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.
- Write your answers directly in the book
- Durable perfect-bound, heavy gloss cover
- No computer or software needed
- Answer key on perforated, removable pages
- Fillable fields, audio clips & interactive activities
- Print the whole guide, single lessons, or class sets
- Reusable file for multiple children or students
- Best experienced with free Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer
- A copy of The Courage of Sarah Noble novel
- A copy of The Courage of Sarah Noble study guide workbook
- A Bible (digital or physical)
- A dictionary (student-friendly or online)
Created for beginning learners, this guide introduces critical thinking and introduces early ELA techniques and concepts.
- Homeschool families looking for Christian literature curriculum
- Schools looking for top quality ELA materials
- Parents wanting to build reading comprehension and character
- Co-ops and small group instruction
These guides work well on their own or alongside your preferred grammar and writing program.
What grade level is this designed for?
Recommended for grades 1–3, giving elementary students a fantastic introduction to the world of literary analysis in a grade appropriate way.
Is this a Christian literature curriculum?
Yes. Our faith-based curriculum integrates Christian worldview discussion with strong literature study and writing instruction.
Does the workbook include a complete answer key?
Yes. A full detailed answer key is included on perforated pages for easy removal before giving the book to students.
Is there space to write directly in the workbook?
Yes. Each lesson provides built-in space for students to record written answers, supporting organized learning.
May I copy pages for classroom or co-op use?
Yes, this guide is reproducible for classroom, co-op, and homeschool instruction.
What type of binding does the guide use?
Perfect bound in a full-size 8.5x11 format with a heavy gloss cover and quality interior paper for durability.
- Premium Print Format — Durable, perfect-bound 8.5x11 guide built for long-term classroom and homeschool use.
- Answer Key Made Simple — Full answer key on perforated pages, easy to remove before student use.
- Student-Friendly Design — Built-in space for written answers supports active learning and organized responses.
- Reproducible for Classroom Use — Approved for copying for Christian schools, co-ops, and group instruction.
- Open-and-Go Teaching — No devices needed. Just the book, a pencil, and a positive attitude!
- Trusted for Over 30 Years — Chosen by homeschool families, Christian schools, and educators nationwide.
- A copy of The Courage of Sarah Noble novel
- A copy of The Courage of Sarah Noble study guide CD
- A computer with a CD drive
- A Bible (digital or physical)
- A dictionary (student-friendly or online)
Created for beginning learners, this guide introduces critical thinking and introduces early ELA techniques and concepts.
- Homeschool families looking for Christian literature curriculum
- Schools looking for top quality ELA materials
- Classes wanting to print class sets of the worksheets
- Parents wanting to build reading comprehension and character
- Co-ops and small group instruction
These guides work well on their own or alongside your preferred grammar and writing program.
What grade level is this designed for?
Recommended for grades 1–3.
Is Progeny Press a Christian curriculum?
Yes, our faith-based literature study is Christ-centered and includes biblical application lessons. It can also be adapted for secular use by treating the Dig Deeper questions as moral/value discussions.
Does the CD study guide include an answer key?
Yes, a full detailed answer key is included as a separate file on the CD.
Is the study guide printable or fillable on screen?
Both! Print the entire guide or individual pages, or complete it digitally using the fillable form fields, audio clips, and taking advantage of the javascript enabled interactive activities. For the best experience, we strongly recommend using Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer.
What devices can open the PDF study guide?
The PDF works on Mac and Windows using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Because this guide includes fillable fields, audio clips, and JavaScript-based interactive features, a computer with Adobe Acrobat Reader is strongly recommended for full functionality; mobile devices may not support every interactive feature and default PDF viewers may experience unintended performance.
Can I use this guide with multiple students?
Yes, you can use or reuse the study guide for your own children or co-op students. Public and private school teachers can use it within their classrooms.
Do I need any special software?
Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) is strongly recommended to get the full benefit of this guide's fillable fields, embedded audio, and interactive JavaScript activities. A basic PDF viewer can open the file, but won't support all interactive features.
- Permanent Master File — The CD keeps a permanent backup copy in case of a computer crash or new device.
- Works on Mac & PC — Compatible with both major operating systems.
- Interactive & Multimedia — Fillable form fields, embedded audio clips, and JavaScript-powered activities bring lessons to life — best experienced with free Adobe Acrobat Reader on a computer.
- No Costly Software — PDF files open in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader program.
- Print What You Need, When You Need It — The whole guide, single lessons, or full classroom sets.
