McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XIV · Part 2: Wolves, birds and minutes

14. The Little Bird's Song

Goal: Your child reads a poem aloud and explains why the father wants Gracie to learn from the little bird.

⏱ 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 short list of words and a poem about a plain brown bird that sings sweetly where no one can see it, and the lesson a father draws for little Gracie.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    Go to a window or outside and listen for a bird. Can you hear it? Can you see it?

  2. Words and meanings

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

    melody unnoticed modest content Gracie

    Read them together a few at a time. Clap the syllables of the long ones. The book prints these words without meanings.

    Explain in your own words: modest means not showing off; content means happy with what you have.

  3. Read it aloud

    Your child reads. Read the father's words yourself first, warmly and slowly.

    Here are two of its lines:

    A little bird, with feathers brown,

    Sat singing on a tree;

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhy couldn't people see the little bird?

    SayWhat lesson does the father hope Gracie will learn?

    SayWhat do you think "They'll not forget your song" means for a child?

    Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

    Doing good quietly, without showing off, is remembered longer than good looks.

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

  5. Tell it back

    Close the book.

    SayTell me what the little bird did, and what the father told Gracie.

  6. Copywork

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

    Though others may forget your looks,

    They'll not forget your song.

    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: melody, modest, content, feathers.

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

Afterwards

Reread the poem on the next day or two; try to say one stanza by heart.

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