Holidays and Happy Days | Free Homeschool Guide | All-in-One Room Schoolhouse | Level 1
Why We Read Holidays and Happy Days
When planning the All-in-One Room Schoolhouse curriculum, I wanted every book to be purposeful. Each selection had to build skills, knowledge, and a love for learning. Hamish Hendry’s Holidays and Happy-Days is a gem that delivers all three.
Why This Book Works
Hendry’s writing is beautiful and timeless. It’s the perfect choice for copywork, helping your child master the rhythm and flow of great sentences. But this book isn’t just about writing; it’s about understanding.
The holidays and traditions Hendry describes—like Pancake Tuesday and St. Valentine’s Day—might not feel familiar to every family. That’s exactly why this book matters. These holidays are part of the foundation of British literature and classic works. If your child understands these celebrations, they’ll be better equipped to make sense of the cultural references they’ll encounter in their reading.
Building a Knowledge Base
Holidays and Happy-Days introduces kids to the origins and customs behind these celebrations. It’s not just history; it’s context. By learning why people celebrated and how those traditions have evolved, your child gains a deeper appreciation for the stories and texts they’ll read later in the curriculum.
It also sparks curiosity. Kids naturally want to know how their own traditions compare. What’s different? What’s the same? That kind of thinking builds connections, not just between cultures, but between ideas. And that’s what this curriculum is all about—creating thoughtful, well-rounded learners.
Assignments for Every Chapter
Each chapter in Holidays and Happy Days comes with simple, effective assignments:
Narration: After reading, your child will explain what they’ve read out loud. This doesn’t have to be formal. Let them draw a quick sketch or jot down a few words as a memory aid if that helps.
Vocabulary: They’ll pick one unfamiliar word from the chapter, write it down, and define it.
Copy Work: Choose a short passage from the chapter for them to copy. In our house, I type out the passage in a handwriting-style font and have my kids write directly underneath it. You can also use a lined notebook if that works better for you.
Summative assessment discussion prompt: Which of the holidays sounded like the most fun to celebrate? What did you like about it?
Make It Easy on Yourself
If you prefer a ready-to-go option, I’ve uploaded the full text of Holidays and Happy Days along with worksheets for every chapter. These are designed so your student can move through the book independently. The writing still holds up today, so it’s presented here unabridged with easy-to-read, print-friendly column spacing.
These small purchases help keep the curriculum going. Thank you for your support, and happy homeschooling!
Here’s a PDF sample of the Holidays and Happy Days Chapter 1 work text to get you started.
Want to build your own assignments? You can download and print these worksheets for Level 1.
