Ice age
Exploring the Ice Age: Our Waldorf-Inspired Unit Study for my 3rd grader
Our recent Ice Age unit study was an exciting blend of hands-on exploration, literature, and engaging discussions. Inspired by our love for immersive learning, we combined an amazing field trip with beautiful picture books and creative projects to bring this prehistoric era to life.
A Trip to the La Brea Tar Pits
One of the highlights of our study was visiting the La Brea Tar Pits, where we saw real fossils of Ice Age animals and learned about how they got trapped in the sticky tar thousands of years ago. Seeing these ancient creatures size up close made history feel tangible and sparked both mine and Mathilde’s curiosity. We were invited behind the scenes and saw how they dug out the skeletons on the sight and after that how the cleaned and prepared them in the lap it was such a great experience.
Reading “Mammoths on the Move” & More
A favorite book from our unit was Mammoths on the Move by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus. This beautifully written poem book made the migration of mammoths come alive in a rhythmic and engaging way. We loved how the poetic language painted a vivid picture of these majestic creatures traveling across icy landscapes.
We also read other books about Ice Age animals and early humans, comparing different theories about how they lived and adapted to harsh climates. Here are some of our favorites:
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Mammoth Hunter! (You Wouldn't Want to…: History of the World)
By John Malam (Author), David Antram (Illustrator)
Published: September 1, 2004Live Like a Hunter Gatherer: Discovering the Secrets of the Stone Age
By Naomi Walmsley (Author), Mia Underwood (Illustrator)
Published: August 9, 2022DK Eyewitness Books: Prehistoric Life
By William Lindsay
Published: 2012Good Night Ice Age
(Madison the toddler loved this one)
By Adam Gamble, Mark Jasper
Published: 2023Timeline Science: The Ice Age
(Mathilde really enjoyed building the mini model of a Mammoth skeleton!)
By Emily Rose Oachs
Published: October 1, 2017
Creative Learning & Reflections
Following our Waldorf-inspired approach, we processed what we learned through drawings and storytelling. My daughter created her own illustrations of mammoths, and dire wolf and saber-toothed cat masks, and we discussed what life might have been like during the Ice Age.
