Description
In this sequel to The Long Way to a New Land, Carl Erik and his family travel west on train after train to La Crosse, Wisconsin. From there, they travel by steamboat to Anoka, Minnesota, where their uncle lives and Papa has work. All the travel, the dangers, the crowds, and the cold are forgotten the moment they arrive. They're finally home!
Immigration and Emigration
What is the difference between an emigrant and an immigrant? Scribbles has 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, the class disparity between people traveling first class and people like Carl Erik and his family, as well as looking at the climate and geography of the Midwest being similar to Sweden, making it a popular place for them to settle.
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 continues to live in Arizona!
Words that make books — learn by doing, not just memorizing
Vocabulary is woven into this guide through a selection of engaging activities designed to build real word retention. Students use context to understand words, have fun with a word search, and develop the kind of rich vocabulary that improves their 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!
- Classify and sort words based on categories and alphabetical order
- Using context to better understand unfamiliar words and their meanings
- Spot and learn about compound words
- Complete a word search and strengthen pattern recognition, spelling strength, and improve student 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 in Long Way Westward, including:
- Idioms — Recognize and learn how to use figurative language
- Compound Words — Learn about how compound words
- Punctuation — Understand how authors use punctuation to indicate importance and meaning
- Roots and Suffixes — Discover how words can change when we add a suffix to the end, altering its meaning
We introduce the ELA skills that build the literary appreciation children carry into more advanced study.
Faith-centered ELA study — lesson by lesson
Every chapter of Carl Erik's family's journey offers opportunity for character study and personal growth. This literature 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 Westward keeps that tradition. This guide includes a wide variety of hands-on, cross-curricular activities, including:
- Family History — Research family lineage and history
- Arts and Crafts — Make an American flag, learn cross-stitching art, and other tactile, fun activities
- Cooking — Learn how individual unique ingredients all work together to make something truly special
- Geography — Map the journey of Carl Erik and his family, learn about the Westward Movement and immigration history
- Language — Learn a few words in Swedish
- Discussion and Drama — Act out scenes from the book, and engage in class discussions on the moral and historical themes
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 Westward. Create a complete themed, cohesive homeschool reading curriculum for your 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.
