16. Bird Friends

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   SayHow could you make a wild bird trust you? What would you need to do?

2. Words and meanings

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

   wife greet beard worms prayers faith grove crusts church furnished

   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: to greet someone is to say hello; a grove is a group of trees.

3. Read it aloud

   Your child reads. This story is quiet and gentle; read it at an easy pace.

   Here is a line from it:

   Down they came like bees at a flower, and flew off with it crumb by crumb.

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

4. Talk about it

   SayWhat was the old man like? Find the words that describe him.

   SayWhat did the birds do because they trusted him?

   SayWhy do you think the birds trusted him?

   Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

   Kindness wins trust, even from shy wild creatures.

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me about the old man and his bird friends.

6. Copywork

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

   Down they came like bees at a flower, and flew off with it crumb by crumb.

   "Like bees at a flower" is a picture in words. Ask your child to picture it.

   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: greet, beard, worms, crusts, faith.

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