Snowed In by Barbara M. Lucas and Catherine Stock is a cozy picture book I happened across at a book sale. I bought a used copy that had been discarded by a school and am so glad I found this sweet story! It is an lovely combination of story, history, and illustrations. (Given how much we enjoyed our Hibernation Homeschooling, it makes sense this book would appeal to me!)

Snowed In

A family in Wyoming prepares for being snowed in on their farm for the winter of 1915. They say goodbye to the school and teacher, stock up at the general store, and load up two large wooden boxes with books from the library. They then enjoy their cozy winter of learning and reading at home after the snow makes it impossible for them to leave their farm. 

The watercolor illustrations make it a lovely book with a great deal of atmosphere in each illustration.

Snowed In is a great book for so many learning topics – homesteading, farming, rural life in the early twentieth century, home education, etc.

It would also be great for part of a unit on seasons as a way to think about the changing season have impacted families in history.

Definitely worth digging up a copy to enjoy in your cozy home!

Homeschooling Ideas

Geography – Use this map of Wyoming to label important places and features of the state.

Home Economics – What else did the family have to stock up on for the winter? Make a list of what your family would need if snowed in for weeks or months. 

Discussion – On the last page of the story, Grace and Luke said they have good teachers and plenty of them. What do they mean by this?

Poetry – Read and discuss poems about winter and snow such as:

• “Jack Frost” by Gabriel Setoun 
• “Winter Blanket” by Ada L. Wine 
• “Little White Snowdrop” by Amanda Turner 
• “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost 

Music – Learn how to sing or play “Home on the Range.”

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