37. Bats

The lesson, step by step

1. Warm up

   SayIs a bat a bird or a mouse? Why might someone be confused?

2. Words and meanings

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

   encountered prepared policy prowling double insect devour escape quadruped

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

   Explain a few: to devour is to eat up; a quadruped is an animal with four feet; prowling means creeping about looking for food.

3. Read it aloud

   Your child reads. Give the bat a quick, clever voice.

   Here is a line from it:

   Bats are very strange little animals, having hair like mice, and wings like birds.

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

4. Talk about it

   SayWhere do bats live in the daytime, and when do they come out?

   SayHow did the bat trick each of its enemies?

   SayWhy would people not like someone who plays a double part?

   Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

   The fable says a person playing a double part may escape danger, but no one will like or trust him.

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

5. Tell it back

   Close the book.

   SayTell me the fable of the bat, and what it teaches.

6. Copywork

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

   Bats are very strange little animals, having hair like mice, and wings like birds.

   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: insect, escape, double, prepared.

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