McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XLII · Part 5: Kites, sticks and kind deeds

42. Beware of the First Drink

Goal: Your child reads Uncle Philip's story and explains its warning in their own words.

⏱ 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

Uncle Philip tells his nephews the sad story of Tom Smith, whose life was ruined by drink, and ends with a warning. Definitions at the end.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    SayHave you ever heard the saying "Well begun is half done"? Some things are easiest to stop before they start. Today's story is about one of them.

  2. Words and meanings

    This lesson's definitions are printed at the end, after the reading. Read a few of them together before you start:

    Horribly, in a dreadful manner, terribly.

    Decent, modest, respectable.

    Resist, withstand, overcome.

    Then find each word in the lesson.

    SayCan you use one of these words in a sentence of your own?

  3. Read it aloud

    Your child reads. Uncle Philip's story is serious; read it at a steady, quiet pace.

    Here are two lines from it:

    "Uncle Philip, as the day is fine, will you take a walk with us this morning?"

    "Yes, boys."

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat kind of boy was Tom Smith at first?

    SayWhat does "beware of the first drink" mean?

    SayWhy does Uncle Philip say the FIRST drink matters most?

    Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

    "The man who does this will never be a drunkard." A bad habit is easiest to avoid before it begins.

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

  5. Tell it back or write it

    Close the book.

    SayTell me why Uncle Philip told the boys about Tom Smith.

    An older child can write two or three sentences instead.

  6. Dictation

    Show your child this sentence. Let them study it for a minute: the capitals, the commas, any hard words.

    'Therefore,' said Tom, 'beware of the first drink!'

    Then close the book and read it aloud slowly while your child writes it. Open the book and check together.

  7. Spelling

    Say each word, use it in a sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it: decent, resist, guilty, horribly.

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

Afterwards

Reread the lesson aloud tomorrow before starting the next one, and review any missed spelling words.

Tip

This old temperance lesson is sad. Keep the talk simple, and connect it to any habit that is easier never to start.

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