McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LXXI · Part 8: Rescues, corn and good-night

71. How Willie Got Out of the Shaft

Goal: Your child reads an adventure story and explains how Willie and his dog Caper got help.

⏱ 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

Willie and his dog Caper fall into a deep shaft in the pasture. The next morning Willie thinks of a clever way to send for help. Definitions at the end.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    SayIf you were stuck somewhere and no one could hear you, how could you get help?

  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:

    Shaft, a deep hole made in the earth, usually for mining purposes.

    Scampered, ran briskly.

    Neighborhood, the surrounding region which lies nearest, vicinity.

    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. The story is told out of order: first the search, then how Willie got there. Point that out.

    Here is a line from it:

    Every body ran at once to the far corner of the pasture; and there was Willie, alive and well, in the shaft.

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayHow did Willie and Caper end up in the shaft?

    SayWhat did Willie have in his pocket that helped?

    SayHow did the note get to Willie's father?

    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 in order, from Willie's birthday present to the rescue.

    An older child can write two or three sentences about Willie's clever idea.

  6. Copywork

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

    Oh, how glad he was when his father caught him in his arms, and lifted him out!

    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: birthday, shaft, neighborhood, scampered.

    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.

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