McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LXXXV · Part 9: History, seasons and home

89. Brandywine Ford, part 1, by Bayard Taylor

Goal: Your child reads an exciting flood story and retells what happened at the ford.

⏱ About 30 minutes · 6 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

From "The Story of Kennett": Gilbert rides his horse Roger through a dark, rainy night to the ford of the Brandywine. The creek is in flood, the dam breaks, and horse and rider are swept away. Gilbert ends up clinging to a log on a rocky islet. A note about the author is included.

The lesson, step by step

  1. About the author

    The book's note says Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., in 1825. He received a limited school education, but at an early age displayed great energy and talent. The selection is adapted from "The Story of Kennett."

  2. Read it aloud

    Your child reads it aloud. Let the tension build. It begins in the dark:

    The black, dreary night, seemed interminable.

  3. Talk about it

    SayWhy was the ride so hard that night?

    SayHow did Gilbert know where the ford was?

    SayWhat was the roaring sound? What happened next?

    SayHow did Gilbert save himself? What happened to Roger?

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

  4. Tell it back

    Close the book. Your child tells the story so far and guesses how Gilbert will be rescued.

  5. Copywork

    Your child copies this from the book, slowly and neatly, minding every capital letter and mark of punctuation:

    "The dam! the dam!" cried Gilbert, "the dam has given way!"

  6. Words to learn

    Choose four words your child stumbled on while reading. Say each, have your child spell it aloud, then write it. (This part's Definitions come at the end of the next lesson.)

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