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

20. A Moment Too Late

Goal: Your child reads a poem with a repeated line and explains why being late can cost a lot.

⏱ About 20 minutes · 7 steps

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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: a bird is a moment too late to fasten its nest, a bee is too late for the honey, and the poem ends with a word to boys and girls.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    SayHave you ever been just a little bit too late for something? What happened?

  2. Words and meanings

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

    downy firmly staid petals crime

    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: downy means soft and fluffy; staid is an old spelling of stayed.

  3. Read it aloud

    Your child reads. Let them stress the repeated words "A moment too late" each time.

    Here are two of its lines:

    A moment too late, my beautiful bird,

    A moment too late are you now;

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat happened to the bird's nest because it was late?

    SayWhat did the bee miss?

    SayWhat does the poem tell the little girl and boy?

    Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

    The poem says never to be "a moment too late."

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

  5. Tell it back

    SayTell me the three parts of this poem: the bird, the bee, and the children.

  6. Copywork

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

    A moment too late, my beautiful bird,

    A moment too late are you now;

    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: moment, late, firmly, petals, downy.

    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.

Tip

Try a week of being ready a minute early. Make a game of it.

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