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

46. Harry and the Guide-Post

Goal: Your child reads a story-poem and explains how Harry faced his fear.

⏱ 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 story-poem: Harry walks alone on a dark night, sees a tall white shape with arms held out, and bravely walks up to it. Definitions at the end.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    SayHave you ever been frightened by something in the dark that turned out to be nothing?

  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:

    Benighted, overtaken by the night.

    Groped, felt his way in the dark.

    Guide-post, a post and sign set up at the forks of a road to direct travelers.

    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. Read the scary stanzas in a low, slow voice, and the ending brightly.

    Here are two of its lines:

    The night was dark, the sun was hid

    Beneath the mountain gray,

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat did Harry think he saw?

    SayWhat did he say to himself to be brave?

    SayWhat was it really, and what did Harry decide to do next time?

    Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

    Harry decides to march straight up to whatever frightens him.

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

  5. Tell it back or write it

    Close the book.

    SayTell me the story of Harry's walk in the dark.

    An older child can write two or three sentences instead.

  6. Copywork

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

    The night was dark, the sun was hid

    Beneath the mountain gray,

    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: heath, groped, horrid, dismal, ghost.

    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.

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