McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XXXVIII · Part 4: Letters, tigers and a faithful dog

38. The New Scales

Goal: Your child reads the story and tells how Herbert made the scales.

⏱ About 20 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 coat hanger, string and two small cups, to make a simple balance (optional)

What's in the book

New words, then the story of Herbert, who makes his little sister Lucy a pair of play scales out of sticks and thread.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

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

    Listen to the kitchen clock!

    Praise smooth reading and help with any word that sticks.

  2. New words

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

    Herbert orange find post inches thread beam thick pine next groove scales hole peel gimlet ribbon

    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:

    "Herbert, will you please peel my orange?" said Lucy.

    Now, Lucy, we must have a needle and some thread.

    If it is long, stop at a good place and finish tomorrow.

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat was Herbert doing when Lucy asked him for help?

    SayWhat did Herbert offer to make?

    SayWhat things did they use to make the scales?

    SayHow did Lucy thank Herbert?

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

  5. Tell it back

    Close the book.

    SayTell me how Herbert made the scales, step by step.

    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:

    "Herbert, will you please peel my orange?" said Lucy.

    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: orange, thread, thick, pine, hole.

    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

Three pages: fine to split over two days. Make a balance from a coat hanger and two cups and play store.

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