Connections: How the story of The Boxcar Children connects to The Boxcar Children exhibit TCMUPSTATE.ORG
Exploring the Bakery One of the first stops in The Boxcar Children brings the four children to a bakery. Here, the children admire sweets and buy three loaves of bread for dinner. Exhibit Connections Math and Money: In the exhibit, children have opportunities to purchase baked goods at a price structure similar to the early 1900s. Activity Ideas: Math and Money See bakery menu Bread 10 cents Cookies 5 cents Cakes 20 cents Solve math problems! Henry has spent 25 cents on two loaves of bread and one cookie. What are some possible combinations of coins that equal 25 cents? Henry bought a loaf of bread and cookies for him and his siblings. How much did he spend? Students can learn the history of inflation while meeting standards for money and counting. Examples of Standards: 2.MDA.7 Solve real-world/story problems involving dollar bills using the $ symbol or involving quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies using the symbol. 4.MDA.8 Determine the value of a collection of coins and
Exploring the Bakery: Continued Activity Ideas: Baking Bread Making Bread in Bread Machine: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/ bread-machine-bread-andmdash-easy-ascan-be-recipe The invention of one of the first bread makers in 1986 made it easier to make bread at home! Use the recipe above or find your own recipe to make bread with students. How has the way we make bread changed over the years?
Exploring the Pick Garden Henry works in Dr. Moore s Garden to earn money to feed his siblings. In the garden, Henry thins out vegetables like carrots and onions. Exhibit Connections Science and Plants: In the exhibit, children have opportunities to pretend to grow and thin out carrots and onions. Activity Ideas: Root Plants Read: The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and Carrots Grow Underground by Mari Schuh Gather unwashed, fresh carrots, soil, carrot seeds, and clear cups. Have students describe the fresh carrots. They may be dirty because carrots are root plants; the part we eat is the root of the plant. Engage children by listing out words to describe the carrots and writing them in a visible area. Give students opportunities to plant their own carrot seeds. Follow-up Cooking Recipe: Making Carrot Salad Use the fresh carrots to make a carrot salad for a healthy and delicious snack. Mix shredded carrots, crushed pineapple, and plain yogurt in a bowl, and serve. Examples of Standards for Science: 1.L.5A.1 Obtain and communicate information to construct explanations for how different plant structures (including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds) help plants survive, grow, and produce more plants. Examples of Standards for Literacy: 12.3 Read and respond according to task and purpose to become self-directed, critical readers and thinkers.
Exploring the Boxcar and Train Table The Boxcar Children find an old, abandoned boxcar in the woods. Connections Literacy, History, and Science (Invention): In the exhibit, children can learn more about the history of trains and railroads. Activity Ideas: The History of Trains Read about the history of trains and how they work: How Do Trains Work? by Buffy Silverman Trains of the Past by Mark Beyer Activity Ideas: Mapping the Railroad Children can learn about the first continental railroad in the United States! Give children a blank map of the United States of America. Have them draw the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento, California and the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha Nebraska. The two railroads meet in Promontory Summit, Utah. Activity Ideas: Invention and Engineering Boxcars were used to protect goods in all types of weather, but they couldn t transport everything. Give children a shoebox and have them design a type of boxcar to move a particular good, such as a refrigerator, a car, or tools. Examples Standards for Science: 2.S.1B.1 Construct devices or design solutions to solve specific problems or needs: (1) ask questions to identify problems or needs, (2) ask questions about the criteria and constraints of the devices or solutions, (3) generate and communicate ideas for possible devices or solutions, (4) build and test devices or solutions, (5) determine if the devices or solutions solved the problem, and (6) communicate the results. Examples of Standards for Social Studies: 2-1.1 Identify on a map the location of places and geographic features of the local community (e.g., landforms, bodies of water, parks) using the legend and the cardinal directions.
Exploring Dr. Moore s House The Boxcar Children travel to Dr. Moore s House to pick cherries from the orchard. Mary uses the cherries to make dumplings for the children. Connections Science and Nature: In the exhibit, children can plant flowers for Violet or make cherry dumplings for dinner. Activity Ideas: Labeling Flowering Plants Have children label the parts of a flower. Use this lesson plan from Lakeshore Learning to get started: https://lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/ free_resources/teachers_corner/project. jsp?project=partssunflower&f=science Activity Ideas: Lifecycles of Cherry Orchards Explore the lifecycle of the cherry. Use photographs to allow children to create their own still life of a cherry orchard or cherry tree. Examples of Standards for Science and Art: 1.L.5A.2 Construct explanations of the stages of development of a flowering plant as it grows from a seed using observations and measurements. VA1-1.3 Use a variety of materials, techniques, and processes to create works of visual art.
Exploring the Campfire The Boxcar Children use rocks to build a fire for cooking their meals. They hung a kettle over the fire and made stew. Connections Nature, Safety, and Engineering: In the exhibit, children can use rocks or timber and crosscut builders to build a fire. Activity Ideas: Science and Nature Invite a ranger from a local park or a local firefighter in to discuss the importance of fire safety. Have students develop a list of questions ahead of time, especially those pertaining to how professionals use natural resources in their careers. Standards for Science: 1.E.4B.1 Obtain and communicate information to summarize how natural resources are used in different ways (such as soil and water to grow plants; rocks to make roads, walls, or buildings; or sand to make glass). Program made possible by