Category Archives: Laura Ingalls Wilder

Comprehension Questions – Little House on the Prairie #3 Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Grades 3-7; Genre - Historical Fiction; GRL Q; AR pts. 8.0

Laura and her family journey by covered wagon into Indian territory, and start a farm. The plot contains racial prejudice within historical context.

Comprehension Questions

Going West

  1. Why does Pa want to go to Indian country? He doesn’t like how populated the Big Woods has gotten p.1
  2. How would you feel to ride in a wagon day after day with only the world to look at and no electronics to help pass the time? Listen to your child’s answer

Crossing the Creek

  1. What unfortunate incident happened while crossing the river? Jack died p.25
  2. To lose a dog is always difficult, but on the prairie, the family will miss having a good dog watch out for them. What other ways is it beneficial to have a good dog around on the prairie? Alerts their owners when an animal or person comes around; fights for their owners when they’re in danger; helps hunt for food; good friend and companion; etc. p. 27

Camp on the High Prairie

  1. What amazing thing happened in this chapter? Jack is alive and caught up to the Ingalls family p.34
  2. Why was everyone scared to see the eyes in the dark? Pa thought it was a wolf or other dangerous animal p.34
  3. Just imagine… there are no street lamps, flashlights, cell phone lights, headlights of cars driving by. It’s just the prairie and the sky. What would that feel like to you?
  4. Have you ever lost and found a pet? Share your story and how you felt

Prairie Day

  1. How do you know Laura and her family are happy with being on the prairie? Mary and Laura had fun playing in the grass; Pa was happy to find so many animals to hunt and fish in the creek p.43

The House on the Prairie

  1. Describe Mr. Edwards and explain if you think he will be a good neighbor or not. From Tennessee; fast worker; not married; lean and tall; could spit tobacco far; danced and sang p.63

Moving In

  1. How did Pa decide to keep his family safe from the wolves? He covered the house with the wagon cover for a roof, and they moved everything into the house so they could have four solid walls around them. There is still much to do to complete the home, but at least now their family is all inside p.71

The Wolf-Pack

  1. Summarize this chapter. Pa went to explore and found a good number of other settlers; as he was heading back home, a wolf pack of 50 surrounded him and Patty; they didn’t hurt him, just walked alongside him; the wolves headed to the river and Pa and Patty took off running home to make sure the family was safe; they were; at home, Jack and Pet had been uneasy, so Ma watched out carefully; that night, Laura woke up to the wolves circling the little house and howling, sniffing and breathing so close to the house that Laura could hear them p.84
  2. Use a word to describe how you would feel if you were in this situation.

Two Stout Doors

  1. What did Pa and Laura accomplish in this chapter? They made doors for the house and stable p.100
  2. Have you ever made something that gave you the feeling of accomplishment? Listen to your child’s answer

A Fire in the Hearth

  1. Pa worked hard every day providing for his family. How did he show love to his wife in this chapter? He built her a fireplace so she wouldn’t need to cook outside in the weather; instead of relaxing and taking a break, he wanted to keep working so she could use the fireplace sooner p.116

A Roof and a Floor

  1. Laura’s family is finally getting settled into their new home. What has impressed you about what her family has done since leaving their home in the Big Woods. Listen to your child’s answer

Indians in the House

  1. Summarize what happened in this chapter and how you would have felt, had you been in Laura’s shoes. Pa left to go hunting and chained up Jack; two Indians came to the house and demanded food and took Pa’s tobacco; Laura and Mary bravely went into the house to make sure Ma and Carrie were ok; the Indians smelled like skunk due to the skunk furs they wore; the Indians ate and left peacefully; Pa came back and told the girls to always do as they are told; listen to your child’s answer
  2. What would the ramifications been if the girls had let Jack loose when the Indians were in the house? He would have hurt the Indians, and the Indians would have retaliated, hurting their family, they even would have killed them and Jack p.145

Fresh Water to Drink

  1. How are Pa and Mr. Scott good neighbors to each other? They are kind, work together, friends, help each other, serve and protect each other.
  2. Who are your neighbors? What kind of relationship do you have with them? What can you do to be a better neighbor? Listen to your child’s answers p.150
  3. Do you agree or disagree that Pa should have gone into the well instead of going for help? Listen to your child’s answer
  4. Compare the process as to you get water in your house to how Pa provided water for his family. What are the risks to each situation? Listen to your child’s answer p.150

Texas Longhorns

  1. How did Pa acquire the cow, her baby and a slab of beef? He helped run the cattle through the river bottoms to keep them out of the ravines p.164
  2. Define the word sacrifice that is in context of this story. An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.
  3. As this story is being told we see the sacrifices Laura’s family has made to move to the prairie. List three sacrifices they have made. Has it been worthwhile for them to move? Leaving family and friends; leaving the comforts of their home; leaving the livelihood they made for themselves, etc.; yes, Pa has worked hard to help them be comfortable and they are enjoying their new lives on the prairie with their new neighbors, opportunities and surroundings p.170

Indian Camp

  1. Pa gave a description of what happened at the Indian Camp using the tracks they saw. Using a paper and pencil, draw the camp Pa described.
  2. Mary and Laura collected beads from the camp. Was it selfish for Laura to want to keep the beads for herself? Listen to your child’s answer p.179

Fever ‘N’ Ague

  1. Define what a miracle is. An event or an experience that is attributed to divine power.
  2. What miracle happened in this chapter? When the entire family became sick and close to death, the doctor came over, Jack let the doctor in the house, Mrs. Scott came to take care of them p.185

Fire in the Chimney

  1. Laura’s family had some hardship in this chapter. How did they rely on each other to get through it? The chimney started on fire and Ma and Laura saw what needed to be done to put it out and keep Carrie and Mary safe p.201
  2. Share a recent experience where you have helped your family through a hard time. Listen to your child’s answer

Pa Goes to Town

  1. How did Pa help take care of his family while he was away? He made sure they had everything they needed; he had Mr. Edwards come check in on them every day p.209

The Tall Indian

  1. Was it right for the Indians to steal things from Laura’s house? Why or why not? No; listen to your child’s answer p.232

Mr. Edwards Meets Santa Claus

  1. Explain why it is so special that Mr. Edwards saw Santa Clause? Santa Claus is an American tradition, and every child is excited for Christmas morning to see what Santa brought them; It was special because the girls didn’t think Santa would make it to the prairie, but when Mr. Edwards delivered their parents for Santa, they were happy he found them p.243

A Scream in the Night

  1. Why was it so dangerous to have a panther on the loose? It could kill humans p.258

Indian Jamboree

  1. As you reading this historical novel that took place when settlers were spreading out over the United States, what are your thoughts of how the government handled moving the Indians further west? Listen to your child’s answer p.273

Prairie Fire

  1. Compare the difference of the land in the Big Woods to the prairie land Pa is tilling. There are stumps and rocks in the ground where they used to live. On the prairie the soil is rich and there are grass roots p.275
  2. Why is Jack cross all the time? He’s chained up and isn’t free to protect the family from the Indians p.276
  3. Why are there so many rabbits running and jumping in plain sight? They were trying to get away from the fire p.277
  4. What is a good characteristic Pa has and is demonstrated as he is talking to his neighbors in this chapter? He sees the good in people and gives them the benefit of the doubt; he didn’t think the Indians started the fire to get rid of the settlers p.283

Indian War-Cry

  1. Summarize what happened in this chapter. All the Indian tribes but one wanted to kill the white settlers, so the tribes fought with yelling and screaming through the night for many nights. Thankfully the Indians decided they didn’t want to fight the tribe that didn’t want to kill the settlers; the drums and yelling kept Laura’s family up all night each night in fear; it was a terrible nightmare that she couldn’t wake up from; one Indian saved them and their neighbors; he had a good heart p.286

Indians Ride Away

  1. Have you ever moved to a new home or new city? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. How would you feel if you were one of those Indians leaving their country? Listen to your child’s answer p.303

Soldiers

  1. Why is the family leaving their little house on the prairie? Soldiers are coming through and escorting the settlers off Indian Territory back to the border p.316

Going Out

  1. How is the ending of this book similar to its beginning? The family is living in the covered wagon, traveling to an unknown destination p.327
  2. Why was Pa upset with the family whose horses were stolen? They didn’t know how to survive in the wilderness. They didn’t tie up their horses properly, didn’t keep watch and didn’t have a watchdog dog p.328
  3. What did you like about this story? Listen to your child’s answer

Comprehension Questions Little House on the Prairie #2 Farmer Boy

Farmer Boy

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Grades 4-8; Genre - Historical Fiction; GRL P; AR pts. 9.0

Nine-year-old Almanzo lives with his family on a big farm in New York State at the end of the nineteenth century where he raises his own two calves, helps cut ice and shear sheep, and longs for the day he can have his own colt.

Comprehension Questions

School Days

  1. How does Almanzo’s school compare to the school you go to? The boys sit on one side of the schoolhouse and girls sit on the other; it has all ages in one classroom and isn’t split into separate classes; three children cannot talk or move; the girls went to recess first for 15 minutes, then the boys would go to recess 15 minutes; if they are late, they get whipped p.1

Winter Evening

  1. Give two examples in this chapter that show you that Almanzo loves and respects his parents. He listens and obeys his Dad about the horses and not taking a lantern into the haymows; pleased with himself that his father recognized he was a good milker and he knew he would milk the cows that are difficult to milk now; he knew his father was a good and honest man; he felt his mother was beautiful and listened and obeyed her as well p.17

Winter Night

  1. What part of this chapter did you enjoy? Listen to your child’s answer p.30

Surprise

  1. How did Mr. Corse defend himself and “best” the big boys of the class? One at a time, he used a whip to wrap around them; using the whip, he moved them to the door and threw them out; three of the boys saw they were going to get thrown out with the whip and they jumped out of the window; Almanzo’s dad gave Mr. Corse the whip p.44

Birthday

  1. What was special about Almanzo’s birthday? His father made him a yoke for his two calves and a sled; he didn’t have to go to school; he could eat all the treats he wanted; he went sledding and started to train his calves; he helped his dad make a shingle p.49

Filling the Ice-House

  1. What did Almanzo’s family use as a refrigerator in the summer? The ice-house
  2. How did Almanzo help with the ice-house? He and Royal put saw dust between each block of ice and covered the ice blocks with 3” of sawdust p.72
  3. What do you talk about with your siblings as you work together? Listen to your child’s answer

Saturday Night

  1. Describe the process Almanzo’s family used to take their baths on Saturday night. Almanzo and Royal hit icicles down from the kitchen eaves to fill the tub; Almanzo was the first to bath; Alice would empty his tub and fill her own; and each member of the family would take turns emptying the person’s tub that just bathed and then fill their own tub; this prevented the family from getting a cold p.82

Sunday

  1. Almanzo went to church in this chapter. Have you ever been to church? Describe your experience there. If not, then share what Almanzo did at his church. Almanzo sat and looked at the preacher during church; it was two hours long p.90

Breaking the Calves

  1. What lesson did Almanzo learn in this chapter? He needs to teach his calves how to follow commands while he is riding the sled p.105

Turn of the Year

  1. How did Almanzo’s family gather sugar for the year? They put taps on the trees and gathered sap; they boiled it to sugar; then they put it in buckets to harden p.110

Springtime

  1. List the vegetables Almanzo and his family planted in the spring? Potatoes, carrots, corn p.125
  2. Have you ever planted a seed? What type of plant was it? What did you need to do to help it grow? Water it and make sure it has sunlight. Listen to your child’s answer

Tin-Peddler

  1. What did Mother trade for the tin wear? Rags she made p.138
  2. Why didn’t Mr. Brown expect her to pay with money? Money was scarce in those days and goods were highly prized. Mother made the rags and they were important for Mr. Brown to have for his pans p.138

The Strange Dog

  1. Why do you think the dog stayed the night Father sold the horses? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. Why is it important the strange black dog came to Almanzo’s house? Whatever the reason, the dog stopped two men from robbing his family p.152

Sheep-Shearing

  1. How did Almanzo’s father give the sheep a bath? They put soap on the sheep and dragged it out into deep water and rubbed the wool of the sheep until the soap was rinsed out p.155
  2. What distracted Almanzo from his job and why was it a problem? He saw his cat run with a mouse in its mouth, and went to go see its new kittens; he got behind in his job p.158

Cold Snap

  1. Summarize this chapter. There was a cold snap the night before July 4th. Almanzo’s family had to take water and pour some over each corn plant to save it from the frost before the sun came up; once the sun hit the frozen plants, it would kill them, the water saved them; they only lost 1/4 acre and saved 2.75 acres p.163

Independence Day

  1. Define patriotism. The quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.
  2. Why is patriotism important? 1) The country will benefit from the knowledge and skills of patriotic citizens as they show patriotism, hard work and loyalty. 2) The country will grow and succeed. 3) There will be peace and unity in the country.
  3. How did Almanzo’s family and town celebrate Independence Day? Dressed up in Sunday best; gathered in town; had a band that played and marched; said the pledge of allegiance; had political speakers; had a picnic together; American flags furling in the wind; lemonade stand; shot off cannons p.177
  4. How do you show patriotism for your country? Listen to your child’s answer.
  5. Why was it difficult for Almanzo to ask his father for a nickel? Respectable boys at that time didn’t ask their fathers for money p.182
  6. What did Almanzo learn in this chapter? Importance of earning money with hard work and how America was made p.177

Summer-Time

  1. What are two fond memories Almanzo made in this chapter? Going fishing with his father when it was raining and spending the day with his family berry picking p.195

Keeping House

  1. How was Eliza Jane a good sister in this chapter? She helped take care of the house with mother and father gone; she patched up the wallpaper when Almanzo made a black mark on the wall when he threw a paintbrush at her p.203

Early Harvest

  1. What does the word harvest mean?
  2. How did Almanzo help his family harvest their fields? He helped spread out hay and then stack it in the barn; helped bind oats and shock them (put stacks of grain around them to protect them from dew/rain); put rocks around the bean stakes and wrap bean stalks around them p.228

Late Harvest

  1. What’s the difference between the early harvest and late harvest? There was a rush to get everything into the barns so the frost wouldn’t ruin the crops; they harvested different crops; it was freezing cold while they worked p.240

County Fair

  1. When Almanzo won first prize for his pumpkin, why was he worried that he cheated? He had grown it with milk and realized that it may be against the rules p.273
  2. What gave Almanzo confidence that he hadn’t cheated? His father taught him how to grow the pumpkin, and his father wasn’t a cheater p.273
  3. Why did Almanzo grow tired of having a good time? He was used to working hard and accomplishing a lot throughout the day and he didn’t like that there wasn’t purpose to his days p.274
  4. Do you agree with Almanzo that three days at the fair was too much fun? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Fall of the Year

  1. How did Father know it was going to snow without a weather channel or app to tell him? He knew what the weather felt like; he had learned throughout his life what different weather and pressure in the air felt like, just like he knew the ground was going to freeze earlier in the book p.277
  2. Why was it important for Almanzo’s family to butcher the animals and make candles? To give them food and light throughout the winter and through to next fall p.284

Cobbler

  1. List two things from this chapter that we do not do anymore. Drink tea out of a saucer; have a cobbler come to our homes to make shoes; use a corn husker p.285

The Little Bobsled

  1. Why couldn’t Father and Almanzo work outside the next day? The storm would be too big p.304

Threshing

  1. Use a word to describe how Almanzo felt at the end of this chapter and explain why. Listen to your child’s answer p.311

Christmas

  1. Describe what your Christmas looks like and compare it to the one Almanzo celebrated in this chapter. What does Almanzo do differently? Listen to your child’s answer. Almanzo helped get everything ready on Christmas Eve; they went to bed and woke up really early (earlier than they were supposed to) and opened presents; they enjoyed their gifts and then got ready for family to come over; family came over and they had a big dinner; the cousins went out to play in the snow; they then came inside and had apple cider and ate apples; the cousins wrapped up and went home bundled up on their sleigh p.312

Wood-Hauling

  1. Summarize this chapter. Almanzo helped Father gather logs for firewood; he faced trials steering his calves, loading the logs and getting stuck in a snowdrift. His father gave him encouragement but let him figure out how to solve his predicaments. Share an experience where you learned something through sheer experience p.329

Mr. Thompson’s Pocketbook

  1. What good characteristic did Almanzo show in this chapter and how did it benefit him? He was honest with Mr. Thompson’s pocketbook; Mr. Paddock made sure that Mr. Thompson rewarded him with $200 p.354

Farmer Boy

  1. How did Almanzo tell Father that he wanted to be a farmer? He wanted to buy a colt and break it; this showed his father that he wanted to be on the farm just like him p.371
  2. What did you like about this story? Listen to your child’s answer.

Comprehension Questions – Little House on the Prairie #4 On the Banks of Plum Creek

On the Banks of Plum Creek

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Grades 4-7; Genre-Historical Fiction; GRL Q; AR pts. 8.0

After moving to Minnesota, the Ingalls family encounters a terrible blizzard and a grasshopper plague. The plot contains racial prejudice within historical context.

Comprehension Questions

The Door in the Ground

  1. How does this story begin? Laura’s family has traveled to Minnesota; they traded their horses, mule and wagon cover for a dugout and wheat fields p.1

The House in the Ground

  1. Describe the dugout. A little house dug out of the side of a hill; clean and small; whitewashed; willow branches and sod used for walls and roof p.10

Rushes and Flags

  1. Why does Ma say the girls will turn into “water bugs”? They are always playing in the water and come into the house all wet p.20

Deep Water

  1. Why don’t Ma and Pa want the girls to go upstream to the hole full of deep, dark water? They don’t want the girls to go by themselves in case they drown or get hurt p.23
  2. How did Pa teach Laura a lesson? When she continued to go out into the deep water after being told not to, Pa swam under and grabbed her foot, pulling her under the water p.24

Strange Animal

  1. What helped Laura stay safe and not go to the swimming hole? A badger p.30
  2. Why did Laura tell her Pa that she disobeyed him? She felt guilty and she knew she needed to p.33
  3. Have you been in a situation where you haven’t been honest and knew you needed to tell the truth? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

Wreath of Roses

  1. Why is it exciting for Laura’s family to have a milk cow? They have been without milk and butter since they left Indian Territory p.40

Ox on the Roof

  1. How did the ox get on the roof? An ox got away from Laura and Jack as they tried to take him to the stable and he ran on their roof. One of his legs went through but out didn’t seem to do any harm; however, the next morning, the roof collapsed p.47

Straw Stack

  1. Why did the girls get in trouble for playing on the straw stack? As they jumped, slid and rolled down it, it spread the straw out; Pa needed the straw to be in a stack so he could feed it to the animals throughout the winter p.60

Grasshopper Weather

  1. Define grasshopper weather. Warm weather around Thanksgiving; nights are chilly, days are warm p.63

Cattle in the Hay

  1. Summarize this chapter. Ma, Pa, and Carrie went to town. Mary and Laura stayed home. Laura saw the cattle trampling and eating the hay. Jack helped them run at the cattle and finally got them to leave to the prairie. The cattle were there because Johnny had fallen asleep p.67

Runaway

  1. What scary event happened in this chapter? When the Ma and Pa were coming back from town, Bright couldn’t wait to eat at the stable and ran home without listening to Pa. Ma and Carrie almost fell to the riverbed in the wagon p.74

The Christmas Horses

  1. What is Ma’s explanation of Santa Claus? He is more than one person; he is everywhere and he is all the time. Whenever anyone was unselfish, that was Santa Claus p.85
  2. Do you agree or disagree with Ma? Listen to your child’s answer

A Merry Christmas

  1. What special gifts were given and received on Christmas? Mary and Laura made Carrie a beautiful button string and they all received candy in their stockings. They also received two beautiful horses and got to ride them down to the water p.93

Spring Freshet

  1. Laura was excited about the roaring creek. How would you have felt seeing and hearing so much water so close to your home? Listen to your child’s answer p.98

The Footbridge

  1. What sticky situation did Laura get herself into? She snuck outside and got into the roaring creek holding onto the footbridge. She could have drowned since the water was so strong, but she pulled herself out and was ok p.101

The Wonderful House

  1. If you previously read the book, Little House on the Prairie, compare the home Pa built in that story to the home he built in this book. In Indian territory, Pa built a home from logs he cut and stacked himself. This home is made from boards that were cut from a machine, there were lots of windows and a lean to attached. Pa also purchased a black stove p.107

Moving In

  1. List two things Laura found exciting as they moved into their new house. The new stove for Ma; there was so much light coming in from the windows; the curtains Ma had sewn; Laura and Mary’s new room with their own boxes; that she could hear the rain on the roof p.118

The Old Crab and the Bloodsuckers

  1. What did Mary and Laura find along the path Pa told them to take? Shallow water with minnows, a crawdad and leeches or bloodsuckers p.128
  2. Have you ever had leeches stuck to your skin? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer

The Fish-Trap

  1. Summarize how Pa helped Laura understand the importance of going to school. Not every child gets a chance to go; he promised her Ma their girls would go; that’s why they moved so close to a town with a school; her Ma used to be a teacher and understands the importance of book learning p.138

School

  1. Summarize Laura and Mary’s first day of school. They arrived and met a few other kids; the teacher rang the bell and they went inside; the teacher found out their names, ages, and their reading level; the teacher let them borrow her slate; at lunch, everyone else went home while Laura and Mary ate their lunch in the shade p.152

Nellie Olson

  1. Choose two words that describe Nellie Oleson. Give an example of each from this chapter. Example: Spoiled - Father gave her directions, but she didn’t listen and didn’t get in trouble when she should have; selfish - She has to have her way, playing Ring-around-a-rosy p.155&157

Town Party

  1. Did Laura enjoy the party? Why, or why not? Yes and no; yes because she got to play with new toys and beautiful books; no because Nellie yelled at her for almost touching her doll’s silky dress p.160

Country Party

  1. How did Laura get Nellie back? Guided her into the muddy water with the blood suckers p.174

Going to Church

  1. Pa is very kind and selfless. Give an example of a way he showed these characteristics in this chapter. Giving his hard-earned money to the church to put a bell in the belfry instead of buying himself new boots p.190

The Glittering Cloud

  1. Describe the devastation in this chapter. A giant grasshopper cloud came through the area and ate everything in sight. Because the wheat crop is eaten by the grasshoppers, Pa didn’t have wheat to sell and couldn’t pay off the house. Their friends had to move out east. p.192

Grasshopper Eggs

  1. Why did Pa leave? To go find work since the crop was eaten and the grasshoppers have laid eggs throughout the prairie. There won’t be a crop next year since there will be many more grasshoppers p.208

Rain

  1. Why was the rain such a blessing? It had been so dry that nothing new had grown since the grasshopper cloud ate everything. The cattle were starving and the water in the creek and spring was drying up p.213

The Letter

  1. What good news did Laura’s family receive? Pa was ok and found work. He walked 300 miles to find work and is getting paid a dollar a day and can buy new shoes. He also sent $5 home to them. P.226

The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn

  1. What does the title of this chapter mean? Things were bleak and difficult on the prairie without Pa. When things became the most difficult, Pa came home. The symbolism of this title is that at night, just before down, it feels so dark outside, but then morning comes and everything is a little better p.228

Going to Town

  1. Did Ma and Pa purchase the chalice and overcoat? No
  2. Why not? They both felt they needed to save that money since they aren’t sure what will happen next year p.243

Surprise

  1. For Christmas, everyone in town received gifts from Brother Alden’s Church members in the East. Have you ever given gifts to people you don’t know at Christmas time? How did it feel? Listen to your child’s answer

Grasshoppers Walking

  1. What strange behavior did the grasshoppers have? For three days, they started walking westward. By the fourth day, they spread their wings and flew west in the same type of cloud they arrived in. 262
  2. With your parent’s permission, do an internet search to find out if the grasshoppers’ behavior was common or was a phenomenon.

Wheels of Fire

  1. How did Mr. Nelson act like a good neighbor in this chapter? He saw the smoke and took the initiative to help put out the fire before it got to the Ingall’s home p.271

Marks on the Slate

  1. List two positives and two negatives of living on the prairie during the time Laura and her family lived. Positives: different type of freedom, simplistic life, learn to work hard, learn to be self-sufficient; negatives: Blizzards are scary; fire is a threat without fire stations; crops can be ruined due to drought and grasshoppers p.281

Keeping House

  1. Why did the girls bring in the entire wood pile? A blizzard hit and Ma and Pa were in town. The girls didn’t want to have to burn up the furniture or die from the cold p.286

Prairie Winter

  1. How did Laura’s family make it through these winter storms? There was a sunny day between each storm, so they learned to take advantage of the sunny weather and play outside, do laundry, check the traps, cut firewood, etc. p.296

The Long Blizzard

  1. What feeling do you think Ma has at the beginning of this chapter? Listen to your child’s answer
  2. What was the consequence for not listening to it? Pa is away from home when the storm comes in and they don’t know if he’s safe
  3. Have you ever had a feeling like that before? Listen to your child’s answer

The Day of Games

  1. Why did Ma play games instead of have the girls study? They were sad and worried about Pa, so she wanted to distract them p.316
  2. Why do the girls feel like they can’t cry? Back during this time in history, it isn’t appropriate for them to p.320

The Third Day

  1. Summarize this chapter. The storm went on fiercely; Ma did the chores and the girls tried to study but couldn’t; the day took a very long time to pass p.321

The Fourth Day

  1. Summarize Pa’s experience in the snow. He got lost in the storm on the way back from town and decided to keep walking since he would freeze to death if he didn’t. He fell into a hole and was protected from the storm. He fell asleep and woke up with snow over him, but he could breathe. He slept as much as he could, waiting for the storm to end. He had some crackers and Christmas candy that he ate. When he couldn’t hear the storm anymore, he crawled out of his den and saw the house not far away. It was a blessing he purchased the buffalo skin coat and wore two pairs of socks. p.326

Christmas Eve

  1. Why were Laura’s eyes shining? She was so happy she had tears in her eyes p.338

Comprehension Questions – Little House on the Prairie #1 Little House in the Big Woods

Little House in the Big Woods

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Grades 2-3; Genre - Historical Fiction; GRL Q; AR pts. 5.0

The Ingalls family is snug in their Wisconsin house in spite of blizzards, wolves, and the lonely forest.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the setting in this story. 1800’s; Wisconsin when only a few settlers had begun to develop the land
  2. Who’s the main character and her family? Laura, her older sister Mary, Carrie her younger sister, and her Ma and Pa p.2

Chapter 2

  1. List and describe the chore/day you would enjoy the best. Listen to your child’s answer p.29
  2. What’s comforting to Laura during the long cold winter? Safely being inside the cozy cabin with the fire p.38

Chapter 3

  1. Summarize this chapter. Laura and Mary helped Pa clean and load his gun; Pa told a story when he was young about how he should have listened to his father and being alone in the woods in the dark p.45

Chapter 4

  1. Compare how traveling was back in the early settler days to our day today. Early days, they traveled in sleds pulled by horses all covered in blankets and bundled up; today, we can jump in a vehicle, train, or plane and have a heater to keep us warm p.64
  2. Describe how the children made “pictures”. They’d fall from a stump and land in the snow, trying not to touch and make other prints in the snow p.65
  3. Summarize the story Uncle Peter shared and why it was so scary. Aunt Eliza wanted to go to the spring, but the dog wouldn’t let her; later they found a panther had been in the tree above the spring; the dog saved her from the panther p.68

Chapter 5

  1. Describe a Sunday for Mary and Laura and compare it to your Sunday. Mary and Laura’s-take bath Saturday night; sit quietly all day; couldn’t play with toys or each other; couldn’t sew; could look at pictures in the Bible or animal book; listen to your child’s answer p.84

Chapter 6

  1. Tell me the stories of the two bears in this chapter. 1st bear: It was dark, and Laura went to help her mother milk the cow; they thought the cow had gotten out of the barn; there was a gate, but mother couldn’t open it all the way to get to the cow, so she slapped the cow and realized it was a large bear; she and Laura hurried to the house and made it safely in; 2nd bear: Pa was coming home from town in the dark and saw a bear standing in his way off the road; Pa didn’t have his gun, so he picked up a branch and ran at the bear; when he hit the bear he realized it was just a large stump p.104

Chapter 7

  1. Explain sugar snow. It’s a spring snow that keeps the trees just cold enough to extend the the maple syrup harvest p.127

Chapter 8

  1. Was this a fun chapter to read? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 9

  1. Why hadn’t Laura known the sky was so large? She and her family lived in the woods with trees all around them, they couldn’t see the vastness of the sky p.164

Chapter 9

  1. Why is Laura jealous of Mary? Mary has golden hair, she looked good and sweet, the storekeeper commented how pretty she was, she kept her dress clean and minded her manners, her candy had a poem on it p.175

Chapter 10

  1. How did Pa get honey in this chapter? He found a bear eating honey from a tree; he chased the bear away, cut down the tree and filled all the containers he brought from home p.195

Chapter 11

  1. Can you answer Laura’s question? How is Charlie a liar? He cried out like he was in trouble three times and there wasn’t anything wrong p.211
  2. Does this remind you of another story? The boy who cried wolf

Chapter 12

  1. Summarize this chapter. Ma and Laura made hats out of straw; It was time to harvest the garden and grain; Pa convinced his neighbor to hire a threshing machine to come and separate the wheat; it took all day and the girls helped their Ma prepare dinner p.221

Chapter 13

  1. Why didn’t Pa shoot any animals when he went hunting? He was too curious watching them p.232
  2. Tell me a part of this story you really enjoyed. Why? Listen to your child’s answer