The Penderwicks: A Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a
Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
Fast and easy extension activities for The Penderwicks from Sonlight’s HBL C program. Contains affiliate links.
Chapter 1
- A look at Cape Cod (for children who have never heard of it)
- The Berkshire Mountains
- Have sandwiches (not wrapped in maps)
- Play “I Went to the Zoo and Saw”
- Listen to one of Beethoven’s Symphonies
- Linneaea Borealis
- Cypripdium Arietinum
Chapter 2
- Try to think of a fair way to determine who goes first, like Hound selecting them with his nose.
- Draw a picture or discuss your perfect room and how you would decorate it.
- Create a posterboard for each character in the book, along with identifying features and quirks, to help keep them straight if the names are too much to remember.
- Learn some Latin phrases to impress your friends
- The Fimbriata Rose
Chapter 3
- Tell stories of your own memories, perhaps your childhood, parents, or grandparents.
- Come up with a special name for your own family meetings
Chapter 4
- Make cookies. Consider giving them as a gift or apology.
- Invite a friend over for cookies. Maybe prepare a formal invitation speech.
Chapter 5
- Take a long walk. Clear your head.
- How to make a daisy chain
- A fun large group game on how rumors spread
- How to survive a charging bull (might want to pre-watch, it gets pretty aggressive)
- Talk about white lies and half-truths and whether or when they are ok to make (not to hurt someone’s feelings, etc.)
Chapter 6
- Fun rabbits
- Play soccer
- Tchaikovsky piano concerto
Chapter 7
- First aid for cuts
- How to treat a sprain
- Enjoy gingerbread (make some, or storebought is fine) with whipped cream and strawberries.
- Serve on a small table with a checkered tablecloth if you have any
- If you have an attic or have a relative nearby with one, go attic exploring
- Visit a thrift store and try on fancy clothes (no need to purchase), even if they don’t fit
- If you have any, play bow and arrows, cricket, have a sword fight, or go canoeing or horseback riding.
Chapter 8
- What is a Springhouse
- A look at a lily pond garden
- Go run under sprinklers/hose
- “Anna’s First Rule of Conversation with a Boy” is to ask questions. Asking questions about a person is an excellent tool in many situations, especially when meeting new people. If you have a more shy child, this might be a relaxing time to practice asking questions they can later use in conversation. “Where are you from,” “What hobbies do you have?” and such can be great icebreakers.
- A basketball team usually has 12 players (although only five play at a time), whereas a baseball team often has 25 players (with nine playing at a time).
- Take a family picture, just for fun
- Go golfing (or mini-golf)
- Talk about what your child wants to be when they grow up. Start looking at different options within that field.
Chapter 9
- How to Waltz
- Like Sabrina Starr, think of ways to rescue Jeffrey/Arthur
Chapter 10
- Make some more brownies
- Try Fenway Park-style hot dogs (I’ve never had them, but this recipe seems fairly accurate?)
- Hamlet by Shakespeare (animated version) (prewatch due to sensitive content)
- Lilies (Ribbon Embroidery) craft (note: involves using flame)
- Delphiniums
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
- Play hide and seek
- Enjoy Blueberry pancakes
- Play an intense soccer game
- Look up Pink jasmine
- Enjoy hamburgers, corn on the cob, and blueberry pie
Chapter 13
- Have a tickling match
- Work on anger management techniques
Chapter 14
- The book Magic by the Lake, it looks to be this one, which would be the third in the series to the book Half Magic, which used to be a Sonlight book for a little while in HBL E, and I think even further back, a read-aloud in HBL B.
Chapter 15
- Type up a story or create a possible ending for this book.
- Anemone hupehensis
Chapter 16
- The opera at the beginning of this chapter is from Otello by Verdi, in Act 4, “Niun Mi Tema”
- The book mentions the movie, To Kill a Mockingbird, but I would personally save that for a few years, as it discusses some mature themes like racism and sexual assault.
Chapter 17
- Have some cheerios
- Create a fun craft that is personalized for a friend or family member
Chapter 18
- Share brownies
- Act out your favorite scene from the book. Or two.
Extras
- There are several Penderwick family sequels, and Cagney and Jeffrey will appear in them from time to time. You can also get the book and sequels on audiobook.
- Teachers Pay Teachers has a number of activities, games, and even an escape room activity for this book you can purchase.
