18. The Widow and the Merchant

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   SayIf a shopkeeper gave you too much change by mistake, what would you do?

2. Words and meanings

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

   died woman convinced amazed wrote pity mistake rewarded grateful check

   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: a widow is a woman whose husband has died; a merchant is a person who buys and sells; a check is a written order to a bank to pay money.

3. Read it aloud

   Your child reads. Help with the amounts of money; read them together.

   Here is a line from it:

   "Five dollars will save us," said the poor widow, with some hesitation.

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

4. Talk about it

   SayWhy did the widow need help?

   SayWhat mistake was made with the money?

   SayWhy did the merchant say she deserved a reward?

   Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

   Honesty, even when it costs us, is the right way, and here it was rewarded.

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me what happened between the widow and the merchant.

6. Copywork

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

   Take it to the bank you see on the other side of the street.

   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: woman, mistake, pity, grateful, wrote.

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