Book Club Meeting Plan: Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner

Duration: 75 Minutes | Age Group: 6-10 Years Old | Theme: Pioneers and the American Frontier

If you're looking for a fun and educational way to engage young readers, a children’s book club focused on Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner is a fantastic choice! This historical fiction book gives kids a chance to explore life on the American frontier through the eyes of a young boy in a wagon train. With a variety of interactive activities, creative crafts, and pioneer-themed snacks, this meeting plan will help kids understand the challenges faced by early settlers while fostering a love for reading and teamwork.

1. Welcome and Icebreaker Activity: “Where’s Your Wagon?” (10 Minutes)

Purpose:Kick off your book club meeting with a fun icebreaker that introduces kids to the theme of pioneer life while also helping them feel comfortable in the group.

How to Play:Ask each child to introduce themselves and then share where they would want their wagon to travel if they were part of a wagon train. This simple question gets everyone talking and imagines the long journey that the settlers made.

• Example: "Hi, I’m Emily, and I would take my wagon to a magical forest!"

This will set a fun tone and make kids excited about the story!

2. Book Discussion: Exploring Wagon Wheels (20 Minutes)

Purpose:The heart of any children’s book club is a lively discussion about the story. This activity encourages critical thinking, comprehension, and empathy while discussing the characters’ challenges and experiences.

Discussion Questions:

1. What challenges did the family face during their journey westward?

2. How would you feel if you had to leave everything behind and travel for months in a covered wagon?

3. What do you think was the most important thing the settlers needed to survive?

4. How do you think life on the wagon train was different from life today?

Encourage kids to share their thoughts, opinions, and feelings about the story. For younger children, you might also want to ask them to describe their favorite part of the book or a character they connected with.

3. Creative Craft Activity: Build Your Own Wagon (20 Minutes)

Purpose:This hands-on activity connects kids to the story by letting them create their own pioneer wagons. It’s a great way to foster creativity and reinforce the book’s themes.

What You’ll Need:

• Construction paper

• Markers, crayons, and stickers for decoration

• Scissors and glue

• Bottle caps or paper circles for wheels

Steps:

1. Provide each child with a rectangle of construction paper to represent the base of their wagon.

2. Let them decorate the wagon with markers, crayons, or stickers, making it as unique as they like.

3. Cut two large circles (or use bottle caps) to represent the wheels, and glue them onto the sides of the wagon.

4. Once the wagons are decorated, kids can share where their wagon would go and what supplies they would pack for the journey.

This activity encourages fine motor skills, teamwork, and sparks conversations about pioneer life and the importance of preparation.

4. Snack Break: Pioneer-Themed Snacks (10 Minutes)

Purpose:No book club meeting is complete without a delicious snack! Incorporating pioneer-themed snacks is a fun way to bring the story to life and give kids a taste of what settlers might have eaten during their long journey west.

Snack Ideas:

• Trail Mix: A simple mix of nuts, dried fruits, pretzels, and chocolate chips, which pioneers might have packed for their trip.

• “Wagon Wheels” Cookies: Use round cookies like Oreos or sugar cookies and let kids decorate them with icing to look like wagon wheels.

• Apple Slices and Cheese: Healthy, easy-to-eat snacks that settlers might have carried in their wagons.

As kids enjoy their snacks, encourage them to share their thoughts about the book and their favorite parts of the story.

5. Interactive Game: Pioneer Obstacle Course (10 Minutes)

Purpose:This interactive game brings the challenges of a wagon train to life. It encourages physical activity, teamwork, and problem-solving while connecting to the historical journey of the pioneers.

Game Ideas:

1. River Crossing: Use a blue blanket to represent a river. Kids must cross the “river” by stepping on “rocks” (pillows or cushions) without touching the ground.

2. Campfire Building: Scatter pieces of orange and red tissue paper (representing fire) around the room. Children must collect the pieces to build their “campfire.”

3. Supply Run: Hide toy food items around the room. Children must find and bring them back to their “wagon” to complete their supply run.

The game adds a fun, active element to the meeting and helps kids better understand the physical hardships pioneers might have faced.

6. Reflection Activity: If I Were a Pioneer (10 Minutes)

Purpose:To wrap up the book club meeting, kids will have a chance to reflect on the book and imagine what it would be like to be a pioneer. This encourages self-expression and critical thinking.

How to Do It:Give each child a piece of paper and ask them to write or draw about what they would bring on their journey if they were part of a wagon train. You could prompt them with questions like:

• What’s the most important thing you would pack?

• Who would you bring with you?

• Where would you want to go?

Kids can share their answers with the group, fostering conversation and making connections to the book’s themes.

7. Closing and Teaser for the Next Meeting (5 Minutes)

Purpose:End the meeting by thanking everyone for their participation and teasing the next book or activity. Keeping kids excited about future meetings will help maintain their enthusiasm for reading.

Conclusion: A Fun and Educational Book Club Experience

With these engaging activities, Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner offers a perfect foundation for a children’s book club that’s educational, fun, and memorable. From creative crafts and lively discussions to pioneer-themed games and snacks, kids will leave your meeting with a deeper understanding of pioneer life, a stronger love for reading, and lasting memories.

Remember to keep the activities interactive, relevant, and fun! Encourage kids to bring home their crafts and journals, and most importantly, get them excited for the next adventure in the world of books.