I have a free 4-week Paddle to the Sea unit study for Kids. Look at these other Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more ideas and topics for hands-on learning.
Paddle-to-the-Sea book is a must read for geography lovers.
The journey a toy carved canoe Paddle takes through various waterways and regions highlights the interconnectedness of the Great Lakes and the rivers leading to the Atlantic Ocean.
However, it is much more than a geography and science lover’s book.
It is a living book that bring learning about North America, the waterways, Native Americans and history to life in an inviting way.
The story begins near Lake Nipigon, north of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada where a canoe makes its way to the Atlantic Ocean in four years.
The Native American boy places his canoe and person in the snow.
Gradually, the snow melts.
Next, the canoe is carried to Lake Superior and finally ends in the Atlantic Ocean.
And the reading grade level is for middle school.
I certainly think a younger reader would enjoy the poetic language and beautiful watercolor pictures.
Too, don’t discount this beautiful living geography book for use by a high school teen.
For example, the author uses the word Indian instead of Native American since it’s an older book.
Discuss attitudes of people today toward early nations and now.
However, beyond that all ages will love the adventure and dangers Paddle faces.
There are many rabbit trails to take like exploring about canoes, wood carving, lakes, shipwrecks, Niagara, lumber mills, songs, and Canada.
Paddle to the Sea
Geography living books bring to life the topic you’re studying through a narrative or story form. Yet it combines other subjects while capturing our attention through excitement and adventure.
A young Indian boy carves a little canoe with a figure inside and names him Paddle-to-the-Sea. Paddle's journey, in text and pictures, through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean provides an excellent geographic and historical picture of the region.
Now look at these topics and ideas I group together by subject.
You will notice that you can include multiple ages of children.
HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY PADDLE TO THE SEA UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 1
First, look at some of these ideas to study about the history and geography in the book.
- Learn about the Canadian wilderness.
- Find and label Canadian provinces, the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean.
- When Paddle reaches Duluth, he begins heading East along the great shipping routes. Research how iron ore, copper, wheat, and coal were carried in ships across the Lakes.
- Paddle encounters the dangers of a sawmill while traveling the water and a French Canadian lumberjack that rescues him.
- Name the five Great Lakes. Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Tip: Use the acronym HOMES to remember them.
- Look at my post The Fascinating World of Sea Geography | Paddle to the Sea Craft to understand ocean and sea geography.
- Paddle reaches Montreal which is a historic trading area. Introduce the Ojibwe or Chippewa, Huron and Frenchmen and learn about bartering, beavers, and pelts.
- What is an international border? And what does it mean to cross a border?
- Where is Niagara Falls? Look at my post Geronimo Stilton Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary.
- What are lighthouses and how were they used? Look at my post 5 Cool Lighthouse Facts and Make a Chip Can Lighthouse.
- How did the Native Americans use trees? For example, the Chippewa built excellent birchbark canoes. They also built baskets and homes from wood and bark. For more fun look at my post From Forest to Fun: Unique Crafts With Tree Bark.
Additionally, look at these science and nature topic ideas.
NATURE & SCIENCE PADDLE TO THE SEA UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 2
Next, many of these topics can take a day or two to learn about or spend time on what interests your family.
- Learn how the water cycle impacts Paddle’s journey. Look at my activity Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids.
- Investigate the dangers of ice to ships.
- Paddle sees a shipwreck and rescue using a breeches buoy. Research what are breeches buoy and compare with how rescues in sea are done today.
- When Paddle drops into a beaver pond. Look at my posts Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam and Preschool Beaver Craft: Simple Projects for Little Hands.
- Discuss fish anatomy
- Paddle is washed into a marsh when he reaches Lake Superior. Discuss what is a marsh.
- Air currents act like rivers carrying floating objects. Learn about wind. Look at my 5 Simple Wind Energy Activities For Kids & Fun DIY Anemometer and Middle School Hands-on Science : Extreme Winds + Free Minibook. Too discuss how waves move as Paddle bobbed up and down.
- Discuss how trees are used for logging.
- Again, and again Paddle is stranded at the beach among debris as he is slowly carried northward through Lake Michigan. Discuss upcycling ad recycling
- Identify animal tracks. Extend this to learn about scat and see my post 10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat.
- Explain the devastation of forest fires.
- Learn about deer and antlers and investigate when deer lose their antlers. Look at my Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages.
- Learn and explain how to use waterway locks. Research Soo Locks. They enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.
- Investigate forest related careers. Teens may be thinking pursuing a career as a forest ranger. Are there junior ranger programs in your area? Or can you learn online?
MATH & LANGUAGE ARTS PADDLE TO THE SEA UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 3
Because this is a living book do not try to dissect it in depth if you have younger children.
However, if you have older children, focus on some literary analysis.
I think some of this study is necessary for teens to nurture critical thinking skills but try to not reduce book the drudgery.
A teen needs to look for themes and to understand an author’s background or biograph and an author’s message.
In addition, here are more ideas.
- Define buoyancy
- Encourage your child to do simple copywork like what was carved on the underside of the canoe “Put me back in the water. I am Paddle to the Sea.”
- How much time has passed? 4 years and discuss how we know. For example, the change in the seasons in North America.
- What season does the story begin? In spring and we know because the geese are returning.
- Who were the animals that came to see Paddle when he started his journey?
- What were pennies made with when the author wrote the book? Copper. What are pennies and money made with today?
- For stories that take years create a huge timeline together marking events that signal the start of a new season. For example, the story begins in spring since the geese are returning (Year 1) then summer activities (Year 2) could be when he is trapped in the marsh and caught with fish in the Apostle Islands,etc.
- The journey Paddle made carried him around the perimeter of Lake Superior. Define perimeter – distance around the outside of an object. When will we need to calculate perimeter? Give some examples. To enhance this lesson determine how to calculate the perimeter if the shape is irregular.
ARTS & CRAFTS PADDLE TO THE SEA UNIT STUDY WEEK 4
In addition, look at some of these arts and crafts ideas.
- Carve a paddle person or canoe if you have older children stressing safety. For younger children use soap. For an example of how to carve animals with soap look at my post How To Make A Fun Animal Soap Carving.
- Talk about what is a crooked knife or what the Native Americans called “mocotaugen.” Make your own with wood.
- Make snowshoes. The Native American boy used them to move over snow to check on Paddle.
- If you have younger children, explain what is a passport and have them create their own. Have them “stamp” it when they travel to a new place. For example, Canada, U.S. and France.
- With younger kids, look at How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish for an easy craft.
- Make a Fun Birchbark Canoe Craft
- Have kids use stones to tell the story. Paint stones with images or events and place in order first, middle and last.
- The outline of Lake Superior is shaped like a wolf’s head. Look at this printable that shows all the lakes. Create a wolf head using this outline. What other animals or things can be made using geographical features or outlines of the lakes?
- When Paddle reached the trading post the Native Americans and Frenchmen were bartering over beads and other supplies. Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet
- Build a model of a lock and use it raise and lower boats.
- Because Paddle ran into so much litter, have your child create something upcycled. For ideas on how to make something your child loves look at my activity How to Make a Recycled Robot.
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