Description
Immigration and Emigration
What is the difference between an emigrant and an immigrant? Learn an easy way to remember! Students will learn about the economic struggles and lack of resources that led to the mass emigration from Sweden during the mid 1800s.
We don't want boring history lessons. That is why we try to help students understand the world surrounding the events of the book, bringing it to life in simple, fascinating historical tidbits.
Joan Sandin — A writer and illustrator
Students get to learn about the successful children's author, Joan Sandin. How she went from serving tables to being a children's illustrator, and follow her journey from New York to Sweden, and finally, back to America, where she lives in Arizona!
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. We don't believe in rote memorization — we have students actually engage with words, making them stick and become part of their everyday vocabulary!
- Matching words with their definitions
- Using context to understand words and their meanings
- Synonym activities, helping students stretch their vocabulary muscles
- Word search and Crosswords provide pattern recognition, spelling strength, and high engagement while reinforcing vocabulary growth
- Activities that build retention through engagement, not just memorization
Learn to read like a writer — How great stories are made
This guide goes beyond basic comprehension to teach students how memorable writing works. Through carefully designed activities, students explore the literary techniques that make The Long Way to a New Land so engaging, including:
- Cause and Effect — Identify the relationship between actions (causes) and their results (effects) using events from the story
- Synonyms — Stretch your vocabulary and find how authors can add nuance and variation to their writing
- Verbs — Recognize verbs to describe action from the story
- Descriptive Writing — How authors paint vivid imagery in our minds
- Illustration — Analyze how illustrations support and contribute to storytelling
We introduce the ELA skills that build the literary appreciation children carry into more advanced study.
Faith-centered character study — lesson by lesson
Every chapter of Carl Erik's family's journey offers an opportunity for character study and growth. This ELA 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
Families love how Progeny Press guides bring books to life — and Long Way to a New Land keeps that tradition. This guide includes a wide variety of hands-on, cross-curricular activities, including:
- History — Research family lineage and history
- Arts and Crafts — Make country flags, make your own Statue of Liberty crown, and more tactile, engaging activities
- Geography — Follow the family's journey, and learn about steam and sailing ships
- Cooking — Prepare foods like flat bread and quick wheat bread, just like Carl Erik ate
- Nature and Science — Examine methods of travel throughout history
- Creative Writing — write letters to distant family and friends
- Discussion Prompts — Cover themes and discuss the importance of family, immigration, and empathy
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 Joan Sandin as well as other excellent authors that share themes, setting, and writing style of Long Way to a New Land. Flesh out a complete themed, cohesive homeschool reading curriculum for your 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
