McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LXXV · Part 8: Truth, wisdom and work

79. King Solomon and the Ants, by Whittier

Goal: Your child reads a story poem aloud and explains what Solomon's kindness to the ants teaches about rulers.

⏱ About 20 minutes · 7 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗

You'll need

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

What's in the book

A story poem: King Solomon rides out of Jerusalem with the Queen of Sheba. Because he understands the language of all creatures, he hears the ants fear he will crush them, and he turns his whole company aside. A note about Whittier and Definitions are included.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Words and meanings

    The new words are at the end of the lesson, under Definitions. The small number in front of each word is the paragraph or verse where it is used. Read them together before the lesson. A few of them:

    Interpreted, explained the meaning of.

    Welfare, happiness.

    Train, a body of followers.

    Flattery, praises for the purpose of gratifying vanity or gaining favor.

    Ask your child to find two of these words in the lesson and read the sentence each one is in.

  2. About the author

    The book's note says John Greenleaf Whittier was born near Haverhill, Mass., in 1807. Until he was eighteen he worked on the farm, and in that time learned the trade of a shoemaker. He afterwards became an editor, and (the note says) ranks with the first poets of America.

  3. Read it aloud

    Read the poem aloud to your child first, then let your child read it. The lines are short, so keep it moving. It begins:

    Out from Jerusalem

    The king rode with his great

    War chiefs and lords of state,

    And Sheba's queen with them.

    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.

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat gift did Solomon have that let him understand the ants?

    SayWhat were the ants afraid of?

    SayWhat did Solomon say to the queen? What did he do?

    SayWhat kind of ruler does the last verse praise?

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

  5. Tell it back

    Your child tells the story of the poem in prose, ending with what Solomon did.

  6. Copywork

    Your child copies Solomon's answer as verse:

    "Nay," Solomon replied,

    "The wise and strong should seek

    The welfare of the weak;"

  7. Words to learn

    Learn: interpreted, greet, welfare, train, flattery. Spell each aloud, then write it with its meaning.

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