19. The Birds Set Free

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   SayWould you rather be a bird in a cage or a bird in a tree? Why?

2. Words and meanings

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

   wires trade bargain sadness prisoners war French apiece number resolved

   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 bargain is an agreement to buy and sell; apiece means for each one; resolved means decided firmly.

3. Read it aloud

   Your child reads. The man's explanation at the end is the heart of the story; read it slowly.

   Here is a line from it:

   No sooner was the bargain settled than the man opened the cage door, and let all the birds fly away.

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

4. Talk about it

   SayWhat did the boy have to sell?

   SayWhat did the man do as soon as he had bought the birds?

   SayWhy did the man care so much about being free?

   Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

   The man had been a prisoner himself, so he would not keep anything shut up that he could set free.

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayPretend you are the boy. Tell me about the strange man who bought your birds.

6. Copywork

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

   No sooner was the bargain settled than the man opened the cage door, and let all the birds fly away.

   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: wires, trade, bargain, number, war.

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