Part 6
For now, indeed, he knew that the northland was not all for him.
And this is the reason why the people in the north country love the robin. And they are never tired of telling their children how it got its red breast.
_Tuesday_
Write the story of the Robin’s Red Breast.
_Wednesday_
Play, as a game, the story of Robin.
_Thursday_
Write five sentences about birds.
_Friday_
For dictation:
Two hands and only one mouth have you, And it is worth while repeating, That two are for the work you will have to do; The one is enough for eating.--_Selected_
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST WEEK
_Monday_
To be committed to memory:
“The Wreck of the Hesperus,” by Henry W. Longfellow.
Copy eleven stanzas of the poem.
_Tuesday_
Copy the rest of the poem.
_Wednesday_
Learn the first four stanzas of the poem.
_Thursday_
Learn the second four stanzas of the poem.
_Friday_
Learn the third four stanzas of the poem.
SECOND WEEK
_Monday_
Learn the fourth four stanzas of the poem.
_Tuesday_
Learn the fifth four stanzas of the poem.
_Wednesday_
Finish learning the poem, and recite it throughout.
_Thursday_
Recite the poem, and answer the following:
What is a “schooner”? (See dictionary.)
How does the sea in winter differ from a summer sea?
Who was the “skipper”?
Write a description of the captain’s daughter.
What is a “helm”?
What is meant by the “veering flaw?”
What did the changing positions of the wind indicate with regard to the weather?
_Friday_
Where was the “Spanish Main”?
What is a “port”?
What is a “hurricane”?
What does a golden ring around the moon indicate?
Did you ever see one?
What is a “whiff”?
What is a “gale”?
What is meant by the “brine”?
What is meant by “smote amain”?
How could a boat leap?
THIRD WEEK
_Monday_
What is a “blast”? How could it sting?
What is a “spar”?
What is a “mast”?
What is a “fog-bell”?
What is meant by a “rock-bound coast”?
What guns could be heard?
Why was the sea “angry”?
Where is Norman’s Woe? Why is it so called?
_Tuesday_
What is a “gust”?
Why was the surf called “trampling”?
What is the bow of a boat?
What is a “wreck”?
Why were the frozen seamen like icicles?
_Wednesday_
Why did the waves look “fleecy”?
What is “carded wool”?
Why were the rocks called “cruel”?
What is a “shroud”?
What is meant by “went by the board”?
What became of the ship?
What is a “reef”?
_Thursday_
Look up the life of the poet Longfellow and talk about him.
_Friday_
Write the story of Longfellow’s life.
FOURTH WEEK
_Monday_
Write the story of St. Valentine.
_Tuesday_
Write the story of Lincoln’s boyhood.
_Wednesday_
Write about what Washington did for our country.
_Thursday_
Talk about patriotism; what it means, and how we can best show our patriotism.
_Friday_
Write the story of the making of the first American flag.
MARCH
FIRST YEAR
FIRST WEEK
_Monday_
Talk about the new month. What month is this? What was last month? What month follows March? What season is this? What are the three months of the spring season? What season follows spring? What season is just past? How many days has March? What is March sometimes called? (The windy month.)
_Tuesday_
Write the date. Write the word _March_.
_Wednesday_
Talk about the wind. Can we see the wind? How do we know when the wind is blowing? What does the wind do to the trees? What does it do to the clothes hanging on the line? What does it do to our faces? (Makes our cheeks rosy.)
_Thursday_
To be taught to the children:
WHO HAS SEEN THE WIND?
Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you; But when the leaves hang trembling The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I, But when the trees bow down their heads The wind is passing by.
--_Christina Rossetti_
_Friday_
Teach the children the poem given above.
SECOND WEEK
_Monday_
Talk about wind-mills: How they are used; how they turn; Holland and the wind-mills of that country.
_Tuesday_
Write:
Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I.
_Wednesday_
Story to be told to the children:
THE WINDS
This is one of the stories that the fathers and mothers in Greece used to tell their children.
Æolus was the father of all the winds, great and small. He had six sons and six daughters.
When the children were old enough, they went out into the world to work. Often they were gone all day long.
They had to sweep and dust the whole world. They carried water from the sea to wash and scrub the earth.
They helped to move the great ships across the ocean. They scattered the seeds, and watered the flowers, and did many other helpful things.
And these things are what the winds do for us to-day.
Can you tell the names of the four great winds? (East, West, North, South.)
_Thursday_
Have the children tell you about Æolus and his winds.
_Friday_
Write: The four winds are East, West, North and South.
THIRD WEEK
_Monday_
Talk about kites and kite-flying: How does a kite fly? How high will a kite fly? How do boys make kites?
Tell the children about the kites of Japan, and about kite-flying day in that country.
_Tuesday_
Have the children give as many words as they can that rhyme with _kite_. Write these on the blackboard, and use them for drill in phonics.
_Wednesday_
Talk about pussy willows. Who has seen pussy willows? Who has seen pussy willows this year? Where? How do we find the little pussies growing? What are they covered with? What for? (To protect the tiny buds from cold.)
_Thursday_
Write: Pussy willows have gray fur.
_Friday_
To be committed to memory:
Whatever way the wind doth blow, Some heart is glad to have it so; So blow it east, or blow it west, The wind that blows--that wind is best.
FOURTH WEEK
_Monday_
Tell the children about St. Patrick, the good old Irish saint, whose birthday comes in March.
_Tuesday_
Have the children tell you about St. Patrick.
_Wednesday_
Write: _Spring begins in March._
_Thursday_
Fill the blank spaces in the following:
The East Wind comes from the ----. The West Wind comes from the ----. The North Wind comes from the ----. The South Wind comes from the ----.
_Friday_
Talk about the signs of Spring.
SECOND YEAR
FIRST WEEK
_Monday_
To be committed to memory:
THE WIND
I saw you toss the kites on high, And blow the birds about the sky, And all around I heard you pass, Like ladies’ skirts across the grass-- O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song!
I saw the different things you did, But always you yourself you hid. I felt you push, I heard you call, I could not see yourself at all-- O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind, that sings so loud a song!
O you that are so strong and cold; O blower, are you young or old? Are you a beast of field and tree, Or just a stronger child than me? O wind, a-blowing all day long? O wind, that sings so loud a song?
--_Robert Louis Stevenson_
Children copy the first stanza of the poem, and commit it to memory.
_Tuesday_
Copy and learn the second stanza of the poem.
_Wednesday_
Copy and learn the third stanza of the poem.
_Thursday_
Recite the entire poem.
_Friday_
Write a list of the naming words (nouns) in the poem.
SECOND WEEK
_Monday_
For dictation:
Galloping, galloping, galloping in, Into the world with a stir, and a din. The north wind, the east wind, the west wind together, In-bringing, in-bringing, the March’s wild weather.
_Tuesday_
Write five sentences, telling what the wind does.
_Wednesday_
Story for reproduction:
SPRING
It was spring.
The sun had melted the snow from the hill-tops; the grass blades were pushing their way through the brown earth, and the buds on the trees were beginning to break open and let the tiny green leaves peep out.
A bee, waked from the sleep in which he had lain all through the winter, rubbed his eyes, then opened the door, and looked out to see if the ice and snow and the north wind had gone away. Yes; there was warm, clear sunshine.
He slipped out of the hive, stretched his wings and flew away.
He went to the apple tree and asked, “Have you anything for a hungry bee, who has eaten nothing the whole winter long?”
The apple tree answered:
“No; you have come too early. My blossoms are still buds and so I have nothing for you. Go to the cherry tree.”
He flew to the cherry tree and said, “Dear cherry tree, have you any honey for a hungry bee?”
The cherry tree answered:
“Come again to-morrow; to-day my blossoms are shut up, but when they are open you are welcome to them.”
Then he flew to a bed of tulips nearby. They had large, beautiful flowers, but there was neither sweetness nor perfume in them and he could not find any honey.
Tired and hungry, the poor bee turned to seek his home, when a tiny dark blue flower, beside a hedge, caught his eye.
It was a violet that was all ready for the bee’s coming. The violet opened its cup of sweetness. The bee drank his fill, and carried some honey to the hive.
--_Selected and Adapted_
_Thursday_
Children retell, in their own words, the story of “Spring.”
_Friday_
Write five sentences about spring.
THIRD WEEK
_Monday_
For dictation:
If a task is once begun, Never leave it till it’s done; Be the labor great or small Do it well, or not at all.
_Tuesday_
Talk about signs of spring! Sky, bright sun, warmer days, return of birds, pussy willows, swelling buds.
_Wednesday_
Write five sentences about pussy willows.
_Thursday_
Write a letter to your sister or brother, telling about pussy willow.
_Friday_
Write a sentence containing the word _blue_; one with the word _green_; _pink_; _yellow_; _red_; _white_.
FOURTH WEEK
_Monday_
Tell the children about St. Patrick.
_Tuesday_
Write three sentences about St. Patrick.
_Wednesday_
Write the names of all the members of the family, and your address.
_Thursday_
For dictation:
Under the snowdrifts the blossoms are sleeping, Dreaming their dreams of sunshine and June.
_Friday_
Talk about the wind, and what it does.
THIRD YEAR
FIRST WEEK
_Monday_
To be committed to memory:
THE VOICE OF THE GRASS
Here I come creeping, creeping, everywhere; By the dusty roadside, On the sunny hillside, Close by the noisy brook, In every shady nook, I come creeping, creeping everywhere.
Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere. All around the open door, Where sit the aged poor; Here where the children play, In the bright and merry May, I come creeping, creeping everywhere.
Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere; In the noisy city street My pleasant face you’ll meet, Cheering the sick at heart. Toiling his busy part-- Silently creeping, creeping everywhere.
Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere, You cannot see me coming, Nor hear my low sweet humming, For in the starry night, And the glad morning light, I come quietly creeping, creeping everywhere.
Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere, More welcome than the flowers In summer’s pleasant hours; The gentle cow is glad, And the merry bird not sad, To see me creeping, creeping everywhere.
* * * * *
Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere; My humble song of praise Most joyfully I raise To Him at whose command I beautify the land, Creeping, silently creeping everywhere.
--_Sarah Roberts Boyle_
Copy the first half of the poem.
_Tuesday_
Copy the rest of the poem.
_Wednesday_
Commit to memory the first two stanzas of the poem.
_Thursday_
Commit to memory the second two stanzas of the poem.
_Friday_
Recite the entire poem.
SECOND WEEK
_Monday_
Write a list of the nouns in the poem.
_Tuesday_
Write a list of the verbs in the poem.
_Wednesday_
Write a list of adjectives in the poem.
_Thursday_
For dictation:
In her dress of silver gray, Comes the Pussy Willow gay; Like a little Eskimo, Clad in fur from top to toe.
_Friday_
Write five sentences about pussy willows.
THIRD WEEK
_Monday_
Write, to a classmate, a telegram of not more than ten words, saying that spring is coming.
_Tuesday_
Write a letter to a pussy willow.
_Wednesday_
Talk about the wind and what it does.
_Thursday_
Write five sentences telling what the wind does.
_Friday_
Write the story of St. Patrick.
FOURTH WEEK
_Monday_
For dictation:
Day after day, and year after year, Little by little, the leaves appear; And the slender branches far and wide, Tell the mighty oak is the forest’s pride.
_Tuesday_
Write a list of at least ten objects beginning with _m_. Who can write the longest list?
_Wednesday_
Write a rhyme of four lines about the wind.
_Thursday_
Write a story about some pet that you have or that you know about.
_Friday_
Tell something that makes you happy.
Tell something that makes you sorry.
Tell something that you think it is right to do.
Tell something that you think it is wrong to do.
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST WEEK
_Monday_
To be committed to memory:
THE FAIRIES
Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren’t go a-hunting, For fear of little men; Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap, And white owl’s feather.
Down along the rocky shore, Some make their home; They live on crispy pancakes Of yellow tide-foam; Some in the reeds Of the black mountain lake, With frogs for their watch-dogs, All night awake.
High on the hilltop, The old king sits; He is now so old and gray He’s nigh lost his wits. By the craggy hillside, Through the mosses bare, They have planted thorn trees For pleasure here and there. Is any man so daring, As dig one up in spite? He shall find their sharpest thorns In his bed at night.
Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren’t go a-hunting, For fear of little men, Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap; And white owl’s feather.
--_William Allingham_
Copy the poem.
_Tuesday_
Learn the first half of the poem.
_Wednesday_
Learn the rest of the poem.
_Thursday_
Answer the following questions:
What is meant by the “airy” mountain?
What is meant by the “rushy glen”? What is a glen?
Why are the fairies called “wee” folk?
What is meant by their “trooping”?
What are “crispy” pan-cakes?
What are “reeds”?
Why is a mountain lake called “black”?
_Friday_
What “old king sits”?
What are “wits”?
What is a “craggy hillside”?
Why are the, mosses called “bare”?
Write a description of a fairy as given in the poem.
SECOND WEEK
_Monday_
Talk about the following: What story, that you have read, do you like best? Why? What game do you like best? Why? What song do you like best? Why? What study do you like best? Why?
_Tuesday_
For dictation:
Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime; And, departing, leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time.
_Wednesday_
Write about what the wind does.
_Thursday_
Write about the signs of spring that you have noticed.
_Friday_
Talk about what you saw on your way to school.
Third Week
_Monday_
Write a list of all the words you can think of that begin with _h_. Who can write the longest list?
_Tuesday_
For dictation:
In spring when stirs the wind, I know That soon the crocus buds will blow; For ’tis the wind who bids them wake And into pretty blossoms break.
_Wednesday_
Write a description of the teacher’s desk.
_Thursday_
Write an informal invitation to a St. Patrick’s Day entertainment at the school.
_Friday_
Have a spelling match.
FOURTH WEEK
_Monday_
Write seven verbs.
Write each in a different sentence.
Tuesday
For dictation:
To look up and not down, To look forward and not back, To look out and not in, and To lend a hand.
_Wednesday_
Write a letter, if you are in the country, to some one in the city, telling what games you play at recess. If you live in the city, write to some one in the country.
_Thursday_
Write a description of some game you play.
_Friday_
Talk about the return of the birds.
APRIL
FIRST YEAR
FIRST WEEK
_Monday_
Talk about the next month? What is the name of this month? What was last month? What will next month be? What season is this? What will the next season be? How many days in April? What other months have only thirty days?
_Tuesday_
Story to be told to the children:
THE MORNING-GLORY SEED
A little girl dropped a morning-glory seed into a small hole in the ground. As she did so she said, “Now, morning-glory seed, hurry and grow, grow, grow, until you are a tall vine, covered with pretty green leaves and lovely trumpet flowers.”
But the earth was very dry. There had been no rain for a long time, and the poor seed could not grow at all.
After it had lain in the ground for nine long days and nine long nights, the little seed said to the ground, “Oh, ground, please give me a few drops of water to soften my hard brown coat. Then my coat can burst open and set free my two green seed-leaves, and then I can begin to be a vine.”
But the ground said, “You must ask that of the rain.”
So the seed called to the rain. “Oh, rain,” it said, “please come down and wet the ground around me, so that it may give me a few drops of water, to soften my hard brown coat. Then my coat can burst open and set free my two green seed-leaves, and then I can begin to be a vine.”
“I cannot,” said the rain, “unless the clouds hang low.”
So the seed said to the clouds, “Oh, clouds, please hang low, and let the rain come down and wet the ground around me, so that it may give me a few drops of water to soften my hard brown coat. Then my coat can burst open and set free my two green seed-leaves, and then I can begin to be a vine.”
But the clouds said, “The sun must hide first.”
So the seed called to the sun. “Oh, sun, please hide for a little while. Then the clouds can hang low, and let the rain come down and wet the ground around me, so that it may give me a few drops of water, to soften my hard brown coat. Then my coat can burst open and set free my two green seed-leaves, and then I can begin to be a vine.”
“I will,” said the sun, and he hid at once.
Then the clouds hung low and lower. The rain began to fall fast and faster. The ground began to grow wet and wetter. The seed-coat began to grow soft and softer, until it burst open. Out came two bright green seed-leaves, and the morning-glory seed began to be a vine.--_Adapted_
_Wednesday_
Talk about the story of the morning-glory seed.
_Thursday_
Talk about the part the rain and the sunshine have in making plants grow.
_Friday_
Play as a game the story of the morning-glory seed.
SECOND WEEK
_Monday_
To be committed to memory:
SEVEN TIMES ONE
There’s no dew left on the daisies and clover, There’s no rain left in heaven; I’ve said my “seven times” over and over, Seven times one are seven.
I am old, so old I can write a letter; My birthday lessons are done; The lambs play always, they know no better, They are only one times one.
O moon! in the night I have seen you sailing, And shining so round and low; You were bright, ah, bright! but your light is failing-- You are nothing now but a bow.
You moon, have you done something wrong in heaven That God has hidden your face? I hope if you have, you will soon be forgiven, And shine again in your place.
O velvet bee, you’re a dusty fellow; You’ve powdered your legs with gold! O brave marshmary buds, rich and yellow, Give me your money to hold.
And show me your nest with the young ones in it-- I will not steal it away; I am old! you may trust me, linnet, linnet-- I am seven years old to-day!--_Jean Ingelow_
Spend the rest of the week teaching the poem to the children. They always enjoy this poem, one generation of little folks after another. Did you not?
THIRD WEEK
_Monday_
Talk about the rain: Why we need so much of it this month, when the plants are just starting to grow.
_Tuesday_
Have the children write: April is the rainy month.
_Wednesday_
For dictation:
Oh, where do you come from, You little drops of rain?
_Thursday_
Read or recite the following poem to the children. Talk about where the rain comes from, and what becomes of the water. The children are old enough to understand and appreciate it all, if the explanation be made sufficiently simple.
THE RAIN DROPS’ RIDE
Some little drops of water, Whose home was in the sea, To go upon a journey Once happened to agree.
A white cloud was their carriage; Their horse, a playful breeze; And over town and country They rode along at ease.
But, O! there were so many, At last the carriage broke, And to the ground came tumbling Those frightened little folk.
Among the grass and flowers They then were forced to roam, Until a brooklet found them, And carried them all home.--_Selected_
_Friday_
Let the children play the rain as a game. They can come from one part of the room which may represent the sea. They can ride on a play cloud. Coming gently to a garden, on the floor, they may play scatter the drops quietly, like an April rain, from their finger tips. Then they may join the brook, and go with it to where it enters the river, then follow the river to the ocean once more.
FOURTH WEEK
_Monday_
Tell the children the story of Paul Revere’s Ride.
_Tuesday_
Have the children tell back to you the story of Paul Revere’s Ride.
_Wednesday_
Read to the children Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.”
_Thursday_
Write three sentences about Paul Revere’s Ride.
_Friday_
Have the children play Paul Revere’s Ride as a game.
SECOND YEAR
FIRST WEEK
_Monday_
A rainy morning. (If the morning is pleasant, use this exercise the first rainy day.) Why did you come to school this morning with rubbers and umbrella? Why does the rain run off an umbrella? Why is the roof of a house built on a slant? Why does rain sometimes fall straight down, and sometimes fall slanting? How does the rain tell us which way the wind blows? Why do rubbers keep our feet dry? Why do not our shoes keep our feet dry? What can you think of, besides overshoes, that is made of rubber?
_Tuesday_
Write five sentences about rain.
_Wednesday_
Poem to be committed to memory:
THE BLUEBIRD
I know the song the bluebird is singing, Out in the apple tree where he is swinging, Brave little fellow! the skies may be dreary-- Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery. Hark! how the music leaps from his throat! Hark! was there ever so merry a note?
Listen a while, and you’ll hear what he’s saying, Up in the apple tree swinging and swaying. Dear little blossoms, down under the snow, You must be weary of winter, I know; Hark while I sing you a message of cheer: Summer is coming, and springtime is here.
“Little white snowdrop, I pray you arise! Bright yellow crocus, come open your eyes! Sweet little violets, hid from the cold, Put on your mantles of purple and gold! Daffodils, daffodils! say, do you hear? Summer is coming, and springtime is here.
--_Selected_
Have the poem copied.
_Thursday_
Learn the first and second stanzas of the poem.
_Friday_
Learn the rest of the poem.
SECOND WEEK
_Monday_
Write a list of the name words (nouns) in the poem, “The Bluebird.”
_Tuesday_
Write a list of the doing words (verbs) in the poem.
_Wednesday_