McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XVI · Part 2: Sunbeams and kind hearts

16. A Kind Brother

Goal: Your child reads the story and explains why the big brother did not trick his little brother.

⏱ About 15 minutes · 7 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • A slate, small whiteboard or lined paper and a pencil
  • A broom handle and a bag with a few books in it (optional)

What's in the book

New words, then the story of two brothers carrying a heavy basket to their grandmother on a pole.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    Have your child reread a few lines of Lesson XV, for example:

    Baby sleeps, so we must tread

    Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

  2. New words

    Point to the new words at the top of the lesson:

    full load heavy middle heavier slip wrong handle brother deceived

    Say each word and have your child say it after you. Clap the parts of long words. Then point to words in any order and let your child read them.

  3. Read it aloud

    Look at the picture together first, if there is one. Then your child reads the lesson aloud, one paragraph at a time. Help with any word by pointing to it in the word list.

    Here are a few lines from it:

    A boy was once sent from home to take a basket of things to his grandmother.

    The basket was so full that it was very heavy.

    Read it a second time, more smoothly.

  4. Talk about it

    SayHow did the two boys carry the basket?

    SayHow could the big brother have made his end lighter?

    SayWhy didn't he do it?

    SayHow did he feel afterward? Why?

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

  5. Tell it back

    Close the book.

    SayTell me the story of the two brothers and the heavy basket.

    Let your child talk without stopping them. Afterward, help with anything left out by asking "What happened next?"

  6. Copywork

    Write this line from the lesson for your child to copy, or let them copy it straight from the book:

    It would be wrong, and I will not do what is wrong.

    Check capital letters, commas and the mark at the end.

  7. Spelling

    Say each word, use it in a short sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it: full, load, heavy, brother, wrong.

    Check together and fix any mistakes right away.

Afterwards

Reread this lesson aloud the next day before starting a new one. Read the new words in any order until they come quickly.

Tip

Hang a bag on a broom handle and each hold one end. Slide the bag toward one person and feel who carries more of the weight.

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