11. The Blacksmith

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   SayA blacksmith heats iron in a fire until it glows, then hammers it into shape. What things might a blacksmith make?

2. Words and meanings

   There is no word list today. Before reading, talk about forge (the blacksmith's fire), anvil and soot.

3. Read it aloud

   Read the first stanza yourself, tapping the beat on the table like a hammer. Then your child reads with the same beat.

   Here are two of its lines:

   Clink, clink, clinkerty clink!

   We begin to hammer at morning's blink,

   Then let your child reread a favorite part, more smoothly.

4. Talk about it

   SayHow long do the blacksmiths work each day?

   SayTheir faces are black with soot. What does the poem say about their hearts?

   Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

   The poem says that honest hearts matter more than clean faces.

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me about a blacksmith's day, from morning to night.

6. Copywork

   Your child copies this from the book in their best handwriting:

   Clink, clink, clinkerty clink!

   We begin to hammer at morning's blink,

   Check capitals and marks together.

7. Spelling

   Say each word, use it in a sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it: clink, hammer, morning, chain.

   Check together and fix any mistakes right away. Keep missed words for tomorrow's warm-up.