Little House on the Prairie

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What is “Manifest Destiny,” and how might it have influenced the attitudes and actions of people in the 19th century? Can you find examples of how Native Americans resisted or negotiated with the pressures of westward expansion?

Teaching Suggestion: In order to understand why the Ingalls family moved west, it is helpful for students to be familiar with the concept of “Manifest Destiny.” Pa especially feels entitled to the land, which is an attitude that many white settlers shared. You may want to continue the discussion of “Manifest Destiny” as you read the novel in relation to how other characters (white and non-white) deal with the concept. This could include the Ingalls family, the Osage leader, and the other settlers in the area. This discussion question connects to the theme of The Racial Attitudes of White Settlers.

• This article from Khan Academy discusses the history of “Manifest Destiny” and provides context for westward expansion.
• This article from the National Park Service describes Native American resistance to European expansion.

Short Activity

Research one of the Native American tribes living in the Great Plains in the 19th century. Use a graphic organizer to write down information about their lifestyle, culture, and traditions, and then create an infographic or other visual aid to display what you learned from your research.

Teaching Suggestion: There were a wide variety of Native American tribes living in the Great Plains, each with its own distinct culture. This activity will help students understand that Native American culture is not a monolith, which Laura herself begins to understand in the novel. After students make their infographics, consider including a gallery walk where students can learn about other tribes. They can also look at all the infographics to see what characteristics the tribes have in common and what makes them different.

• This article provides information on the Plains tribes and describes some characteristics that they share. It would be a good place for students to start their research.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Think about a time when you or your family had to do something yourselves instead of buying it or paying someone else to do it. It could be cooking a meal from scratch, fixing a broken object, or creating a handmade gift. How did it feel to rely on yourself or your family for this? What did you learn from the experience?

Teaching Suggestion: To make this activity more hands-on, consider having students create something simple from scratch, such as a small craft. After they create the object, you can ask them about the challenges they faced when creating it. The craft could be specific to something they would have needed to make on the western frontier, such as soap, or it could be a more basic craft that requires fewer materials and takes less time.

• This list of easy art projects for kids provides some examples of crafts you could ask students to make.