Description
Life on the Yangtze River
Students will discover the Yangtze River, the longest river in China and Asia. They will learn fascinating details, such as, as one of the most important waterways in China, over one third of the country's population lives near its banks.
Students will also learn about the unique fishing technique used: Cormorant fishing!
We don't want boring history lessons. That is why we focus on fascinating historical tidbits that help students understand and appreciate the story.
Marjorie Flack — an artist with a gift for storytelling
Students will learn about Marjorie Flack, an artist and writer who wrote multiple beloved series and books. They will also learn how Marjorie's legacy continues even today by those inspired by her.
Making words make sense — learn by doing, not memorizing
Vocabulary in this Progeny Press' language arts guide engages students with a selection of activities designed to build real word retention and growth. We don't bury students with rote memorization that they regurgitate for a test and then forget. Students actually engage with the book and build the kind of rich vocabulary that improves their reading comprehension and their own writing.
- Use synonyms to stretch and strengthen your vocabulary
- use contextual clues to identify the meaning of unfamiliar words
- Complete a word search, which helps pattern recognition, spelling, and vocabulary retention in a fun activity
Read like a writer — How memorable stories are told
This language arts guide goes past surface comprehension and teaches students how memorable writing works. Through carefully designed activities, students explore the literary techniques in The Story About Ping, including:
- Synonyms — Students identify words with similar meanings, adding variety and interest to writing
- Homonyms — Words that sound and are spelled the same
- Context — Using the surrounding text to better understand words and events
- Repetition — Authors will use rhythm and repetition to emphasize and make something extra memorable
- Paraphrase — Restating or repeating something in your own words
We introduce language arts skills that build the literary appreciation children carry into more advanced study.
Faith-centered literature study — lesson by lesson
Every page of Ping'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 The Story About Ping is absolutely full of fun learning opportunities. This guide includes a variety of hands-on, cross-curricular activities, including:
- Arts and Crafts — Craft your own fishing boat model, paint landscapes, make papert lanterns, and other tactile fun
- Discussion — Talk about Creation, how animals came to be, and the fascinating history of cormorant fishing
- Field Trips — Take water safety classes and feed ducks
- Included Coloring Pages — Have fun completing the activity pages, solve a maze, and fill in the coloring pages
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 reading, even after the final page
Progeny's study guide includes a curated reading list to engage and keep students reading, long after they finish the first book. Featuring additional works by Marjorie Flack, including other authors that share themes, setting, and writing style of The Story About Ping. Develop a complete, themed 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.
