Product Description

Cowboys and cowgirls explore the West with more than 80 rip roarin' activities such as sewing a sunbonnet, panning for gold, and singing cowboy songs. "Crafts, recipes, songs, and games teamed with an engaging text will have young readers convinced that they're just having fun."--School Library Journal.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #347040 in Books
• Published on: 1996-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-This unique book brings to life the days of the Old West. Crafts, recipes, songs, and games teamed with an engaging text will have young readers convinced that they're just having fun. The book is organized by the major waves of western movement, from the early explorers in 1804 to the trail drives of the 1880s. Carlson's clear and concise writing includes amusing stories and bits of trivia that will keep kids interested. Each chapter is packed with projects that will give them a taste of daily life. Students might construct field books like those used by Lewis and Clark, or they might make root beer like the settlers. Each activity includes easy-to-follow instructions and informative line drawings. A book that will be heavily used by teachers in the classroom and by children at home.
Paula A. Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library,
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4^-6. Carlson gives a brief history of the North American westward movement as a framework for introducing more than 50 appropriate activities, which are presented chronologically and thematically and include projects involving exploration, fur trading, the gold rush, homesteading, and cowboys. Activities range from the very simple (making notepaper decorated with an Appaloosa motif) to the complex (hooking a rag rug); most have very clear directions. A few ideas (panning for gold) will be impractical for most readers; some (Lewis and Clark's journal and field book, a trapper's journal, and a young girl's travel diary) are repetitive; but most (especially the recipes for portable soup and root beer and the explanations of measuring land for townships and homesteads) will be of interest. Black line drawings and frequent sidebars help break up the text and further clarify the instructions. Although not a first choice, this will be useful for American history studies. Kay Weisman

Review
Westward Ho! is an activity guide to the "wild west" with dozens of activities, crafts and games drawn from the days when coyotes yipped, buffalo roamed, and heavy wooden-wheeled wagons rolled ever westward, full of folk seeking a new life on the great frontier. Informative and fun, Westward Ho! is a wonderful introduction to the exploration and settlement of the American West. Included are saddle songs and cowboy talk, appaloosa printing and poke sacks, popcorn balls and son-of-a-gun stew, water dowsing, panning for gold, and much more. Westward Ho! has something good for rainy days, summer weekends, family nights, car rides, classroom projects, or just plain backyard fun! -- Midwest Book Review

Customer Reviews

This is an excellent resource for teachers and parents!
I bought this book for teaching ideas for a Westward Movement Unit, and I am so glad I did! The book has a great variety of theme based activities and recipes. It also has fun bits of pioneer trivia. I look forward to using some of Ms. Carlson's ideas in my classroom and to buying some of her other books.

Good Book!
Interesting and fun Westward Ho is a great book! It is full of fun activities from popcorn balls to the mountain men! If your children like the old west they will like this book!

Many fun activities
A great book if you are looking for activities that kids of all ages can do. We did quite a few at our local pioneer day and they were a big hit.
It is a wonderful back-to-basics book for the very modern children we are raising.