Pollyanna-Book Report

Be glad. Be good. Be brave.-Eleanor H. Porter.

Pollyanna is a charming and heart warming  book written by Eleanor H. Porter. It was the 8th best-selling book in the United States  the year it was published 1913. Mrs. Porter lived from 1868 to 1920, even though she only lived 51 years she wrote several novels and short stories for children and adults. Pollyanna is the book she is best known for but she had success with several others. It may be a book  that girls enjoy more than boys. Some may find it to be too sweet but I consider it to positive and up-lifting and the "Glad" game is one more of us should try to play on a daily basis.

“Oh, yes; the game was to just find something about everything to be glad about—no matter what 'twas” 

We homeschooled for 18 years and had or was part of a book club for several of those years. I found it to be a great way to expose our children (and me) to literature they may have otherwise not have read. 

The ideas here are my own and could be done with a small or large group.

Movies and Television

There is a 1920's silent version starring Mary Pickford who also produced the movie. It was great success and grossed 1.1 million dollars. Quite a lot in 1920!

http://www.ovguide.com/video/pollyanna-full-movie-922ca39ce10036ba0e119892cfb29c1f

Disney's Pollyanna was released in 1960 and won Hayley Mills who portrayed Pollyanna won an Academy Juvenile Award. 

Masterpiece Theatre has a version of Pollyanna, which is set in England. Well made but not accurate.

The BBC presented a 6 part TV series in 1973 which ran on Sunday's during tea time.

If you are really adventurous I found a website where you can buy a script for the play. http://www.theaterscript.com/pollyanna

                                       Food and Drinks

Make Bread in a Bag while it is rising and baking watch one of the movies. Once it has finished baking serve with milk.
I have never made or eaten Calf's Foot Jelly and have to say I never will. But it was interesting to read how it is made, here is a recipe.
http://www.food.com/recipe/petchah-calfs-foot-jelly-307336
Make Chocolate Fudge or Fig Cake and serve while discussing the differences between the book and the Disney movie.

Merchandise

There were paper dolls, a comic book, a Little Golden book, a character dolls and a LP recording of Pollyanna, several of which I found for sell on ebay.

Community Service

Pollyanna knew that there was great need in her own home town. In the book the Ladies Aid was concerned about helping children in other countries but had a blind eye to the suffering they saw every day. Community service projects are abundant in any town, large or small. Contact a Boys or Girls club, Salvation Army, a nursing home, a head-start school program, the possibilities are endless. The benefits of doing community service projects with your children are boundless and were always a big part of our lives.

Activities 

Aunt Polly was obsessed with flies and the diseases they carry. Do these worksheets or find your own.

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrensimages/printable/diaryflywebdownloads2.pdf
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/44600/44692/44692_fly.htm

Prisms are so pretty but, can be hard to explain. I found a couple of  videos which may help.
http://www.ehow.com/video_12221904_describe-prism-kid.html
http://www.ehow.com/video_12221910_teach-children-prisms-pyramids.html

According to Pollyanna there are 800 glad verses in the Bible. Ask each child to find a verse with glad in it  to share.

Part of Pollyanna's day was learning how to sew and crochet. Have someone to teach a basic stitch in crochet or help construct a simple sewing project. A square could be sewn and stuffed for a pillow.

I will be sharing this post to these blog parties:

For the Kids Friday

Made by You Monday's

Wow Us Wednesday

Frugal Friday

Weekend Wander
Kid's Co-op
I Can Teach My Child
I Heart Nap Time
JDaniel 4's Mom