The Very, Very Far North

Recommended for: Level 2 (Ages 7–10)

Step into the snowy hills of the very, very far North with Duane, the curious young polar bear at the heart of Dan Bar-el's charming novel The Very, Very Far North. He makes friends with everyone he meets, from a bossy puffin to a vain musk ox to a very, very shy caribou, finding his place in a world where every day brings a new adventure.

Your family will slow down and sink into a story about friendship, curiosity, and discovering where you truly belong. Through gentle, story-led learning, you will explore polar bears, puffins, and the wonders of the Arctic in a way that feels connected, meaningful, and actually enjoyable to live out at home.

→ Download a free sample

Topics Explored

• How Polar Bears Stay Warm
  
• Puffins the Birds of Air and Sea
• Under the Northern Lights

Writer's Craft Explored 

• Periods 
• Exclamation Points
• Onomatopoeia

This Month's Adventures

• Blubber Experiment: discover how polar bears stay warm in the icy Arctic
• Charlotte Mason-inspired nature study of puffins
  
• Learn the native stories of the Northern Lights and create a storybook
  
• And more...

What's Inside

Every guide includes curated picture book selections tied to the story's themes, a monthly overview so you can see the full rhythm at a glance, and open-and-go weekly plans with suggested reading schedules, supply lists, activity checklists, and built-in Margin Days for rest, catch-up, or following curiosity wherever it leads. A cozy morning basket section with poetry and nonfiction titles gives your days a gentle, unhurried place to begin.

Watch and Wonder Each week opens with curated videos and podcasts to explore the topic before anything else — plus a Wonderings to Follow space to capture your child's questions as they surface

Watch and Tell Your child watches a short video, then chooses a narration prompt to respond to aloud or in writing. The first prompt is Charlotte Mason-style narration; the second is a Socratic question designed to stretch older learners into critical thinking and discussion. Narration pages in two line sizes and printable notecards are included to support every stage.

The Writer's Desk Each week your child studies a real passage from the book and learns from the author directly:

• Read and Notice — Look closely at punctuation, patterns, and author choices
• Exploring the Craft — Learn a writing technique drawn from the text and try it yourself
• Editor Challenge — For older students, step into the role of editor and catch intentional mistakes
• Copywork — Copy a passage by hand in print, cursive, or freehand

Go Deeper (When You Want To)

• One More Chapter — Optional activities and deeper dives for families who want to keep the curiosity going
• A Taste of the Story — Simple, story-inspired recipes and food ideas to enjoy throughout the month or as part of your celebration

Watch and Reflect Close the month by watching related movie together and talking about what you noticed

Lingering After the Last Chapter A gentle way to reflect and look ahead, including:

• A reading journal page
• A reflection page for your child
• A magazine-style quiz to discover what adventure to explore next

Book Club Party A joyful, low-pressure celebration to mark the end of your adventure and create a memory your family will hold onto

A Compassionate Approach to Homeschooling

This guide was created for real families.

You might follow every page. You might skip around. You might just read together some days.

It all counts.

You are allowed to build a homeschool that works for your actual life, not an ideal one.

Digital product — no physical item will be shipped.