Back to School (Part One)
Season 6, Episode 1
Original Air Date: September 17, 1979
“First crushes, new teachers, and fiery chicken — Laura’s school days just got a lot more complicated.”
Episode Summary
The sixth season of Little House on the Prairie kicks off with new faces, old rivalries, and Laura’s budding teenage heart taking center stage. Miss Eliza Jane Wilder arrives in Walnut Grove as the new schoolteacher—bringing along her handsome younger brother, Almanzo Wilder. It isn’t long before Laura Ingalls, now a teenager, becomes absolutely smitten with the charming and soft-spoken newcomer.
Although Almanzo is significantly older, Laura begins finding ways to be near him, including asking for rides into town and etching “Laura + Almanzo” into the bark of a tree. Her affection is earnest and innocent, but complications arise when Nellie Oleson, ever the schemer, sets her sights on Almanzo too.
In a ploy to impress him, Nellie invites Almanzo to dinner at her home—claiming she’ll cook the meal herself. Laura, heartbroken but not defeated, finds an opportunity to sabotage the evening. Volunteering to help prepare the food, she substitutes red pepper for cinnamon in the “cinnamon chicken,” creating a hilariously disastrous dinner that leaves Almanzo gasping for water.
Nellie’s lie is exposed when Almanzo realizes she didn’t cook the food—and he quickly distances himself from her. Meanwhile, Laura is left wondering if she’s done more harm than good in her quest for love.
Key Themes
First crushes and teenage emotions
Jealousy and sabotage
Sibling influence (Eliza Jane’s protective nature)
Deception vs. honesty in relationships
The growing pains of adolescence
Notable Moment
Almanzo, coughing from the spicy chicken: “What is in this?”
Laura (innocently): “Must’ve been a bad batch of cinnamon.”
Laura’s mischievous grin says it all—this school year is off to a spicy start.
Reflection
“Back to School (Part One)” marks a turning point in Laura’s story, signaling the beginning of one of the series’ most beloved romantic arcs. Her crush on Almanzo is more than just a teenage whim—it sets the stage for her emotional growth, personal determination, and eventual transformation from schoolgirl to young woman.
The episode also gives viewers a classic dose of Little House humor and heart, with Laura’s fiery cinnamon chicken prank becoming one of the most iconic moments in the series. It’s a perfect blend of mischief, rivalry, and heartwarming charm that keeps fans rooting for her—even when she’s being a little sneaky.
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