McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LXXVI · Part 8: Rescues, corn and good-night
76. A Child's Hymn optional
Goal: Your child reads a short hymn and tells what the child in it asks for.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- A notebook or lined paper and a pencil
What's in the book
A short hymn in four stanzas, a child's prayer that his or her life may be like a light, a flower and a song.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
SayIf your life could be like something beautiful, what would you choose: a light, a flower, a song?
Words and meanings
There is no word list for this hymn. Read it through once together and talk about any word your child asks about.
Read it aloud
Your child reads slowly and clearly. Then read it once more together.
Then let your child reread a favorite part, more smoothly.
Talk about it
SayWhat does the child in the hymn ask to be like?
SayWhich stanza do you like best?
Let your child look back at the page to find answers.
Tell it back or write it
SayTell me in your own words what the child in the hymn is asking.
An older child can write two or three sentences instead.
Copywork
Have your child copy the first stanza of the hymn from the book, slowly and neatly.
Spelling
Say each word, use it in a sentence, and have your child spell it aloud, then write it: child, light, flower, praise.
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.
Tip
We could not get a clean text of this hymn from the scans, so the guide quotes none of it. Read it straight from the book page.