McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LII · Part 6: Courage, waves and patience

52. True Courage

Goal: Your child reads a story about a dare and explains what true courage would have been.

⏱ 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

Three boys pass a school-house on a winter day; one dares George to throw a snowball at the door, and George is too afraid of being called a coward to say no. Definitions at the end.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    SayWhat is a dare? Is it brave to do something wrong because someone dares you?

  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:

    Scholars, children at school.

    Credit, reputation.

    Fearless, bold, brave.

    Disliked, not loved.

    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. Model the mocking voices of the other boys so your child hears how hard it was for George.

    Here is a line from it:

    One cold winter's day, three boys were passing by a school-house.

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat did the oldest boy dare George to do?

    SayWhy did George do it?

    SayWhat would "real courage" have been?

    Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

    "He was such a coward, that he was afraid of being called a coward." True courage is saying no to what is wrong.

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

  5. Tell it back or write it

    Close the book.

    SayTell me what happened, then tell me how it should have gone.

    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.

    He was such a coward, that he was afraid of being called a coward.

    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: scholars, credit, fearless, dare.

    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

Practice saying no out loud together. It really is easier after practice.

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