the doll’s body onto the back. This gives you a guide for each outfit’s size and shape.
SIMPLE PIONEER GIRL PAPER DOLL
Draw the clothing over the outline, adding small tabs along the sides so the clothes can fold over the doll and stay in place.
Cut out your clothing pieces, keeping the tabs intact.
I made several different outfits, including a dress, a nightgown, a coat, and a pair of overalls. You can use different colors and patterns to give each outfit its own look.
Try them on and trim up where you need to, make sure the tabs are long enough.
For the background, I used a piece of wood-look patterned paper to give the scene a rustic, pioneer-inspired feel.
I added a simple bed and a window to create a little bedroom for the doll. You can make the bed from cardstock and decorate it with a paper blanket and pillow. The window can be drawn or cut from paper and attached to the background.
This little scene makes the paper doll feel like she is part of a story. Children can imagine getting ready for bed, waking up in the morning, or changing outfits before heading outside to help with chores.
When your child is done, you can store it in a gallon Ziploc bag or a shoebox until they are ready to visit the prairie again.
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