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

58. John Carpenter

Goal: Your child reads a story about a boy who makes his own toys and tells what became of him.

⏱ About 20 minutes · 7 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗

You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • A notebook or lined paper and a pencil

What's in the book

A story about John Carpenter, who would rather make a toy horse than buy one, and what kind of man he grew up to be. Definitions at the end.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    SayWould you rather buy a toy or make one yourself? Why?

  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:

    Turner, one who shapes wooden or metal articles by means of a lathe.

    Shavings, the thin ribbons of wood which a carpenter makes in planing.

    Ingenious, skillful.

    Compliment, praise, approbation.

    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 John's proud answer: "I made it."

    Here are two lines from it:

    John Carpenter did not like to buy toys that somebody else had made.

    He liked the fun of making them himself.

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayHow did John make his horse? Who helped him?

    SayWhat did Tom say about John's horse?

    SayWhat did John become when he grew up?

    Then talk about the lesson of the reading:

    Making things yourself builds skill, and skill grows into good work.

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

  5. Tell it back or write it

    Close the book.

    SayTell me how John made his horse, step by step.

    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.

    John Carpenter did not like to buy toys that somebody else had made.

    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: leather, complete, permission, admiring.

    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

Make a simple toy together this week from things in the house.

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