McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XXVIII · Part 4: Riches, eagles and good neighbors

32. The Voice of the Grass, by Sarah Roberts

Goal: Your child reads a poem in which the grass speaks, and names the places it creeps to.

⏱ About 20 minutes · 5 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • A notebook or lined paper and a pencil

What's in the book

A poem told by the grass itself: it creeps everywhere, by dusty roadsides, sunny hills, brooks and doorways, more welcome than the flowers.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Read it aloud

    Read the poem aloud to your child first, then let your child read it. Read it softly, the way grass might speak. It begins:

    Here I come, creeping, creeping, every-where;

    Then have your child read it a second time, more smoothly: the first reading is for the meaning, the second for the sound and rhythm.

  2. Talk about it

    SayWho is speaking in this poem?

    SayName some of the places the grass says it goes.

    SayWhy does the grass say it is more welcome than the flowers?

    SayWhich line keeps coming back? Why do you think the poet repeats it?

    Let your child look back at the page to find answers.

  3. Tell it back

    Your child describes, in their own words, all the places the grass creeps to.

  4. Copywork

    Your child copies the poem's first line, then one whole verse of their choice from the book, keeping the line breaks and capitals.

    Here I come, creeping, creeping, every-where;

  5. Words to learn

    No Definitions are printed for this poem. Choose four words from it to learn, such as creeping, welcome, pleasant and summer.

Afterwards

Go outside and find grass in three unexpected places: a crack in the sidewalk, a wall, a doorway.

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