Changes for Julie

Chapter 1: Detention

Discussion: How is your school’s discipline system similar to Julie’s? How is it different?

Language: Start to learn American Sign Language

Chapter 2: Poster Power

History: Read about the two presidential candidate: Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter

Television: Watch an episode of Happy Days.

Vocabulary:

Campaign

Manager

Chapter 3: Julie for President

Discussion:

• What would you do if you heard someone talking abuot your firend?
• What do you think Julie’s idea is?
• Talk to your parents (or grandparents) about the 1976 election. Who did they vote for? Why?

Chapter 4: Heating Up

Cooking: Sloppy Joe’s

Discussion: What do you think Julie should do about the election?

Vocabulary:

perseverance

undaunted

Chapter 5: The Election

Discussion:

• How could you help a child (or group of children) who don’t fit in at your school?
• If there’s someone in your school who speaks another language, work on learning it.
• The “Changes” books typically show great growth of the main character. Compare and contrast Changes for Julie with another historical Changes book.

Julie's Journey

Chapter 1: Flying

Discussion:

• Have you been on a plane before?
• Could you relate better to Julie or Tracy?
• What would you take on a wagon train?

Geography: Track Julie’s wagon train adventure on a map.

Literature:

• Little House on the Prairie
• Raggedy Ann

Timeline: July 1976

Chapter 2: Wagons, Ho!

Vocabulary:

Dulcimer

Engulfing

Flotilla

Throng

Music:

Oh, Susannah

She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain

Written Project: Write a research paper on President Ford

Chapter 3: Lightning Kelley

Cooking: Oatmeal

Discussion:

• Do you prefer the third person omniscient point of view or the first person journal? Why?
• What should Julie say to April?
• What would be the hardest thing for you to leave behind?

Journal: Horseback riding wasn’t as fun as Julie expected. Did you ever try something and end up disappointed? What happened? Did you try again? Why or why not?

Chapter 4: Making History

Language Arts: Mail a postcard to someone.

Vocabulary: Dismounted

Discussion: Which would you do, go talk to Michigan Bob or go to Hershey Park? Why?

Chapter 5: Valley Forge

Vocabulary: bicentennial

Discussion: Do you agree with the way Julie tried to find the stolen scroll? What could she have done differently?

Looking Back: At America’s Bicentennial

Extra Credit: Choose One:

1. Interview a relative who remembers the bicentennial. What do they remember most? How did their family celebrate? Do they have any mementos?
2. Make your family tree as far back as you can go. Ask a parent or grandparent for help.

A Note About Recipes, Crafts and Other Unspecified Activities

As you scour the site you'll notice many things are left unfinished. For example there aren't specific recipes, the crafts don't have instructions, and vocabulary words don't have definitions. There is a reason for this. I could easily Google and find 1,000 step by step directions for each of these, but I'm letting you choose your own. I don't know your family's allergies or preferences. For the vocab words, many have multiple definitions. I want you to choose the one your child will understand. For the crafts, many come from American Girl craft books so for legal purposes I'm not including instructions. If you need any assistance, leave a comment and I'll help the best I can. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I wanted you to understand the logic behind it. Happy New Year!

Julie and the Eagles

Chapter 1: A Cry in the Park

Craft: Build a birdhouse or bird feeder.

Discussion: What should you do if you find a baby wild animal without its mother?

Science: What animals are native to the San Francisco area? List one of each type.

Bird

Mammal

Amphibian

Reptile

Fish

Insect

Special Project: For the remainder of Julie’s books, raise money for a local animal shelter or to adopt a zoo or wild animal. ADD LINKS

Timeline: April 1976

Chapter 2: Feathered Friends

Journal: How would you help the eagles?

Language Arts:

Vocabulary:

Hackstand

morsel

nestling

Written Project (Newspaper, invitation, school assignment, etc.): Go to the Randall museum website (or the actual museum!) and write about an animal there that interests you.

Chapter 3: Endangered

Geography: Draw on a map from San Francisco to Marin County.

Language Arts

Vocabulary: Endangered

Chapter 4: Earth Day

Discussion: Do you think the Earth Day project was a success? Why or why not?

Sewing: Make a kite like Julie’s.

Chapter 5: Trying to Fly

Journal: Write a journal entry as Julie after you finish reading this chapter.

Vocabulary: magnificent

Chapter 6: Happy Birthday, Julie!

Cooking:

• Chicken kebabs
• Potato salad
• Lemonade

Discussion: How do you think Julie felt watching the eagles fly?

Language Arts: Compare and contrast this book with the “Birthday” books the original American Girls had. How are they similar? How are they different? Look at the old birthday collections and compare those with Julie’s, citing similarities and differences.

Looking Back: Caring for the Earth in the 1970s

Extra Credit: Start your own Earth Day activity. Brainstorm with your group ways you can help your local environment.

The ULTIMATE List

Here it is. The list you've been waiting for. The list of every single historical American Girl book. I'm not including the BeForever collections, but I will include the choose your own adventure and the mystery. If you see that I forgot a book, please leave me a comment! Happy reading!

Kaya
Meet Kaya
Kaya's Escape
Kaya's Hero
Kaya and Lone Dog
Kaya Shows the Way
Changes for Kaya
Kaya and the River Girl
Kaya and the Beavers
Kaya and the Flood
Kaya and the Injured Dog
Kaya and the Grandmothers
Welcome to Kaya's World
The Silent Stranger

Felicity
Meet Felicity
Felicity Learns a Lesson
Felicity's Surprise
Happy Birthday, Felicity!
Felicity Saves the Day
Changes for Felicity
Felicity's Dancing Shoes
Felicity Takes a Dare
Felicity's New Sister
Felicity Discovers a Secret
Felicity's Valentine
Welcome to Felicity's World
Peril at King's Creek
Traitor in Williamsburg
Lady Margaret's Ghost
Lights! Camera! Felicity!

Caroline
Meet Caroline
Caroline's Secret Message
A Surprise for Caroline
Caroline Takes a Chance
Caroline's Battle
Changes for Caroline
Traitor in the Shipyard
The Traveler's Tricks
The Smuggler's Secrets
Catch the Wind: My Journey with Caroline

Josefina
Meet Josefina
Josefina Learns a Lesson
Josefina's Surprise
Happy Birthday, Josefina!
Josefina Saves the Day
Changes for Josefina
Just Josefina
Thanks to Josefina
A Reward for Josefina
Again, Josefina
Josefina's Song
Welcome to Josefina's World
Secrets in the Hills

Cecile
Meet Cecile
Troubles for Cecile
Cecile's Gift

Marie-Grace
Meet Marie-Grace
Marie-Grace and the Orphans
Marie-Grace Makes a Difference

The Hidden Gold
The Cameo Necklace
The Haunted Opera


Kirsten
Meet Kirsten
Kirsten Learns a Lesson
Kirsten's Surprise
Happy Birthday, Kirsten
Kirsten Saves the Day
Changes for Kirsten
Kirsten on the Trail
Kirsten and the New Girl
Kirsten's Promise
Kirsten and the Chippewa
Kirsten Snowbound!
Welcome to Kirsten's World
The Runaway Friend


Addy
Meet Addy
Addy Learns a Lesson
Addy's Surprise
Happy Birthday, Addy
Addy Saves the Day
Changes for Addy
Addy Studies Freedom
Addy's Wedding Quilt
Addy's Little Brother
High Hopes for Addy
Addy's Summer Place
Welcome to Addy's World
Shadows on Society Hill


Samantha
Meet Samantha
Samantha Learns a Lesson
Samantha's Surprise
Happy Birthday, Samantha!
Samantha Saves the Day
Changes for Samantha
Samantha's Winter Party
Samantha and the Missing Pearls
Samantha Saves the Wedding
Samantha's Blue Bicycle
Samantha's Special Talent
Welcome to Samantha's World
Samantha's Ocean Liner Adventure
Samantha's Wedding Memories
The Curse of Ravenscourt
The Stolen Sapphire
The Cry of the Loon
Clue in the Castle Tower
Danger in Paris
The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha


Rebecca
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca and Ana
Candlelight for Rebecca
Rebecca and the Movies
Rebecca to the Rescue
Changes for Rebecca
Secrets at Camp Nokomis
A Bundle of Trouble
The Crystal Ball
A Growing Suspicion


Kit 
Meet Kit
Kit Learns a Lesson
Kit's Surprise
Happy Birthday, Kit!
Kit Saves the Day
Changes for Kit
Kit's Home Run
Kit's Treehouse
Kit's Winning Ways
Kit Uses Her Head
Kit and Millie Ride Again
Kit's Railway Adventure
Full Speed Ahead: My Journey With Kit
Kit's World: A Girl's Eye View of the Great Depression
Welcome to Kit's World


Molly
Meet Molly
Molly Learns a Lesson
Molly's Surprise
Happy Birthday, Molly!
Molly Saves the Day
Changes for Molly
Molly Marches On
Molly's A+ Partner
Molly's Puppy Tale
Molly Takes Flight
Molly and the Movie Star
Molly's Route 66 Road Trip
Lights! Camera! Molly!
Welcome to Molly's World
A Spy on the Home Front
The Light in the Cellar
Clues in the Shadows



Julie
Meet Julie
Julie Tells Her Story
Happy New Year, Julie
Julie and the Eagles
Julie's Journey
Changes for Julie
The Tangled Web
The Puzzle of the Paper Daughter
The Silver Guitar
Lost in the City

Happy New Year, Julie

Happy New Year, Julie

Timeline: December--January 1975-1976

Chapter 1: Changes for Christmas

Cooking:

• Grilled Cheese
• Tomato Soup
• Tacos
• Chocolate fondue with strawberries

Craft:

• Origami Cranes
• God’s Eye
• Crayon stained glass ornaments
• Paper Chain

Chapter 2: Problems and Puzzles

Music: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Book: Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Forgotten City

Cooking: Christmas cookies

Television:

• Charlie Brown Christmas
• How the grinch stole xmas

Game: Clue

Craft: Embroider a pillow with your best friend’s name.

Chapter 3: Good Fortune

Cooking: Make fortune cookies

Craft: Knit a doll scarf & hat

Discussion:

• What should Julie and Ivy have done when they wanted to go to the doll shop?

• What should they have done when they realized they were lost?

Game: Mahjong

Geography: Find Chinatown on a San Francisco map

Journal: Describe a time when you were lost.

Science: Answer the following questions:

What is the San Francisco climate like?

Has the climate changed since Julie’s day?

Sewing: Sew a doll-size Chinese dress.

Special Project

Timeline: January 1975

Chapter 4: Gung Hay Fat Choy

History: Read about Ping Pong Diplomacy

Language Arts: Take what you learned about Ping Pong Diplomacy and present it to your group. This may be done using powerpoint, cardboard displays or simply an oral report.

Looking Back: Holiday Traditions in the 1970s

Craft: Make an ornament.

Temporarily Closed

I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I'm currently re-reading the books and re-writing the plans for my daughter. I will post them here as soon as I finish writing each plan. Please check back often, and thank you for your patience!