FREE LITERATURE UNIT STUDY: Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Literature Adventure based on Heidi by Johanna Spyri (Grades 4-8)
a collection from Free Home school Lessons
Your free copy of the book and dramatic audio book reading are here Looking for more fun hands on activities... an excellent workshop resource from LitWit Workshop is here 
|
Heidi is by far the most popular piece of Swiss literature ever written and has been translated from German into 50 languages, been filmed more than a dozen times, and more than 50 million copies of Heidi books have been sold world-wide (Switzerland's population is only 7 million. This unit study is intended to excite your love of literature by touching all your senses and letting you feel, taste, smell and see Heidi of the Alps.
Heidi teaches lessons about perseverance, hope, and Christian morality. The story of the Prodigal son plays a pivotal role in her Grandfather's attitude change. In a world where the bestsellers often feature dark themes of death, vampires, and violence, Heidi is a breath of fresh air. If you are looking for a good wholesome read that your daughter is likely to remember for a lifetime, Heidi by Johann Spyri is an excellent choice.
Discussion Questions taken from HERALD COURT THEATRE KIDS Arts Outreach - Study Guide - Heidi by Johanna Spyri• • Even though Heidi does not know her grandfather, Aunt Detie leaves her with him in a remote mountain cabin. Why does Aunt Detie do this? Was she acting in Heidi’s best interests? Was she acting responsibly when she later takes Heidi to Frankfurt? • What was Heidi’s grandfather like before she arrived? What was the source of his bitterness? How did he treat other people? How does Heidi help him to change? • “ It is good to be on the mountains, “ the kind doctor says, “body and soul get well there.” Which characters are healed when they come to the mountain? How are they healed? What are the hazards of living in towns or cities with no access to trees and flowers and parks? What are the benefits of living in the mountains? Fraulein Rottenmeier is appalled when Heidi arrives in Frankfurt. Why? How does the Fraulein expect Heidi to behave? Why is it hard for Heidi to live in Frankfurt? • Heidi has great faith in Providence. What is Providence? How does Heidi express her belief in Providence? How does she act upon it? How does her faith affect others? • What value is placed on literacy in this story? Why is it difficult at first for Heidi to learn how to read? How does Clara’s Auntie help her? What does Heidi read once she learn how? Why? • Discuss Peter’s friendship with Heidi. How are the two alike? How are they different? Why does he behave so horribly when Clara visits? • Could Heidi be set in modern-day Switzerland? Back when the book first appeared in 1880, travel and communication took much longer than it does now. With today’s technology, is it still possible to live a life as isolated as Heidi’s grandfather? • Heidi has a gift for helping people in need, but what does she desire for herself? How does she look after her own needs? |
Other Topics to explore:
- Goats - free lapbook and suggested reading materials at Homeschool Share
- Switzerland - a lapbook from Homeschool share with other suggested reading materials
About the Author
Johanna attended primary school in Hirzel, but was bored and didn't do very well. A Pastor named Salomon Tobler taught Johanna, her sister Netti, and his own daughters at his house, and she did much better learning here than she had at school. She liked to write poetry.
-more about Johanna
Worksheets
Pre Reading/ While reading worksheet
Johanna attended primary school in Hirzel, but was bored and didn't do very well. A Pastor named Salomon Tobler taught Johanna, her sister Netti, and his own daughters at his house, and she did much better learning here than she had at school. She liked to write poetry.
-more about Johanna
Worksheets
Pre Reading/ While reading worksheet
Heidi Crafts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkj_WESgDs4&feature=share&list=PL2563A4FDDD04C0C3 deeper reading and complete anaylsis of Heidi and the author. http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/paschons/language_http/aatg/Publications/Heidi.html |
|