Description
Author Harriet Ziefert based A New Coat for Anna on the true story of Ingeborg Schraft Hoffman, M.D., whose mother, Hanna Schraft, began with a few belongings and ended by providing her daughter with a beautiful, new coat.
Remember the War
Students will learn about one of our darkest moments in history: World War II. Learn about the long-reaching effects of the war, including the resource scarcity, the use of ration stamps, and how civilian struggles don't always end when the war does.
No boring history lessons in these pages. Just interesting lessons that help students understand the world surrounding the events of the book, bringing it to life.
Harriet Ziefert — A writer shaped by the world she loved
Students get to read about the remarkable Harriet Ziefert. Her early life and education, her career as a school teacher, and her unique writing process as a successful children's book author!
Words that matter — making learning fun, not dull
Vocabulary is woven into this guide through varied, engaging activities designed to build real word retention. Students encounter words in context, work with them through word searches and activities, and develop the kind of rich vocabulary that strengthens both reading comprehension and their own writing. No rote memorization — just words that stick because students actually use them.
- Dictionary work, helping students understand the true meaning of what they read
- Mystery word puzzles make retention fun
- Activities that build retention through engagement, not just memorization
Reading like a writer — building true literary appreciation
This guide goes beyond simple comprehension to teach students how great writing works. Through carefully designed activities, students explore the literary techniques that make A New Coat for Anna so timeless and effective, including:
- Sequencing and Timelines — Reinforce story structure and chronological thinking.
These are base ELA skills that build the literary appreciation children carry into more advanced study.
Faith-centered character study — lesson by lesson
Every chapter of Anna's journey offers an opportunity for meaningful character study and growth. This guide draws out the moral and spiritual dimensions of the story, exploring themes such as:
Each theme is tied directly to Scripture, so faith and literature grow together — not separately.
Learning that brings ELA to life
For 30+ years, families love how Progeny Press guides bring books to life — and A New Coat for Anna is no exception. This guide includes a wide variety of hands-on, cross-curricular activities, including:
- History — Connect personal family history with events in the book
- Multimedia Opportunities — Watch age appropriate WWII cinema, like The Sound of Music with the whole family
- Geography — Mapwork gives context and historical weight to the story of Anna and her mother
- Field Trips — Learn about sheep herding, and the processing of wool
- Tailoring — Learn how to take measurements, just Anna
- Arts and Crafts — Drawing, weaving, and more tactile fun!
- Cooking — Follow a recipe to make a delicious cake
- Social Activities — Sing carols and organize a holiday Christmas party
These aren't just filler activities. Each one is intentionally connected to the story, the historical setting, or the biblical themes — making learning feel like an adventure, not a checklist.
Keep the love of reading going
This guide includes a curated reading list to engage and keep students reading. Featuring additional works by Harriet Ziefert as well as other authors that share the themes, setting, and style of A New Coat for Anna. These resources are wonderful for building out a complete homeschool reading curriculum throughout the entire year.
Open-and-go — on your schedule, your way
- Download instantly — no shipping, no waiting
- Works on Mac, PC, and most tablets
- Fillable PDF fields for on-screen use or easy printing
- Print the full guide, individual lessons, or multiple classroom copies
- Compatibility focused for every device:
- Fully interactive copy with Javascript enabled with embedded Audio included
- Simple form enabled for most PDF viewers included
- Full, formatted Answer key included
