Old Mother West Wind | Free Homeschool Guide | All-in-One Room Schoolhouse | Level 1
Why We Start With Old Mother West Wind
When building the All-in-One Room Schoolhouse curriculum, I knew we needed a first book that was engaging, timeless, and rich with learning opportunities. Thornton Burgess’s Old Mother West Wind is all that and more.
Thornton Burgess (1874–1965) was a naturalist and children’s author who spent his life telling stories that taught kids about the natural world. Old Mother West Wind is the first book in his series of animal tales. If your child enjoys this one, there are plenty more in the series to dive into.
Looking for more to read?
You can grab the whole series here in print: Amazon Link
They’re also available on Project Gutenberg as free online text files: Project Gutenberg Link
Why This Book Works
Burgess’s language is beautiful and rich—a perfect example of what Charlotte Mason called a “living book.” It’s not just enjoyable to read; it helps build English language skills naturally. The stories also teach kids about the diet, habits, and behaviors of forest animals in a way that feels like fun, not schoolwork.
On the Social Studies side, the forest community Burgess creates is full of lessons. Animals take on leadership roles, work together, and even have a court system. Kids can analyze how this fictional society works and compare it to their own. This kind of critical thinking is exactly what we’re aiming for.
Assignments for Every Chapter
Each chapter in Old Mother West Wind 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: If you could meet one of the animals, who would it be, and what would you ask them?
Make It Easy on Yourself
If you prefer a ready-to-go option, I’ve uploaded the full text of Old Mother West Wind 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 Old Mother West Wind Chapter 1 work text to get you started.
Want to build your own assignments? You can download and print these worksheets for Level 1.
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