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

73. Indian Corn

Goal: Your child reads a lesson of facts about corn and tells how it is planted, grows and is used.

⏱ About 25 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
  • An ear of corn, if you have one

What's in the book

A long lesson of facts about Indian corn, or maize: its name, how it is planted in hills, how the tassel and silk make the kernels grow, and its many uses. A long list of definitions at the end.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    SayHow many foods can you name that are made from corn?

    If you can, hold an ear of corn with its husk and silk.

  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:

    Furrow, a trench made by a plow.

    Fodder, such food for animals as hay, straw, and vegetables.

    Poultry, barn-yard fowls.

    Succotash, corn and beans boiled together.

    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. This is a long facts lesson; split it over two days (the planting and growing, then the uses).

    Here is a line from it:

    Few plants are more useful to man than Indian corn, or maize.

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

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhy is it called Indian corn?

    SayHow is corn planted? What are "hills" of corn?

    SayWhat are some of the uses of corn the lesson names?

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

  5. Tell it back or write it

    Close the book.

    SayTell me how corn grows, from seed to ear.

    An older child can write three sentences about corn.

  6. Copywork

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

    Few plants are more useful to man than Indian corn, or maize.

    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: furrow, fodder, poultry, commerce, article.

    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

Pop some popcorn (the book mentions it!) and read part of the lesson while it pops.

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