Letter to Classroom Teachers
Education Guide
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Dear Classroom Teachers,
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit is designed to immerse visitors in three important time
periods of American history (the first Thanksgiving, the Civil War, and life on the prairie circa 1870).
Students are invited to join Jack and Annie as they travel back in time to a way of life only read about in
books. Through dramatic play and stimulating environments, the exhibit shows children how much we
can learn from historical fiction.
This education guide was prepared to provide you with materials that will support you and your class
before, during and after your visit. The guide includes an overview of the major exhibit components,
educational objectives, connections to national standards, a historical perspective for each of the three
important eras/events highlighted by the exhibit, and sample questions to prepare children for their visit
and to discuss as a follow-up after their visit. The education guide also includes activities and resources
for classroom use. These activities can be adapted to meet the needs of your curriculum and the
children you teach.
While a visit to the Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit is a natural extension of any social studies
curriculum, it is our hope that the experience will nurture and reinforce an interest in historical fiction
among students and get their imaginations involved as they learn to love reading. Encourage students to
think of ways to bring other favorite books to life through dramatic play in the classroom and at home!
We hope you enjoy your Magic Tree House® adventure!
Sincerely,
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Letter to Parents/Guardians
Field Trip
Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit
®
Dear Parents/Guardians,
On our field trip, the class visited an exhibit called Magic Tree House at the children’s museum. This
exhibit is based on three books in the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne: Thanksgiving on
Thursday, Civil War on Sunday, and Twister on Tuesday. You may be familiar with this popular series in
which Jack and Annie take readers back in time to experience important events in history.
In the Thanksgiving on Thursday (1621) part of the exhibit, students could climb Plymouth Rock, dig for
clams on the shore, prepare and set the table for the first Thanksgiving feast, and harvest vegetables
from the Pilgrim’s garden. In the Civil War on Sunday (1861-1865) part of the exhibit, students could
dress in the uniform of a drummer boy, drive a horse-drawn ambulance to bring wounded soldiers to
a hospital tent for tending by Clara Barton, write letters home from a soldier, and play board games
popular at the time. In the Twister on Tuesday (1870) part of the exhibit, students could drive a steam
locomotive, attend class in a one-room school house, dress like a settler on the great plains, and hide in
a storm shelter to avoid a tornado.
These questions will help reinforce our visit to the exhibit. Please pick a few to discuss with your child.
• How was the life of a Pilgrim child different from the life of a child today?
• What events led to the first Thanksgiving?
• Why do you think Clara Barton helped wounded soldiers from both the North and the South?
• Why do you think people in the 1800s wanted to leave cities in the east for a life on the frontier in
the west?
• How did the steam locomotive affect the settlers who moved west?
• How is going to school in a one room school house different from the way you go to school today?
• Which part of the exhibit did you like best? Why was it your favorite?
Thank you!
Sincerely,
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Exhibit Overview
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Based on the best-selling children’s book series written by Mary Pope Osborne and published by Random House, the
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit allows visitors to branch out through history via a magical, time-traveling tree
house. Join Jack and Annie, two ordinary siblings from Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, as they are whisked away in time to
experience three important periods in American history.
Magic Tree House® selections featured in the exhibit include:
Thanksgiving on Thursday
It’s a time for giving thanks... When the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back
to 1621 on the first Thanksgiving Day. The Pilgrims ask them to help get things ready.
But whether it’s cooking or clamming, Jack and Annie don’t know how to do anything the
Pilgrim way. Will they ruin the holiday forever? Or will the feast go on?
Civil War on Sunday
Cannon Fire! That’s what Jack and Annie hear when The Magic Tree House whisks them
back to the time of the American Civil War. There they meet a famous nurse named Clara
Barton and do their best to help wounded soldiers. It is their hardest journey in time yet and the one that will make the most difference to their own lives!
Twister on Tuesday
An adventure to blow you away! That’s what Jack and Annie get when the Magic
Tree House whisks them back to the 1870s. They land on the prairie near a one-room
schoolhouse, where they meet a teenage schoolteacher, some cool kids, and one big, scary
bully. But the biggest and scariest thing is yet to come!
Rooted in character education, this literacy-based exhibit allows imaginations to grow as children explore history
through three unique, immersive environments featuring period costumes, props and more than 30 hands-on learning
experiences.
Let the
adventure begin!
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Exhibit Overview
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Tree House
Explore Jack and Annie’s magical tree house in the woods where all of their time traveling adventures begin and end.
Choose from three of Jack and Annie’s favorite adventures where they experience important periods in American history.
• Meet Jack and Annie and learn how their adventures in
the Magic Tree House started.
• Read about the first Thanksgiving and learn about the
Pilgrims and Wampanoag people.
• Research the Civil War and the important role nurses and
drummer boys played.
• Learn about life on the prairie and the dangers of tornados.
Thanksgiving on Thursday
Jack and Annie are thankful when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to 1621 on the first Thanksgiving Day, but
helping the Pilgrims prepare for the feast turns out to be a difficult task.
• “Ride” in a boat similar to one the pilgrims used to get
from the Mayflower to Plymouth.
• Climb Plymouth Rock.
• Dig for clams at the beach.
• Dress up in traditional clothing of the Pilgrim people.
• Gather vegetables from the Pilgrims’ garden.
• Help prepare a turkey and other traditional dishes.
• Set the Thanksgiving table for the first feast.
• Explore life in a traditional Pilgrim house.
• Grind corn as the Native Americans did.
• Break the code on a special Thanksgiving puzzle to learn
about the magic of community.
• Hear what Jack and Annie learn from their visit to the
Pilgrim settlement.
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®
®
The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Exhibit Overview
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Civil War on Sunday
Jack and Annie get swept up in the American Civil War when the Magic Tree House takes them back in time to help
wounded soldiers and meet a famous nurse named Clara Barton.
• Climb in a horse-drawn ambulance for a bumpy ride.
• Visit the drummer boy’s tent and try playing the drum.
• Find the hidden message in the drummer boy’s music.
• Dress up in traditional clothing worn by Civil War nurses
and drummer boys.
• Take on the role of a volunteer nurse helping Clara Barton
in a field hospital.
• Play an old-fashioned game of checkers or Shut-The-Box
on a barrel.
• Learn how to care for others.
Twister on Tuesday
Join Jack and Annie during the time of westward expansion and experience life on the prairie in a one-room schoolhouse.
Join Jack and Annie during the time of westward expansion
and experience life on the prairie in a one-room schoolhouse.
• Role-play as the teacher and students in a one-room
schoolhouse.
• Practice handwriting exercises from the McGuffey Reader
on a large blackboard.
• Crawl into a storm cellar and experience the sounds and
feel of a tornado.
• Solve a puzzle to see which train makes it all the way to
the west coast.
• Dress in traditional clothing worn by pioneer children
traveling west across the prairie.
• Pretend to be a conductor, moving levers and blowing the
whistle on a steam locomotive.
• Learn from Miss Neely, the schoolteacher, about the
importance of perseverance – if at first you don’t
succeed, try, try again!
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Educational Objectives and Standards
Education Guide
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit, designed to immerse visitors in three important eras of American history,
provides children with opportunities for open-ended dramatic play, interaction with period artifacts, and simulations of life
long ago. Concept knowledge, developed through a multisensory exhibit experience, targets a wide age range.
Objectives of the exhibit include:
• Comparison of life long ago with life today
• Understanding the sequence and causes of historical events
• Exposure to historical figures who have contributed to the common good of society
• Examination of tools and artifacts from historical eras
• Increase interest in reading historical fiction
The exhibit reinforces the knowledge and skills of the following educational standards:
National Social Studies Standards
Standard 1A: The student understands family life now and in the recent past; family life in various places long ago.
Standard 1B: The student understands the different ways people of diverse racial, religious, and ethnic groups, and
of various national origins have transmitted their beliefs and values.
Standard 2B: The student understands how communities in North America varied long ago.
Standard 3B: The student understands the history of the first European, African, and/or Asian-Pacific explorers and
settlers who came to his or her state or region.
Standard 4D: The student understands events that celebrate and exemplify fundamental values and principles of
American democracy.
Standard 5A: Demonstrate understanding of the movements of large groups of people into his or her own and other
states in the United States now and long ago.
The Common Core Standards for Language Arts
Reading for Information-Key Ideas and Details: Standard 3: Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas
develop and interact over the course of a text.
Reading for Information-Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Standard 7: Integrate and evaluate content
presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
Writing-Research to Build and Present Knowledge: Standard 7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research
projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
Speaking and Listening-Comprehension and Collaboration: Standard 2: Integrate and evaluate
information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Language-Vocabulary Acquisition and Use: Standard 6: Acquire and use accurately a range
of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing,
speaking, and listening at grade level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary
knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Thanksgiving on Thursday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Historical Perspective
Essential Questions
The First Thanksgiving occurred in 1621. It was held to celebrate the
harvest with the Wampanoags who were instrumental in the survival of the
Pilgrims in their new colony. A group of Christians decided to separate from
the Church of England and found their own church in 1602. In 1607 this
group decided to go the Holland in hopes of having religious freedom and
ending the persecution they experienced in England. The Separatists stayed
in Holland until 1620 when they returned to London to board the Mayflower
and the Speedwell to sail for America. The two ships left England on August
15, 1620 but after a short while the Speedwell began to leak and both
ships returned to shore. The Speedwell was eventually abandoned, and the
Mayflower took over its passengers. The Mayflower then left England at
Plymouth harbor on September 16, 1620 with 102 passengers.
During their two month journey many of the passengers became ill from
a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables. When the Mayflower finally landed,
it wasn’t where they had planned. They had originally planned to land in
Virginia, but instead they landed in New England in the area that is now
known as Cape Cod. For four days, Pilgrims debated staying in Cape Cod or
looking for a better place to begin their settlement. The Pilgrims eventually
decided to look for a more secluded spot with deeper water.
•Why did the Pilgrims leave
England to come to America?
•How was the life of a Pilgrim
child different from the life of a
child today?
•What events led to the first
Thanksgiving?
•How would the Wampanoag
tribe describe the first
Thanksgiving? Would it be
different from the Pilgrims’
description?
Upon arriving at Plymouth Rock, the Pilgrim men signed an agreement, the Mayflower Compact, on November 11, 1620.
Those who signed the agreement pledged to do all things “for the general Good of the Colony”. Once the Mayflower
Compact was signed, the passengers began to set up their colony. On November 25th, under the command of Captain
Myles Standish, sixteen men went looking for a site for a permanent settlement. In December, a permanent site was
found, and in January the Pilgrims began to build their new settlement. The Pilgrims endured great losses that first winter
because of the weather, disease and lack of supplies. Forty-five of the 102 settlers died before spring. By Thanksgiving
the following fall, there were only fifty-three people left to celebrate.
During their first winter, the only contact that the Pilgrims had with
Native Americans was seeing them from a distance. In March, a
Native American named Samoset, a Wampanoag Indian, entered
the settlement and greeted the Pilgrims in English. Samoset had
learned English from traders in Maine. Samoset
stayed overnight with the Pilgrims and was
given many gifts. On April 1st, Samoset
returned with another Native American,
Tisquantum (Squanto). Squanto had been
captured and taken to Spain in 1614; he
escaped to England where he learned to
speak English. His language skills allowed
him to converse easily with the Pilgrims.
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Thanksgiving on Thursday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
After Squanto met the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag chief Massasoit came to visit the settlement. The Pilgrims and the
Wampanoags made peace and signed a treaty. This treaty stated that neither side would harm the other, would take from
the other, or would do unjustly war against the other. This treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags lasted for
over fifty years.
The first Thanksgiving probably took place in late September or early October, after the crops had been harvested.
The fifty-three remaining Pilgrims, half of which were children, attended this harvest feast. They were joined by ninety
Wampanoag Indians. The Wampanoags brought five deer to the first Thanksgiving feast. Other foods that were probably
served include water fowl, Indian corn, peas, beans, plums, and walnuts. It is possible that wild turkey was eaten at the
first Thanksgiving but historians are not sure. Forks were not used at the first Thanksgiving; the Pilgrims used spoons,
knives, and their fingers to eat their meal. The Pilgrims did not have any sweets at their Thanksgiving feast because,
although they had brought sugar with them from England, by the time of the first Thanksgiving, their supply was gone.
At the first Thanksgiving, Chief Massasoit and Governor Bradford sat at the same table and the minister said a prayer to
give thanks. As was customary for the Pilgrims, the adults ate first while the servants and children waited on them. After
the feast was over, the settlers played games and the Native Americans danced. Captain Myles Standish also drilled the
soldiers while the Native Americans watched. This celebration continued for three days.
Today Thanksgiving is a holiday that is celebrated all over the United States, but it was not always this way. While George
Washington did set aside days for the celebration of Thanksgiving, it was not until October 3,1863 when Abraham Lincoln
declared that the fourth Thursday of the month of November would be a national holiday to celebrate and remember the
first Thanksgiving.
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Thanksgiving on Thursday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Suggested Reading List
A Pioneer Thanksgiving: A Story of Harvest
Celebrations in 1841 by Barbara Greenwood
Kids Can Press (September 1, 1999)
ISBN-10: 1550745743
ISBN-13: 978-1550745740
The Mayflower Compact by Dennis Brindell Fradin
Benchmark Books (NY) (October 2006)
ISBN-10: 0761421254
ISBN-13: 978-0761421252
If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern
Turtleback (August 1, 1993)
ISBN-10: 0808579215
ISBN-13: 978-0808579212
P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet by Carol Crane
Sleeping Bear Press (October 31, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1585363537 ISBN-13: 978-1585363537
Pilgrim Cat by Carol Antoinette Peacock
Albert Whitman & Company (September 1, 2004)
ISBN-10: 0807565326
Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
by Joseph Bruchac
Sandpiper (September 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0152060448
ISBN-13: 978-0152060442
Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved
Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; 1st edition
(October 1, 2002)
ISBN-10: 0689847874
ISBN-13: 978-0689847875
The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross and
Carolyn Croll
Random House Books for Young Readers; Reissued edition
(September 26, 1995)
ISBN-10: 0679852921
ISBN-13: 978-0679852926
This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story by Laura
Krauss Melmed
HarperCollins (September 2, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0060541849
ISBN-13: 978-0060541842
This is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore and Megan Lloyd
HarperCollins (August 26, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0066237955
Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
(September 1, 1995)
ISBN-10: 0689802080
ISBN-13: 978-0689802089
You Wouldn’t Want to Sail on the Mayflower! A Trip
That Took Entirely Too Long by Peter Cook
Children’s Press(CT) (October 2005)
ISBN-10: 0531124118
ISBN-13: 978-0531124116
Electronic Resources
Magic Tree House Website - http://www.magictreehouse.com
Magic Tree House Classroom Adventures - http://www.mthclassroomadventures.org
Scholastic - http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/
History.com - http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving
Plimoth Plantation - http://www.plimoth.org/
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Civil War on Sunday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Historical Perspective
Essential Questions
The American Civil War was fought between the Union States in the
North and the Confederate States in the South. The war was also
known as the War Between the States. People from the North were
called Yankees, and people from the South were called Rebels. The
Confederate States were led by Jefferson Davis, and the Confederate
Army was led by General Robert E. Lee. The Union States were led by
President Abraham Lincoln, and Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Army.
•How were boys involved in the Civil
War?
•Why did Clara Barton help
wounded soldiers from both the
North and the South?
The Northern states had become industrial since the American
•What is a civil war?
Revolution while the Southern states continued to rely on farming. The
South depended on the work of slaves to raise and harvest crops. The
•Why do people disagree and what
North wanted to abolish slavery in the United States, and the South
are ways to deal with conflict?
wanted the Northern states to enforce the laws related to slavery in
their states. While historians disagree about whether the Civil War was
caused primarily by states’ rights, taxation or slavery, the election of President Lincoln triggered the secession of South
Carolina in December of 1860. Lincoln had made it clear that he was against slavery and wanted to keep the North and
the South together as one country. Ten southern states followed South Carolina’s action to secede from the United States:
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
The war began on April 12, 1861 when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The Civil War was
fought mostly in the southern states, and there was a great deal of destruction. The fighting would last four years (18611865) and cause the loss of 620,000 lives and 375,000 injuries. Many soldiers died from disease and infections that
could have been treated with adequate medical help. In the end the Northern states prevailed- our country remained
united, the Federal government was changed forever, and slavery came to an end.
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Civil War on Sunday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
The Civil War on Sunday portion of the exhibit deals with Clara Barton, life in camp, and drummer boys.
Facts about Clara Barton:
• Clara Barton was born on Christmas Day in 1821. She died at her home in Glen Echo, Maryland, on April 12, 1912
• Clara loved the color red.
• Clara Barton was a vegetarian.
• Clara Barton never married or had children. She had several nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.
• David Barton taught his youngest sister to ride a horse, a skill she loved and enjoyed throughout her long life.
• Clara loved pets. She named her first dog Button. In her later years she developed a fondness for cats. A painting of
her cat Tommy hangs in the dining room of her home in Maryland, now the Clara Barton National Historic Site.
• Clara was known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” for her volunteer efforts during the Civil War. Although she is most
known for nursing injured soldiers during the war, Clara also spent a good deal of time collecting and distributing
provisions to soldiers.
• After the war, Clara helped mark the graves of unknown soldiers and assisted in the location of thousands of missing
soldiers.
• In 1881, Clara Barton formed the American National Red Cross as a part of the International Red Cross (founded in
Switzerland in 1863 by Jean-Henri Dunant). The American Red Cross provides humanitarian aid to the victims of
natural or man-made disasters.
Facts about Drummer Boys:
• The Civil War is sometimes called “The Boys’ War,” because so many soldiers who fought in it were teenagers. The
rule in the Union Army was that soldiers had to be 18 to join, but many younger boys answered “I’m over 18, sir,”
when asked. Drummer boys were supposed to be between the ages of 13-15, but there are reports of drummer boys
as young as age 9.
• The drummer boys weren’t supposed to fight, but they did a very important job during the war. In the confusion of
battle, it was often impossible to hear the officers’ orders, so it was the drummer boys’ job to communicate these
orders to the soldiers through different drumbeats. The drums used by the drummer boys needed to produce a sound
so loud that all of the soldiers could hear it above the roar of battle.
• Unique sets of drumbeats were played like a secret code to let the soldiers
know which direction they were to march or if they were to attack or retreat.
The drummer boy also played drum calls, notifying soldiers of daily routines
such as reveille, mealtime or bedtime.
• The drummer boy could often be found near a high ranking army officer.
Drummer boys were often awakened in the middle of the night to
drum messages to the troops, making it difficult for them to
get a full night’s sleep. When the drummer boys weren’t
needed for sounding the calls, they had another job.
They were stretcher bearers. They walked around the
battlefield looking for the wounded and brought them to
medical care.
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Civil War on Sunday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Suggested Reading List
Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire
Beautiful Feet Books, Inc. (September 22, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1893103269
ISBN-13: 978-1893103269
Li’l Dan, the Drummer Boy: A Civil War Story
by Romare Bearden
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; Book and CDROM edition (September 1, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0689862377
ISBN-13: 978-0689862373
B is for Battle Cry by Patricia Bauer
Sleeping Bear Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1585363561
ISBN-13: 978-1585363568
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
Philomel; First edition. edition (September 15, 1994)
ISBN-10: 0399226710
ISBN-13: 978-0399226717
Cecil’s Story by George Ella Lyon
Scholastic (March 1, 1995)
ISBN-10: 0531070638
ISBN-13: 978-0531070635
Clara Barton: I Want to Help! by Cathy East Dubowski
Bearport Publishing (September 1, 2005)
ISBN-10: 159716075X
ISBN-13: 978-1597160759
The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by
Janis Herbert
Chicago Review Press (November 1, 1999)
ISBN-10: 1556523556
ISBN-13: 978-1556523557
Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the
Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine
Scholastic Press (January 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 043977733X
ISBN-13: 978-0439777339
Electronic Resources
Magic Tree House Website - http://www.magictreehouse.com
Magic Tree House Classroom Adventures - http://www.mthclassroomadventures.org
History.com - http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving
Clara Barton National Historic Site- http://www.nps.gov/clba/forkids/index.htm
A Civil War site developed by kids for kids- http://www.civilwarkids.com/index.html
Civil War sites for kids- http://www.civilwar.org/education/students/kidswebsites.html
Extensive interactive Civil War resource http://www.history.com/topics/clara-barton/interactives/civil-war-150#/home
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Twister on Tuesday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Historical Perspective
Essential Questions
The Great Plains occupy the land from the Mississippi River westward
to the Rocky Mountains. This area covers parts of the Colorado,
Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Before the completion of the
transcontinental railroad in 1869, settlers moving to the plains journeyed
by train or steamboat to Independence, Missouri then by wagon train
or horseback to their destinations. In 1862, the United States Congress
passed the Homestead Act, granting permission to families to settle
on parcels of 160 acres and earn ownership of the land by cultivating
the fields. This started The Great Western Migration, a mass movement
of population that lasted until the late 1800s. Land was granted on
the condition that it would be farmed for five years; settlers could also
purchase the land for $1.25 an acre after farming it for only six months.
In 1850, there were 23 million American citizens. By 1880 there were
over 50 million. During that 30 year period, 7 and a half million people
emigrated from Europe to the U.S. The immigrants who settled on
the plains came mainly from Germany, Sweden, Norway, Poland, and
Czechoslovakia.
•Why were Americans attracted to
life on the plains?
•In what ways can change or
growth be both positive and
negative?
•How did the land and climate in the
central plains region impact the
settlers?
•How did the steam locomotive
affect westward expansion?
•What are the pros and cons
of education in a one room
schoolhouse compared to
education today?
When settlers arrived at their homestead, they found the land and climate to be very different from what they were
used to. The land was largely flat and covered with tall prairie grasses. Water was scarce and streams often flowed
seasonally. There were few trees due to the strong winds that blew across the plains. Without lumber from trees, homes
were initially built of sod. The invention of barbed wire in 1870 helped settlers enclose their farms since little wood was
available for fences. Rainfall was unpredictable with many of the first settlers to the region calling it the “Great American
Desert”. The development of the steel windmill and mechanical drills helped farmers access water for irrigation. Grain
farming became possible on the plains through these inventions. Today, the Great Plains region of the United States is the
world’s top wheat exporter.
Another difference for the settlers of the Great Plains
was the extremes of weather they encountered. The
word “blizzard” was first used in 1870 to describe
a storm in Minnesota and Iowa that produced heavy
snow and very high winds. The
winds on the plains were helpful
for powering farm windmills,
but it also increased the rate
of moisture evaporation for
crops. The central plains get
about 700 tornadoes each
year, resulting in the region
being nicknamed “Tornado
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The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Twister on Tuesday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Alley”. When dry polar air streams onto the plains, it clashes with wet warm air from the Gulf of Mexico. This clash cause
unstable weather conditions and the formation of tornadoes. The United States has more tornadoes than any place on
Earth. Winds can range from 100 to over 300 miles per hour. Most tornadoes occur from April to June in the U.S. In April
1974, over 148 tornadoes were spotted in one day hitting 13 states. Many schools and homes on the prairie had storm
cellars to protect them from these frequent storms.
The development of the transcontinental railroad system had a significant impact on plains settlements. Originally, the
railroad system was designed to carry passengers west across the endless grasslands as quickly as possible, but the
settlement of the plains meant customers for the lumber and farm equipment moved by train and an inexpensive means
to bring the cattle and crops from the plains back to customers in the east. Between 1870 and 1890, hundreds of
thousands of settlers moved to the Great Plains. By 1889, the last available territory was settled in Oklahoma, effectively
closing the frontier.
The rail system had 53,000 miles in 1870 and 93,000 miles ten years later. The men who built the rail system were paid
$2 for twelve hour days. A third class ticket from Chicago to Cheyenne, Wyoming cost $28.00. In 1870, there were nearly
a dozen different gauges used for track making it impossible to switch locomotives or train cars. By 1880, the majority
of trains adopted a standard gauge of four feet, eight and a half inches. American railroads took this gauge from the
width of the standard English horse carriage at that time. The other important development of this era was the adoption
of Standard Time Zones. Originally, each railroad had its own “standard time” creating havoc for travelers riding multiple
trains. In 1883, four time zones that were one hour apart were adopted nationally.
In the late 19th and the first half of the 20th
century, one room schools were common
throughout the plains where settlers were
scattered on farms many miles from the
closest town. In these schools, all of the
students met in a single room regardless of
age or grade. One room meant one teacher
taught reading, writing, and arithmetic to
boys and girls of all grades. Teachers were
often young and had little training. They
usually boarded with a family close to the
school. Not only did the teachers teach all grades and all ages, they lit the fire in the morning before anyone arrived and
swept out the room in the evening after everyone had left. Teachers on the plains often found themselves in the position
of teaching the children of new immigrants, who often did not know any English when they arrived at school.
Children attended school only if they were not needed at home to help on the farm.
In the school room, there was a blackboard, desks or planks for children, a teacher’s desk, slates,
maps, sometimes a globe, a log stove and, if the teacher was musical (and the community could
afford it), a piano. In the earliest days, students would often provide their own books, usually
from the selection of McGuffey Readers. Within the school, there was always a water pail and
dipper to keep cool during the hot summer months. Outside, not far from the front door, was the
water pump. And, at a safe and hygienic distance from the school house itself, an outhouse.
Page · 16
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®
The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Education Guide
Twister on Tuesday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Suggested Reading List
Daily Life in a Covered Wagon by Paul Erickson
Turtleback (July 1, 1997)
ISBN-10: 0613028384
ISBN-13: 978-0613028387
Prairie Day by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Turtleback (May 1, 1998)
ISBN-10: 0613085752
ISBN-13: 978-0613085755
Dandelions by Eve Bunding
Perfection Learning (May 1, 2001)
ISBN-10: 0756905613
ISBN-13: 978-0756905613
Prairie School by Avi
Paw Prints 2008-04-25 (April 25, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1435262727
ISBN-13: 978-1435262720
Going West by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Turtleback (October 1, 1997)
ISBN-10: 0613050665
ISBN-13: 978-0613050661
Twisters: A Book About Tornados by Rick Thomas
Picture Window Books (January 2005)
ISBN-10: 1404809309
ISBN-13: 978-1404809307
If You’re Not from the Prairie by David Bouchard
Raincoast Books; 6th printing edition (May 6, 2002)
ISBN-10: 1895714664
ISBN-13: 978-1895714661
Under a Prairie Sky by Anne Laurel Carter
Orca Book Publishers (September 1, 2001)
ISBN-10: 1551432269
ISBN-13: 978-1551432267
Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder by
William Anderson
HarperCollins; 1st edition (February 28, 1998)
ISBN-10: 0060272430
ISBN-13: 978-0060272432
The Last Brother: A Civil War Tale by Trinka Hakes Noble
Sleeping Bear Press (May 17, 2006)
ISBN-10: 1585362530
ISBN-13: 978-1585362530
Electronic Resources
Magic Tree House Website - http://www.magictreehouse.com
Magic Tree House Classroom Adventures - http://www.mthclassroomadventures.org
History.com - http://www.history.com/topics/transcontinental-railroad
University of Missouri - http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/939
A Day in the Life History Game - http://pbskids.org/stantonanthony/frontier_girl.html
McGuffeyReaders.com - http://mcguffeyreaders.com/1879_version.htm
National Geographic - http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/tornadoes/
One-Room Schoolhouse Photo Collection http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/ndfahtml/hult_school.html
The Homestead Act of 1862 http://www.nathankramer.com/settle/article/homestead.htm
Page · 17
®
®
The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Magic Tree House Exhibit Vocabulary
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
These words represent key vocabulary from all three of the Magic Tree House books in the exhibit.
The words in this table are mixed up.
spit
cot
sweet potato
ladle
soldier
Squanto
storm cellar
schoolhouse
drumbeat
railroad
Mayflower
field hospital
ambulance
Wampanoag
clam
twister
Clara Barton
battlefield
coal bin
butter churn
suspenders
bandage
lesson
Governor
Bradford
McGuffey
Reader
Plymouth
Rock
steam
locomotive
harvest
prairie
stretcher
blackboard
mailbag
hearth
sod house
heat stroke
Pilgrim
drummer boy
feast
homesick
community
chalk
nurse
Before visiting, have students predict which words go with each book.
While visiting, have students look for the words or objects in the exhibit.
After visiting, have students check the list again to confirm their predictions.
Words can also be sorted in other ways depending on the age of students:
parts of speech, common/proper nouns or abstract/concrete words.
*STUDENT WORKSHEET IS SUPPLIED*
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Magic Tree House Exhibit Vocabulary
Student Worksheet
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
These words represent key vocabulary from all three of the Magic Tree House books in the exhibit.
The words in this table are mixed up.
Predict which words go with each book and write them in the columns below!
spit
cot
sweet potato
ladle
soldier
Squanto
storm cellar
schoolhouse
drumbeat
railroad
Mayflower
field hospital
ambulance
Wampanoag
clam
twister
Clara Barton
battlefield
coal bin
butter churn
suspenders
bandage
lesson
Governor
Bradford
McGuffey
Reader
Plymouth
Rock
steam
locomotive
harvest
prairie
stretcher
blackboard
mailbag
hearth
sod house
heat stroke
Pilgrim
drummer boy
feast
homesick
community
chalk
nurse
Thanksgiving on Thursday
Civil War on Sunday
Twister on Tuesday
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Out to Sea
Thanksgiving on Thursday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
In 1620, the Mayflower set sail on a 66 day voyage,
bound for the New World 3,000 miles away!
Materials:
•
•
•
•
•
Mayflower Voyage Map (one per student)
Mayflower Ship (one per student)
paperclip (one per student)
magnet (one per student)
crayons or markers
Procedure:
1. Color the map and Mayflower.
2. Clip a paperclip on the front of the Mayflower.
3. Place the Mayflower on the “X” where the voyage started.
4. Use the magnet under the map to sail the Mayflower along the dotted path to the “X” where the voyage ended.
Discussion Questions
1. From which city and country did the Pilgrims begin their voyage? Plymouth, England
2. From which continent did they leave? Europe
3. In what year did the Pilgrims set sail? 1620
4. What is the name of the ship on which they sailed? Mayflower
5. In which direction did the Pilgrims sail? north, south, east or west? (Hint: use the compass rose on the map.) West
6. Which ocean did the Pilgrims cross to get to the New World? Atlantic Ocean
7. To which continent did the Pilgrims sail? North America
8. How long did the voyage take? 6 days, 16 days, 66 days or 600 days? 66 days
9. What is the name of the famous landmark where the Pilgrims settled? Plymouth Rock
10. How does your Mayflower “magically” sail along the voyage path?
Magnets! Magnets produce magnetic fields and attract objects made of iron and steel like the
paperclip. The force of the magnet travels through the paper pulling the paper clip toward it.
As you move the magnet, the Mayflower with the paperclip attached is pulled along too.
This activity was adapted from “The Crossing of the Mayflower”. Enchanted Learning, 2012. Web. July 11, 2012.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Thanksgiving on Thursday
Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Student Worksheet
Mayflower Voyage Map
Out to Sea
This activity was adapted from “The Crossing of the Mayflower”. Enchanted Learning, 2012. Web. July 11, 2012.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Out to Sea - Mayflower Ships Thanksgiving on Thursday - Magic Tree House
This activity was adapted from “The Crossing of the Mayflower”. Enchanted Learning, 2012. Web. July 11, 2012.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
®
Traveling Exhibit
Student Worksheet
Playing Pilgrim
Thanksgiving on Thursday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
The English language spoken by the
Pilgrims sounded much different than
the English language we speak today.
Rehearse the following words, greetings
and phrases to see how well you can
“speak pilgrim!”
Today
17th Century
Good morrow
How now?
How do you fare?
Today
17th Century
eat dinner
sup
fireplace
hearth
What cheer?
cat
mouser
Excuse me
Pray, pardon me
dolls
poppets
Congratulations!
Huzzah!
pants
breeches
stew
pottage
Goodbye
God bye to you
Fare thee well
Pray remember me
pillowcase
pillowbere
set the table
lay the board
skirt
petticoat
backward
arsy varsy
Hi, how are you?
This activity was adapted from “Talk Like a Pilgrim”. Plimouth Plantation, 2012. Web. July 12, 2012.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Pilgrim Bonnet & Hat
Thanksgiving on Thursday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Pilgrim Bonnet
Materials:
•
•
•
•
12”x18” sheet of construction paper (one per student)
thin ribbon - cut into 10” pieces (two per student)
scissors
stapler or tape
Procedure:
1. Take the sheet of construction paper and cut 2
triangles according to the diagram to the right.
2. Fold the edge opposite the cuts up 2 inches.
3. Fold the edge between the cuts down to 90 degrees.
4. Fold the edges on either side of the cuts to overlap the
last fold and staple or tape to hold in place.
5. Tape or staple a piece of ribbon underneatht he fold on
the front of each side, making the ties.
Pilgrim Hat
Materials:
•
•
•
•
•
white poster board or lightweight cardboard
construction paper: black, yellow, gray
scissors
tape
glue
Procedure:
1. Cut a headband out of poster board that is slightly larger than the
child’s head.
2. Cut a hat shape out of black construction paper.
3. Cut a strip 1.5” wide out of gray construction paper and glue to the
hat as shown. Trim the edges to match the angle of the hat.
4. Cut a square out of yellow construction paper that is 2.5”x2.5”. Cut
the center out of the square. Glue the remainder of the square over
the gray strip.
5. Glue or tape the finished hat to the center of the headband.
6. Tape the ends of the headband to fit around the child’s head.
These activities were adapted from “How to make a Pilgrim Bonnet out of paper”. Skip To My Lou, 2012. Web. Sept. 4, 2012.
and “Thanksgiving Pilgrim Hat Craft”. All Kids Network, 2012. Web. Sept. 4, 2012.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Name _________________________________________
A THANKSGIVING QUILT
Art © 2002 by Sal Murdocca from Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne.
When Jack and Annie return from their adventure among the Pilgrims
and the Wampanoag, they realize just how much they have to be thankful
for in their own lives and time. Decorate the THANKSGIVING QUILT
below, filling in each blank square with words or a picture showing
something you are thankful for. Share your quilt with your classmates.
To read all of the books in the Magic Tree House series, visit your local library or bookstore.
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Decoding Drums
Civil War on Sunday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Drummer boys of the Civil War performed the very important job of communicating the orders of the general to the
soldiers. Unique sets of drumbeats were played like a secret code to let the soldiers know which direction they were to
march or if they were to attack or retreat. The drummer boy also played drum calls, notifying soldiers of daily routines
such as reveille, mealtime or bedtime.
Make your own Civil War drum and Drumbeat Codes
Materials:
• empty, round containers with lids
• crayons, markers, paint and stickers
• objects to serve as drumsticks, such as dowel rods or spoons
Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Have each child choose a container for their drum.
Use markers, crayons, paint or stickers to decorate the “drums.”
As a group, have children create a drumbeat code for several simple words.
Divide into two groups and have each come up with secret messages to send using the code.
Take turns sending and guessing messages across the room.
Civil War Drum Calls - Audio Clips:
• Call to Battle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WChclrQz8-E
• Reveille - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgRtUBaPaLs
• March - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cki6QJQr-DA
This activity was adapted from “Super Sounding Drums”. Zoom-Science Rocks, 2012. Web. Aug. 2, 2012.
Background info for this activity was taken from “Historic Collectible: Civil War Drums”. Drum Magazine, 2000. Web. Aug. 7, 2012.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Mail Call
Civil War on Sunday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Imagine being a soldier far away from your family with no phone or computer to contact them. During the time of the Civil
War, modern communication didn’t exist, so homesick soldiers wrote letters to stay connected to their families.
Letters written to families from soldiers included:
•
•
•
•
•
descriptions of their daily routines
new sights and experiences
battle descriptions
questions about what was happening back home
the soldier’s pay to help support the family
Family members wrote to soldiers sharing:
•
•
•
•
•
family and community news
successes and hardships
changes
gossip and rumors
keepsakes like a lock of hair or special poem
Soldiers moving from location to location often missed receiving their long-awaited letters from home. Each day, 90,000
letters passed through post offices in Washington, D.C., with even more passing through post offices in Kentucky.
Write a letter as if you are living during the time of the Civil War:
Materials:
• paper
• lead pencils
(soldiers used lead pencils because
ink and pens were very rare)
Procedure:
1. Pretend you are one of the people below:
• A soldier excited to share a new experience.
• A soldier with a minor injury waiting to return to battle.
• A soldier who is in love with a girl back home.
• A drummer boy worried about his sick mother at home.
• A mother or father worried about their son who is a soldier.
• A child who misses their father who is a soldier.
• The brother or sister of a soldier, writing to share happy news.
• A nurse caring for soldiers who misses her family.
2. Think about what you would want to say and write a letter in the
voice of the person you have chosen.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Civil War Living Wax Museum
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Civil War on Sunday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
For this project, students will research a significant person from the Civil War era and create a
poster, artifact(s) and/or a costume that represents that person.
To find a wide variety of historical figures, visit http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/people/list.cfm
Procedure:
1. Prepare a list of Civil War figures and assemble a variety of resources for your students to use in their research.
2. Have each student choose a person from the list, and distribute the Student Research Sheet, provided, for them to
complete.
3. Since wax people don’t talk, students should prepare an informational poster with the most important and
insteresting information they learned from their research.
4. Students should design a prop and costume that best represents their character.
5. A variation of the wax museum is to have a pretend button that visitors press to bring each character to life.
6. Take lots of photos of your Civil War figures!
This activity was developed by Melissa Summer and adapted from The Magic Tree House Classroom Adventures site.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Civil War Living Wax Museum
Student Worksheet
Civil War on Sunday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Student Research Sheet
• Name of your Civil War person __________________________________________________
• When did he or she live? ______________________________________________________
• Where did he or she live? _____________________________________________________
• What important role did your person play during the time of the Civil War?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
• List three or more interesting facts about your person
1. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
This activity was developed by Melissa Summer and adapted from The Magic Tree House Classroom Adventures site.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Twirling Twister
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Twister on Tuesday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
In the late 1800s, life on the prairie brought many challenges. One of these challenges included surviving the tornadoes
that tore across the flat land. Pioneers, just like we do today, made plans to keep their families safe using the resources
they had available.
What do you know about tornadoes that would
help you stay safe during these storms?
Can you make a safety plan for your family?
Make your own Tornado in a Bottle
Materials:
•
•
•
•
Water
A clear leak-proof plastic bottle with a screw on cap
Glitter or small balls of foil
Dish washing liquid
Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fill the plastic bottle 3/4 full with water.
Add a few drops of dish washing liquid.
Add a few pinches of glitter or foil balls.
Screw the cap on tightly.
Turn the bottle upside down and hold it by the neck. Quickly twirl the bottle in a circular motion for a few seconds;
look inside to see a mini-twister forming. If you don’t see a twister at first, practice twirling the bottle several times
until you succeed.
6. What shape is the twister in the bottle?
7. In what direction does the twister move?
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
Tornado Concrete Poem
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Twister on Tuesday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
Have students create a concrete poem about tornadoes using lots of vivid imagery!
Here is a great example to share:
Image from www.short-story-time.com.
®
The Magic Tree House Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
My McGuffey Reader
Teacher’s Activity Guide
Twister on Tuesday - Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit
The most popular school book series in the history of American education was the McGuffey Readers. It is estimated that
at least 120 million copies of McGuffey’s Readers were sold between 1836 and 1960. McGuffey’s Readers are still in use
today in some school systems, and by parents who are home schooling their children.
The author of the Readers, William Holmes McGuffey, became a “roving” teacher at the age of 14, beginning with 48
students in a one-room schoolhouse in Ohio. The size of the class was just one of several challenges faced by the young
McGuffey. In many one-teacher schools, children’s ages varied from six to twenty-one.
Make your own McGuffey Reader
Materials:
•
•
•
•
My McGuffey Reader template (provided - one per student)
scissors
glue stick
crayons or colored pencils
Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Give each student one template.
Have students cut off the bottom edge of the template along the horizontal dotted line.
Continue cutting along the dotted lines until all 6 images have been cut out.
Have students take the remaining part of the template and fold along the solid lines - first from top to bottom, then
side to side - creating a booklet.
5. Tell students to read each set of sentences and look for the image that matches the words.
6. As students identify matches, they can glue the correct image in the square next to the matching text.
7. After students have placed all images correctly, they can color the pictures.
Text and images for this activity were taken from The Original McGuffey’s The Eclectic First Reader.
Background information is adapted from www.mcguffeyreaders.com.
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.
The dog barks.
Do you hear the dog bark?
Boys play with dogs.
The hen eats corn.
The hen picks up the corn.
Can the little chicks eat corn?
This boy has a bird.
This bird is on his hand.
Some birds can talk.
This cow is in the pond.
The cow gives us milk.
You must not hurt the cow.
This horse eats hay.
The hay is on the ground.
Hay is made of grass.
This two boys go to school.
The bags are for their books.
Do you go to school?
Text and images for this activity were taken from The Original McGuffey’s The Eclectic First Reader.
My
McGuffey
Reader
Name: ___________________
CUT on dotted lines; FOLD on solid lines
The Magic Tree House® Traveling Exhibit was created by The Magic House® and made possible by generous support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.