AnyOneCanRead®
Module C – Weeks 18 to 34
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Information about Core Knowledge (R) Teacher Read-Alouds (“Listening And Learning”) that should occur daily, in parallel with below AnyOneCanRead READING and PHONICS activities. Resources for:
Westward Expansion:
Click this link for WEEKS 18 TO 20
Insects:
Click this link for WEEKS 21 TO 22
The U.S. Civil War:
Click this link for WEEKS 23 TO 25
The Human Body – Building Blocks And Nutrition:
Click this link for WEEKS 26 TO 28
Immigration:
Click this link for WEEKS 29 TO 31
Fighting For A Cause:
Click this link for WEEKS 32 TO 34
WEEK EIGHTEEN
WEEK EIGHTEEN READING PASSAGES
Lesson 41 – Inf./Deriv. Builder
NEW WORDS: airman, airmen, anteater, anteaters, badman, badmen, beastly, bedrooms, beeline, betters, bigheaded, birdhouse, birdhouses, birdies, birdwatcher, birdwatchers, blackout, blackouts, blowfish, blowout, bluebird, bluebirds, bluer, bluest, boathouse, boathouses, boatmen, boxers, brightest, buzzer, byes, canes, carpets, catchers, catching, children’s, climber, cloths, clouded, crumb, darker, daylight, doorways, eater, eaters, eighth, eyeing, fatter, fishy, friendships, getters, girl’s, goodbye, goodbyes, goodie, greatest, highlight, highly, hillside, longhair, markdowns, outfox, parked, picky, redbird, redbirds, shortest, shorthair, shortstops, sitter, treeing, turnaround, walkouts, workaround, worldly
My dad is an airman.
Anne turned ten.
Anteaters have long noses.
Bob’s a big eater!
Park by that turnaround.
Your dog keeps treeing my cat!
Tom is going to do this workaround.
Watch out for the badman.
Joe wants to be a baker.
She is one beastly sitter.
Go to your bedroom.
She made a beeline for the door.
Are they beings from other worlds?
That’s the biggest house here.
He thinks he’s great, but he’s just bigheaded.
Look at the red birdie!
That’s a big birdhouse!
My mom is a birdwatcher.
That’s Anne’s cat.
The airmen fly fast! 
Did they catch the badmen?
I think an anteater looks funny.
Those bakers make lots of cakes!
Their bedrooms are small.
That worldly man loves his “things!”
Don’t look in the king’s eyes, he’s one of your betters.
The birdies are singing.
There are no birds at our birdhouses.
Birdwatchers are good at sitting still.
I see lots of blackbirds.
Lights go out when you have a blackout.
I think that’s a blowfish!
Our car had a blowout today.
There’s a bluebird in that tree.
My dad likes to play the blues.
Your shirt is bluer than his.
Their boathouse was flooded.
That boatman got too much sun today.
Boxers work out all day.
Tom is brighter than Joe.
John buys shoes once a year.
Turn off that buzzer!
We have to say our good-byes, now.
Let’s look for markdowns on shirts.
Do you have four cans of fish?
Which of these canes is the shortest?
Are some of your carpets white?
Who are the best catchers and shortstops now?
Now I’m catching on!
Put the children’s shoes in the van.
She climbs a tree as fast as a cat.
Buy a box of those red cloths.
Is that a blackbird?
We had lots of blackouts this year.
Our car had a blowout on our trip.
See the bluebirds in the snow?
You have the bluest eyes!
All the boatmen are wet.
Which one of those boathouses is yours?
Our car is parked where that brightest light is.
I jumped when the buzzers went off.
Min is a good tree climber.
It just clouded up.
He’s just the coolest guy!
I hope she comes to see us on Sunday.
I think I could’ve done that.
I ate each crumb of my cake!
My room is darker than yours.
When will daylight come?
I think my cat is dying.
All their doorways were flooded.
They are picky eaters.
It’s the eighth day in a row of rain!
Look at how he’s eyeing that cake!
Those houses are all walkouts.
Jill’s faster than Pat.
Mark’s fatter than Tom.
I’m feeding the dog.
There are lots of redbirds at the feeder.
I found my pen on the stairs.
I hope she finds her cat fast.
The fishermen caught a lot today.
It looks fishy to me.
Get in that fifth train car.
I knew a cat named “Fish!”
A dead frog floated up to the boat.
The redbird flew high up.
What’s that, flying way up there?
Don’t go away now!
That’s the fourth stickup here in ten years!
You can’t outfox me!
He freely told us he’d done something bad.
They have one of the best friendships I know of.
Those frogs are mighty big!
Tom and Bob are what I call “go-getters.”
All the girls think John is good-looking.
That girl’s cat is so sweet!
She’s such a goodie-goodie!
Say goodbye, now.
They said their goodbyes and went home.
We had the greatest trip!
He didn’t have ten hairs on his head.
Jill’s cat is a shorthair, and Pat’s is a longhair.
My hands are wet.
It’s harder to do that than I thought.
She still hasn’t called us.
You should get a haircut!
Jill, I love your new hairdo!
It’s highly likely that he’ll come on Sunday.
This tree is higher than that one.
What was the highlight of your trip?
There weren’t a lot of cars on the highway today.
What’s that way up on the hillside?
They are working hard in that anthill!
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view.)
Kay And Martez
Lesson 42 – Part One
NEW WORDS: Kay’s, Martez, Martez’s, brags, coleslaw, cubes, hopscotch, invite, melt, playground, playtime, serves, shopper, stuffs, visits
Martez, Martez, Martez
Kay’s dad checks Kay’s plate. “Kay,” he says, “have some of your coleslaw! Food is not free!”
Kay smiles. “Food is not free” is something her dad says a lot. He is a man who likes to save as much cash as he can. He hates paying for food that ends up in the trash. Kay cuts her pork chop and lifts a bite of it into the air.
“Martez likes pork chops,” Kay says. “But he hates coleslaw.” Kay pops the bite of pork chop in her mouth. Then she says, “Martez likes to play hopscotch and draw pictures with crayons.” After a bit, she adds, “Martez can run the fastest on the playground.”
“Martez, Martez, Martez!” says Kay’s dad. “Who is this Martez?”
“He’s my pal.”
“Is Martez in your class?” asks Kay’s mom. Kay nods. “Is he nice?”
“He is the best!”
“So should we invite Martez to visit us for dinner?”
“Yes!” says Kay with a shout. “Can we invite him tomorrow?”
Dinner with Kay
The next day, Martez visits Kay’s house for dinner. Kay’s mom serves corn on the cob. Martez tells Kay’s mom, “I like this corn a lot! You are a good cook!”
“Thank you!” says Kay’s mom.
“I got the corn on sale!” Kay’s dad brags. Kay’s dad smiles. He is proud to think that he got good corn for such a good price.
Martez says, “This corn is so sweet. You are a good shopper.”
After dinner, Kay and Martez run outside. They splash in the pool and play tag. While doing the dishes, Kay’s mom says, “What good manners that Martez has!”
“Yes,” says Kay’s dad. “And he ate all of the food on his plate!”
When playtime is finished, Martez runs inside to thank Kay’s mom and dad for dinner. Then he asks, “Can Kay have dinner at our house tomorrow?” Kay’s mom and dad say she can. They like Martez.
The Red Dish
The next day, Kay has dinner with Martez and his mom and dad. Martez’s mom and dad are from Mexico. They have a Mexican dish with peppers, corn, and rice all mixed up. There are two dishes of it sitting side by side. One dish is red. One is green.
“Are the two dishes the same?” Kay asks.
“Nope,” says Martez with a smile. “The stuff in the red dish has lots of hot peppers. The stuff in the green dish has just green peppers, which are not as hot.”
Martez points at his dad and says, “My dad likes hot peppers.” His dad smiles and nods. Martez asks Kay, “Do you like hot peppers?” Kay shrugs. She has never had hot peppers.
Kay has some food from the green dish. She likes it a lot. She says, “Could I have some from the red dish?”
“You can, but it’s hot, hot, hot!” says Martez. “We have a saying in our house: He is a brave man who has food from dad’s red dish!”
“Brave or perhaps foolish!” says his mom.
Kay is brave — or perhaps foolish. She takes a bite of the peppers from the red dish. Martez looks at her. His mom and dad look, too. “Do you like it?” asks Martez.
Kay’s face starts to get red. She yells, “Hot!” Her face gets redder and redder. Martez sees that Kay is in pain. He brings her ice cubes. Kay stuffs some in her mouth and lets them melt. The ice cubes help cool down her mouth.
“Ug!” Kay says, sitting back from her plate. “Those peppers in the red dish are too hot for me! I need to stick to the green dish.”
“Still,” Martez says, “today you joined the club.”
“What club?”
“The I-ate-from-dad’s-red-dish-and-am-still-living-to-tell-the-tale club!” says Martez. Martez and his mom and dad all smile. They like Kay.
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WEEK EIGHTEEN PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 55) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-A” SOUND:
Letters “AI”:
The President said, “We need to come to the aid of the refugees.”
It will ail me if she doesn’t get admitted to her first-choice college.
The rifle sharpshooter has a very precise aim.
The Prime Minister’s aide handed him his speech.
This translator aids you in communicating when you travel to a foreign country.
The doctor asked, “What ails you, ma’am?”
What are your aims in pulling us together for this two-day conference?
I asked Dad if I could borrow the car, and he said, “Sorry, that ain’t gonna happen!”
This project is a mess, and they are sending me in to help to bail them out.
We’ll buy some worms for bait before we go fishing.
Do you the Bible story about the brothers Cain and Abel?
The spy said, “We cannot fail on this secret mission.”
I fain would accept the invitation to join your team.
My Aunt Gail is in dental school.
I’m going to try hard to not gain any weight on our vacation.
We need to work on improving the gait of this horse.
Hail the size of golf balls is coming down in the storm.
The other guy in my jail cell is in here for stealing cars.
Our boss laid out his strategic plan for the upcoming year.
In this horror novel, a virus had lain dormant, frozen in a glacier, for tens of thousands of years.
The Greene family had a maid who would come once a week and clean their house.
Don’t forget to put this letter in the mail.
Keep your guard up and don’t let your boxing opponent maim you.
I completely agree with your main point.
You just hit the nail on the head!
I get paid fifteen dollars an hour at the restaurant where I work.
Pour the soap that we’ll need to wash the car into this pail.
My little brother is often a pain in the neck.
We’ve been ordered to raid the enemy encampment.
Hold onto the rail when you climb these steep stairs.
I hear that it’s going to rain torrents for two days.
Columbus decided to sail west to find the Indies.
The dog tucked his tail and retreated when the cat scratched him in the face.
The Thompsons went to Vail, Colorado for a skiing vacation.
He’s so vain that he’s constantly looking in the mirror to check that every hair is in its right place.
This novel is about a little waif who goes from rags to riches.
We heard a wail from the Lady of the house when she discovered her Ming vase in shards on the floor.
The farmhand yoked the ox to the wain to prepare for going into town.
Let’s wait until the sun comes out from behind the clouds to take this photograph.
This judge tends to set bails for the defendants who are brought before him at very high dollar levels.
This pirate baits ships to come to shore by putting signal lights on dangerous, craggy rocks.
The felt-like surface of a pool table is a fabric called “baize.”
My cousin Dwain is a percussionist.
Trying to be successful with this bad method fails every time.
Our Mom would faint if she saw a rat cross the kitchen floor!
World stock markets generally showed gains last year.
The gaits of those two horses are very similar.
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WEEK NINETEEN
WEEK NINETEEN READING PASSAGES
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view.)
Kay And Martez
Lesson 43 – Part Two
NEW WORDS: Aztec, Carlos, Hidalgo, airport, describes, exclaims, explains, gracias, greetings, invites, jabs, pinned, rainforests, shrine, stretches, stripes, theirs, tribute, wetlands, whispers
In the Mail
In the summer, Martez takes a trip to Mexico with his Mom and Dad. He sends Kay a card with a picture of a place in Mexico on it. The card says, “Kay, I am on a trip with my mom and dad. It is fun, but I miss you. I can’t wait to get back so we can play.” Then there are some words that Kay can’t make out.
“Mom!” Kay says, “Martez wrote me this card, but I think the last part of it is written in Mexican.”
Kay’s mom looks at the card. She smiles. “That’s not Mexican,” she says. “It’s Spanish. Lots of Mexicans write in Spanish.”
“Why do they write in Spanish?” Kay asks.
“Well, you see, way back in the past, men from Spain came to Mexico. Because the men from Spain spoke and wrote Spanish, the Mexicans began to talk and write in Spanish, too. And that is why, to this day, lots of Mexicans still talk and write in Spanish.”
“But what do the words say?”
“Let me see,” says Kay’s mom. “I took a Spanish class. Martez says, ‘You are my best pal. See you soon!’”
Kay hugs the card and shouts, “Martez is the best!”
The Holiday
When Martez gets back from his trip, he invites Kay to visit him at home. When Kay steps in, she sees lots of singing and dancing. There is a flag with green, white, and red stripes pinned up in the living room.
“What’s up?” Kay asks.
Martez explains, “Today is September 16th. It is a big holiday for Mexicans.”
“On this day,” Martez explains, “we pay tribute to a man who helped set Mexico free from the Spanish. You see, for a long time, the Spanish were in charge in Mexico. All of the land in Mexico was theirs. They could tell Mexicans what to do. They made the Mexicans do all of the hard jobs. Then one man got tired of it and set out to make things better.”
Martez points at a picture and says, “This is the man who started it all. His name was Hidalgo. He made a speech. He said the Mexicans should be free from the Spanish.”
“Did they do it?” asks Kay.
“Yes. It took a long time, but in the end, they did.”
“Is it sort of like when the U.S. broke free from the British?” Kay asks.
“Yes, yes!” Martez says. “It is just like that!”
Kay points at the flag. It has three stripes: one green, one white, and one red. “Is that the Mexican flag?” she asks.
“Yes,” says Martez . “That is our flag.” Then Martez stretches out his hand and says, “Would you dance a Mexican dance with me?”
Better Than the Best
Kay has started to spend a lot of time with Martez. She has started to use some Spanish words, too. When her dad spoons rice onto her plate one day, Kay says gracias. Then she explains that gracias is Spanish for thank you.
Kay’s mom says, “Kay, would you like to have a chance to use those Spanish words of yours in Mexico?”
“Are you kidding?” Kay exclaims. “That would be the best!”
“Well, your dad and I have planned a trip to Mexico.”
Kay shouts, “Yippee!”
Kay’s mom has a big smile on her face. She says, “How would you like to bring Martez with you on the trip?”
Kay’s jaw drops. “If Martez is on the trip, that would be better than the best!” she says.
Her mom adds, “Martez just needs to ask his mom and dad.”
Kay jumps up and shouts, “I can’t wait to tell Martez!”
The Long Cab Ride
Kay and Martez just got to Mexico with Kay’s mom and dad. They are at the airport. They are looking for a cab that will take them to the place where they are staying. Kay’s dad waves his hand and gets a cab.
A man jumps out of a cab and shouts, “Greetings! I’m Carlos. Where can I drive you on this fine day?”
“To the inn,” says Kay’s dad. Carlos steps on the gas. The cab picks up speed.
“I will take you to the inn,” Carlos says, “and on the way I will take you to see some nice sites here in Mexico. There are lots of nice sites on the way, or just out of the way a bit.”
“Thanks,” says Kay’s dad, “but we are tired from the trip. So you can just take us to where we are staying.”
“Here in Mexico,” Carlos says, “we have all sorts of land. There are hills and plains. There are deserts, rainforests, and wetlands. I will take you to see some wetlands on the way! They are not far out of the way.”
“Wetlands?” says Kay’s dad. “Where’s the inn?” He starts to say something else, but Kay’s mom jabs him in the back.
“Hush!” she whispers. “Let him share.”
Carlos waves his hands and describes things as he drives. “Should you use those hands to drive the cab?” Kay’s dad asks. But Carlos keeps talking.
“On the left, you can see a soccer game. Soccer is a big sport in Mexico. That is an Aztec shrine,” Carlos says. “Here is a good place for shopping. That is my mom’s house.”
At last, the cab zips up to the inn. Carlos tells Kay’s dad the price of the cab ride. Kay’s dad is upset. It was a long ride, and he must pay a lot. He hates to pay so much. But what can he do?
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view.)
Kay And Martez
Lesson 44 – Part Three
NEW WORDS: Aztecs, Cortez, Gomez, boasts, bookshop, clashed, empire, marching, raises, respect, shrines, stacked, vast, votes, waits
The Vote
The next morning, Kay’s dad is still upset that the cab ride cost so much. But Kay’s mom is not. “You may think I’m nuts,” she says, “but I liked that cab ride yesterday. I liked having someone in the car who could tell us what’s what.”
Kay says, “I liked that, too.”
Kay’s dad looks at Martez and says, “Did you like it, too?”
Martez shrugs and says, “Well … I sort of … did … like it.”
Kay’s mom says, “I think we should hire someone who has a car and can tell us what there is to see down here in Mexico. The man at the desk gave me a name. He says this man — Mister Gomez is his name — has a car. If we hire him, he will drive us to see all of the best sites.”
“But that will cost a lot!” says Kay’s dad. “Why should we pay when we can see all the same sites by ourselves? Look, I got this book on Mexico in a used bookshop. It will tell us all of the same stuff that the man would tell us! And it has lots of pictures!”
“It’s not the same!” says Kay’s mom. “And that book of yours is out of date. Let’s have a vote. Who votes we hire Mister Gomez?” Kay’s mom raises her hand at once. Kay’s hand shoots up fast, too. Martez waits a bit. Then he raises his hand, as well.
“That’s three votes for Mister Gomez, and one vote for your book,” boasts Kay’s mom. Kay’s dad groans.
Mister Gomez
Mister Gomez is at the inn the next morning. He takes them outside and points to a stone with his cane. “This stone has stood here for a long, long time,” Mister Gomez says. “It has stood here much longer than me. This stone is from the time of the Aztec Empire.”
“The what?” Kay asks.
“The Aztec Empire,” says Mister Gomez. “Back in the past, Aztec men cut stones like this one and stacked them up to make shrines to their gods.”
“The Aztecs had lots of gods,” Mister Gomez says. “They had a sun god, a moon god, and a rain god. Then, one day, the Spanish came. They were led by a man named Cortez. His goal was to be in charge of Mexico.”
“Cortez led his men on a long march. He and his men kept marching until they got to the spot where we are standing. Here they clashed with the Aztec troops. The Aztec troops were brave, but in the end, the Spanish came out on top. Cortez and his men were in charge of Mexico.”
“Cortez and the Spanish did not respect the Aztecs. The Spanish knocked down the Aztec shrines and used the stones to make roads and streets and forts.”
Mister Gomez waves his cane and says, “Lots of the stones in this square were cut back in Aztec times. They were used to make Aztec shrines. Then they were used by Cortez and the Spanish. And we still use them today.”
Martez says, “That is so cool that we are standing on the same stones!” The smile on Kay’s face tells that she thinks so, too.
Kay’s mom jabs Kay’s dad in the side and says, “Looks like we are fine without that book of yours!”
A House in the Clouds
The next day, Mister Gomez takes Martez, Kay, and Kay’s mom and dad on a trip. In the car, Mister Gomez says, “You will like this next place. The stones there have stood for much, much longer than the last stones.”
When they get to the site, they see three vast piles of stone, all of which rise to a point and seem to scrape the clouds. One of them is so big that Kay and Martez have to tilt their necks all the way back to see the top of it.
“Goodness!” says Kay’s mom.
“Cool!” says Martez.
“Was this a shrine?” Kay’s mom asks.
“Yes,” says Mister Gomez. “This was a shrine to a snake god. That one there was a shrine to the sun god. And that one was a shrine to the moon god.”
“Were they Aztec shrines?” Martez asks.
“Sort of,” Mister Gomez says. “The Aztecs came after. The shrines were set up way back in the past. But the Aztecs came here and added to the shrines. This was an important place for them. They came here to offer gifts to their gods.”
“Can we get to the top of one of them?” asks Kay.
“Yes, you can,” says Mister Gomez, “if your mom and dad say it’s fine. But you must grab on to the rope.”
Kay and Martez make their way to the top. It takes them a long time to get there. From the top, they can see for miles and miles.
Martez yells, “Kay and I have a house in the clouds!”
Kay says, “Look! Mom and Dad look like bugs from up here!” Kay waves her hands at her mom and dad. They wave back.
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WEEK NINETEEN PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 55) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-A” SOUND … continued:
Letters “AI” … continued:
Watch, Dad’s going to show us how he hails a cab.
The jails in our State are pretty overcrowded right now.
The gentleman was impressed with the beauty of the many young maids attending the dance.
Some people don’t trust the mails to deliver things efficiently.
In this YouTube, the lion maims the poor zebra.
We’re going to Maine for our summer vacation.
It’s my uncle’s job to inspect all of the water mains in the city.
The growing of maize (corn), for human consumption, actually began in southern Mexico.
I need the box of nails that are two inches long.
Fill these two pails with slop for the pigs.
I have pains in both of my hips.
Our house is overdue for a complete new paint job.
The Vikings were well-known for their raids on Northern European villages.
The stair rails on the cruise ship are constantly being sanitized by the ship’s staff.
I hope it rains tonight, because the garden really needs it.
Mom says that she got a big raise at work because she’s doing so well leading projects.
The Captain yelled, “Unfurl the sails!”
That lady is so kind that she’s like a saint!
I have always wondered why so many animals have tails, and what use are they?
We would never taint our high-quality food products with artificial flavors!
Many of those poor waifs don’t even have shoes.
Our new baby absolutely wails when she is hungry.
I’d better go on a diet because my waist has gone from 36 to 38 inches around.
Since your sister is already a member here, we’re going to waive the usual twenty-five dollar entry fee.
My friend Blain pitched a no-hitter in yesterday’s baseball game!
Mom, can you please help me to braid my hair?
After taking that long, hard test, my brain hurts!
The drain in the sink appears to be stopped up.
When that poor golfer takes a golf swing, it looks like a flail at the ball rather than a proper swing.
My ninety-year-old grandma has become quite frail, I’m afraid.
In the Middle Ages, there were stories of a Holy Grail that had unusual powers.
Please buy us a loaf of multi-grain bread when you go to the grocery.
My cousin Paige is the head of our school’s chess club.
Massive herds of buffalo stampeded across the broad plain.
The exhibit at the museum showed how one had to plait fibers to make a mat.
The Queen was devastated when she heard that her favorite knight had been slain in battle.
This guy completes his work as slowly as a snail, and we’re probably going to have to fire him.
We visited Barcelona on our summer trip to Spain.
Our staid boss doesn’t like throwing spaghetti at the wall, and he demands that we stick to facts and do our homework.
I hope that we can get this ink stain out of my shirt.
Principal Swain gave us permission to have a pep rally!
A huge snake slithered across a hiking trail that we were walking today.
We took the Amtrak train from Baltimore up to New York City.
One trait that I inherited from both of my parents is being good at athletics.
I love the story “The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain.
The phrase “never the twain shall meet” means that two things are too different to coexist.
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WEEK TWENTY
WEEK TWENTY READING PASSAGES
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view.)
Kay And Martez
Lesson 45 – Part Four
NEW WORDS: arts, belted, booth, crafts, dicker, farewell, fins, harness, knickknacks, limit, loop, passport, passports, patterns, pays, shares, sheepish, spending, starfish, stitched, ticket, tickets, tossing, unzips
The Market
The next day, Kay and her mom take a trip to a street market. Mister Gomez joins them. At the market, all sorts of things are on sale. Some men are selling food. Some are selling arts and crafts. There are paintings and knickknacks and cloth stitched in fun patterns.
One man is selling masks. Kay’s mom spots a mask that she likes. It is a red mask with glitter. She looks at the price tag and groans. “I can’t pay that much,” she tells Kay. “We need to stick to our spending limit.”
“See if you can get it for less,” says Mister Gomez. “I’ll bet he will dicker with you on the price.”
Kay’s mom asks the man, “Will you take ten for this?”
“No!” the man says. “I painted it by hand! Fifteen!”
“That is too much for me,” Kay’s mom says. “I will pay you twelve.”
The man says, “Fifteen! No less.” Kay’s mom sets down the mask and starts to look at the next booth. “No, no!” the man yells. “Stay! I will sell it to you for twelve!”
He hands her the mask. She grins and pays the man.
“Way to go, Mom!” says Kay, “I am impressed.”
“So am I!” says Mister Gomez with a smile.
A Rainforest Ride
The next day, they say farewell to Mister Gomez. Kay’s dad rents a car to take them to see the rainforest. In the rainforest, it is hot and wet. A thick layer of trees blocks out part of the sun. Kay’s mom drives. Kay’s dad shares facts from his book. As they drive, Kay spots a zip line that children can ride.
“Mom, Dad!” she yells. “Can we stop and ride the zip line? It looks like so much fun!” Kay’s mom parks the car. The zip line runs from a tree house down to the ground.
“Is it safe?” Kay’s mom asks the man in charge.
“Yes,” says the man. “It’s safe. The children ride in a harness. And there is a net down there to catch them, just in case.” Kay’s mom thinks it looks safe. She pays the man and gets two tickets, one for Kay and one for Martez.
Martez gets belted into the harness. Then he rides the zip line. He shouts as he slides down the line. Kay yells down, “Is it fun, Martez?”
Martez yells back, “It’s the best!”
Kay gets belted in. She has a fun ride, too.
The Dive
Kay’s dad drives to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. For two days, the children soak up the sun and swim in the pool. On day three, they dive in the Gulf of Mexico. They rent masks, fins, and tanks of air. Then a man brings them out to the dive site in a boat. The dive site is a reef where a Spanish ship sank.
They jump in and swim down. With their fins on, they can swim fast. With their masks on, they can see a long way down. They see fish and crabs. Martez spots a starfish.
Martez and Kay look for the Spanish ship. They swim down until they see it. They see fish swimming in and out of it. Then they swim back up.
At the Airport
The trip has ended. It is time to get back to the U.S. Kay’s dad drives to the airport. Kay’s mom stays with Kay and Martez while he drops off the car. Kay and Martez play with an airplane and toss it in the air. It makes a big loop and glides down.
Kay’s dad had fun on the trip, but he spent a lot of cash. He takes what is left of his Mexican cash and has it turned back into U.S. cash. At the ticket counter, Kay’s dad takes charge. He barks out orders. “This way, Kay! Stay close to me, Martez! Children, get out your passports!”
The children get their passports out. Kay’s mom gets hers out. But Kay’s dad’s is nowhere to be found. He unzips his bag to look for it. Soon he is digging in the bag, tossing things this way and that. At last, he sees his passport.
“Here it is!” he says, with a sheepish look. Martez, Kay, and her mom all smile. Kay’s dad sometimes has a hard time keeping track of things.
“Dad,” Kay says, “maybe you should sit back and let Mom take charge for a while.”
*********
Lesson 46 – Poems And Rhymes
NEW WORDS: Caesar’s, Charlie, Friday’s, Grimes, Jacob, Mandy, Monday’s, Moses, Noah, Phil, Philip, Saturday’s, Simon, Thursday’s, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, ark, bakin, barley, blithe, breakin, bridegroom, buckwheat, crickets, crumble, declare, disgrace, erroneously, feelers, fidgety, fourteen, fret, giving, grace, grave, guest, hippety, katydids, kneads, ladybird, leaking, meander, ne’er, nightingale, pieman, politely, quaking, restless, rocking, sabbath, silvery, sneaking, someday, spouse, supposes, thickets, thou, tilts, tinker’s, toeses, tweet, yawn
My Boat
I sail my boat on a tiny sea, blow, wind, blow,
And someday I shall a sailor be, blow, wind, blow.
Simple Simon
Simple Simon met a pieman, going to the fair.
Says Simple Simon to the pieman, “Let me taste your ware.”
Says the pieman to Simple Simon, “Show me first your penny.”
Says Simple Simon to the pieman, “Indeed, I have not any.”
But I Wonder …
The crickets in the thickets, and the katydids in trees,
And ants on plants, and butterflies, and ladybugs and bees,
Don’t smell with little noses, but with FEELERS, if you please.
They get along quite nicely, but I wonder how they SNEEZE.
Poem By Aileen Fisher
The Boatmen
The boatman, he’s a lucky man!
No one can do, as the boatman can.
The boatmen dance, and the boatmen sing,
The boatman is up to everything!
Hi! Ho! Away we go!
Floating down the river, on the “Oh-Hi-Oh.”
(That is, the Ohio River!)
Over The Hill
Over the hill to feed my sheep, over the hill to my man Charlie,
Over the hill to feed my sheep, on buckwheat cakes and barley.
The Story of Fidgety Philip
“Let me see if Philip can, be a little gentle-man.
Let me see if he is able, to sit still for once at table.”
Thus Papa bade young Phil behave, and Mama looked so very grave.
But fidgety Phil, he won’t sit still.
He wriggles, and giggles, and then, I declare,
Swings backwards and forwards, and tilts up his chair,
Just like any old rocking-horse.
“Philip! I am getting cross!”
See the naughty, restless child, growing still more rude and wild,
Till his chair falls over quite.
Philip screams with all his might, catches at the cloth, but then,
That makes matters worse again.
Down upon the ground they fall, glasses, plates, knives, forks, and all.
How his Mama did fret and frown, when she saw them tumbling down!
And his Papa made such a face! Philip is in sad disgrace.
Where is Philip, where is he? Fairly covered up you see!
Cloth and all are lying on him, he has pulled down all upon him.
What a terrible to-do! Dishes, glasses, snapped in two!
Here a knife, and there a fork! Philip, this is cruel work.
Table all so bare, and ah!
Poor old Papa, and poor sweet Mama, look quite cross, and wonder how,
They shall have their dinner now.
Poem By Heinrich Koffmann
Hippety Hop
Hippety hop to the barber shop, to get a stick of candy.
One for you, and one for me, and one for Sister Mandy.
Old Grimes
Old Grimes is dead, that good old man.
We ne’er shall see him more.
He used to wear, a long brown coat,
All buttoned down before.
The Moon’s The North Wind’s Cookie
The Moon’s the North Wind’s cookie; he bites it, day by day,
Until there’s but a rim of scraps, that crumble all away.
The South Wind is a baker; he kneads clouds in his den,
And bakes a crisp new moon, that greedy North Wind eats again!
Poem By Vachel Lindsay
Moses Supposes
Moses supposes his toes are roses, but Moses supposes erroneously.
For nobody’s toeses are posies of roses, as Moses supposes his toeses to be.
March Winds
March winds and April showers,
Bring forth May flowers.
Pretty Lady
When I see a lady, a very pretty lady,
I turn my head and look at her, JUST LIKE THAT.
I smile at her politely, and pass her by a-singing,
I pass her by a-singing, and I LIFT MY HAT!
A Chimney
Black within and red without,
Four corners, round about.
The Wedding Of Jenny Wren
At the wedding of Miss Jenny Wren, the bridegroom was so wee.
“Go ask the wedding guests to come to the wedding feast,” said he.
Oh, come to the wedding, birdies all, and each a present bring!
“I’ll come,” said the cock. “I’ll come, come, come! And before the feast, I’ll sing!”
“I’ll come! I’ll come!” said the big black crow, “and bring the pair some meat!”
“I’ll come, too,” said the nightingale, “I’ll sing ‘Tweet-tweet! Tweet-tweet!'”
“I’ll bring wood,” the woodpecker said, “For Jenny and her little spouse!”
“And I’ll come, too,” the swallow said, “I’ll twitter on top of the house!”
At the wedding of Miss Jenny Wren, the bridegroom was so wee,
But one and all the birdies came, that wedding for to see.
Ladybird
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home!
Your house is on fire, your children all gone.
All but one, and her name is Ann.
And she crept under, the pudding pan.
Old Noah
Old Noah did build himself an ark,
He built one out of hickory bark,
There’s one wide river to cross.
The animals went in two by two,
The elephant and the kangaroo,
There’s one wide river to cross.
The animals went in three by three,
The big baboon and the chimpanzee,
There’s one wide river to cross.
The animals went in four by four,
The hippopotamus blocked the door,
There’s one wide river to cross.
Night Comes
Night comes, leaking out of the sky.
Stars come peeking, moon comes sneaking, silvery-sly.
Who is shaking, shivery-quaking?
Who is afraid of the night? Not I.
Poem By Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
Jacob
Wake up, Jacob! Day’s a-breakin‘!
Peas in the pot, and hoe-cakes a-bakin‘!
Old Mother Goose
Old Mother Goose, when she wanted to meander,
Would ride through the air, on a very fine gander.
A Week Of Birthdays
Monday’s child is fair of face.
Tuesday’s child is full of grace.
Wednesday’s child is full of woe.
Thursday’s child has far to go.
Friday’s child is loving and giving.
Saturday’s child works hard for its living.
But the child that’s born on the Sabbath Day,
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
Wide Awake
I have to jump up, out of bed,
And stretch my hands, and rub my head, and curl my toes,
And yawn and shake myself all wide-awake!
Poem By Myra Cohn Livingston
Two Birds
There were two birds, sat on a stone,
One flew away, and then there was one.
The other bird flew after, and then there was none,
And so the stone was left all alone.
The Man Who Had Naught
(Note: the word “naught” means “nothing.”)
There was a man, and he had naught, and robbers came to rob him.
He crept up to the chimney pot, and then they thought they had him.
But he got down on the other side, and then they could not find him.
He ran fourteen miles in fifteen days, and never looked behind him.
Scratching Kitty
Who’s on the roof? Pit-a-pat, Pit-a-pat, only the yellow kitty-cat.
Pray, what is she doing now? MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! MEOW!
Tell me, how does kitty scratch? SCRITCH! SCRATCH! SCRITCH! SCRATCH!
December
All the months go past, each is like a guest. December is the last, December is the best.
Each has lovely things. Each one is a friend. But December brings Christmas at the end.
Poem By Rose Fyleman
White Hen
A white hen sitting, on white eggs three,
Next, three speckled chickens, as plump as plump can be.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
Caesar’s Song
Bow-wow-wow! Whose dog art thou?
Little Tom Tinker’s dog. Bow-wow-wow!
If I Were Bigger Than Anyone
If I were bigger than anyone, if I were taller than trees,
I could step over hills and towns, and go anywhere I please.
If I got bored with being huge, the next day I’d be small.
But the size I really am, I might not choose at all.
Poem By Ruth Harnden
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WEEK TWENTY PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 55) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-A” SOUND … continued:
Letters “AY” / “AYE”:
The crew was glad that their ship was sailing into the calmer waters of the bay.
We dropped anchor at a forested cay and enjoyed swimming in the warm, tropical waters.
It’s going to be a gorgeous day for a round of golf.
Fay has recommended a great story for us to read for next month’s book club.
Our family had a gay old time during the Christmas holidays.
Did you see the owl up in our hay loft?
Jay is going to act as the team’s first base coach.
There is a jay in that tree that is taunting our cat.
Emma and Kay have gone to the park to snow sled.
I’m going to lay my keys on this desk; don’t let me forget where I put them.
I look forward to it warming up in the month of May.
You’ve waited long enough since finishing eating, so you may now go back into the pool.
I must vote “nay” to this proposed new law.
How much do I need to pay you for these pretty earrings?
Ray has decided to take up model airplane flying as a hobby.
Finally, a ray of sun has broken through the clouds!
I’m hard of hearing; what did you say?
Aunt Tay is joining us on our cruise in the Southern Caribbean.
That movie is way too weird for my tastes.
The crowd yelled “YAY!” when she sunk a three-pointer in the basketball game.
The captain couldn’t name all of the bays in the world that she had sailed into.
I’ve got photos of at least fifteen different cays that we sailed around on our trip.
Aunt Faye insists on taking our family to dinner every time that she visits us.
Fay’s guinea pig is named Mortimer.
Jay’s down the street playing hoops with Henry.
A flock of jays has landed in our back yard.
Do you know if Aunt Kay’s bringing her dog with her when she comes to visit?
Laura and Kaye both made the cheerleading squad.
Can you pass the Lay’s potato chips?
The first thing that Mom does after a shopping trip is that she lays her purse down by the microwave.
It was two Mays ago that I officially became a teenager.
The Board of Directors took a vote, and the “nays” outvoted the “ayes.”
I hear that this warehouse job pays really well.
I need to go to Ray’s Camera Shop to buy a telephoto lens.
The rays of bright light were blinding.
Aunt Raye bakes the best cinnamon rolls in the history of mankind.
*********
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WEEK TWENTY-ONE
WEEK TWENTY-ONE READING PASSAGES
Lesson 47 – Beatrix Potter
The Tale Of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle – Part One
NEW WORDS: Henny, Lucie’s, Sally, Twinkie, anxiously, braided, clothespins, currant, currants, damask, dearie, folded, handkerchiefs, handkin, handkins, heap, ironed, losing, pebble, prickles, scarlet, snaffle, sniffle, snuffle, stout, striped, tiled
It was once upon a time. There was a little girl called Lucie. She lived at a farm called “Little-Town.” She was a good girl. But she was always losing her pocket-handkerchiefs!
One day, little Lucie came into the farm-yard crying. Oh, she did cry so! “I’ve lost my pocket-handkin! Three handkins and a blouse! Have YOU seen them, Tabby Kitten?”
The Kitten kept washing her white paws. So, Lucie asked a speckled hen. “Sally Henny-Penny! Have YOU found three pocket-handkins?” But the speckled hen ran into a barn. She clucked, “I go barefoot. Barefoot! Barefoot!”
And then Lucie asked Cock Robin. She saw him sitting on a twig. Cock Robin looked sideways at Lucie. He stared with his bright black eye. Then he flew over a fence and away.
Lucie climbed on the fence. She looked up at the hill behind Little-Town. It was a tall hill. It went way up. Up into the clouds. It was like it had no top! She looked high up the hillside. She thought she saw some white things. They were spread out on the grass.
Lucie scrambled up the hill. She went as fast as her short legs would take her. She ran along a steep path-way. She went up and up. Soon, the town was way down below. She could have thrown a pebble down a chimney!
Soon, she came to a spring. It was bubbling out from the hillside. Someone had stood a tin can up on a stone. The can would catch the water. But the water was already running over. The can was no bigger than an egg-cup!
Lucie looked at the sand on the path. It was wet. There were foot-marks. They were from a VERY small person. Lucie ran on. The path ended. She faced a big rock. The grass was short and green.
There were clothes-lines. They were cut from stems of ferns. The lines were braided. She saw a heap of tiny clothespins. But there were no pocket-handkerchiefs!
Now, there WAS something else. It was a door! It opened straight into the hill. Inside it, someone was singing. She could hear the words.
“Lily-white and clean, oh!
With little frills between, oh!
Smooth and hot-red rusty spot.
Never here be seen, oh!”
Lucie knocked once. Then twice. This stopped the song. A little frightened voice called out. “Who’s that?” Lucie opened the door. What do you think there was inside the hill? A nice clean kitchen with a tiled floor. And there were pretty wooden beams. It was just like any other farm kitchen! Except the ceiling was low. Lucie’s head nearly touched it. And the pots and pans were small. So was everything else there.
There was a nice hot fireplace smell. Lucie saw a very short, stout person. She was standing at the table. She had an iron in her hand. She stared anxiously at Lucie. Her bright gown was tucked up. She wore a large apron. It fit over her striped petticoat. Her little black nose twitched. It went, “sniffle, snaffle, snuffle.” And her eyes went “twinkie, twinkle.” Underneath her cap, where Lucie had yellow curls herself, that little person had PRICKLES!
“Who are you?” asked Lucie. “Have you seen my pocket-handkins?”
The little person bowed to Lucie. “Oh yes, if you please, my dear. My name is Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. Oh, yes. If you please, dearie. I’m excellent at doing all kinds of laundry!” Next, she took something out of the clothes basket. She spread it on the ironing-blanket.
“What’s that thing?” asked Lucie. “Is that my pocket-handkin?”
“Oh no, if you please, ma’am. That’s a little scarlet waist-coat. It belongs to Cock Robin!” She ironed it. Then she folded it. She put it on one side. Then she took something else off a clothes-horse.
“Is that my blouse?” asked Lucie.
“Oh no, if you please. That’s a damask table-cloth. It belongs to Jenny Wren. Look how it’s stained with currant wine! Both red AND black currants. It’s very hard to wash!” said Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.
*********
Lesson 48 – Beatrix Potter
The Tale Of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle – Part Two
NEW WORDS: Dicky, Gatesgarth, Shelby, acquainted, belonged, bundles, dipping, fastened, fetched, fluffed, frilled, fronts, hairpins, handkerchief, hanky, jackets, lambs, moleskin, shawl, shrunken, suds, terribly, titmouse, trotted, velvety, washer, washes, wrinkly
Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle’s nose twitched. It went “sniffle, snaffle, snuffle.” Her eyes went “twinkie, twinkle.” She fetched another hot iron from the fire.
“There’s one of my pocket-handkins!” cried Lucie. “And there’s my blouse!” Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle ironed it. Then she fluffed it. Then she shook out the frills. “Oh, that IS lovely!” said Lucie. “And what are those long yellow things? They have fingers like gloves.”
Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle answered her. “Oh, that’s a pair of stockings. They belong to Sally Henny-Penny. Look how she’s worn the heels out. Too much scratching in the yard! She’ll very soon go barefoot!”
“Why, there’s another handkerchief. But it isn’t mine. It’s red.”
“Oh no, if you please. That one belongs to old Mrs. Rabbit. It DID so smell of onions! I’ve had to wash it by itself. I can’t get out that smell.”
“There’s another one of mine,” said Lucie. “What are those funny little white things?”
“That’s a pair of mittens. They belong to Tabby Kitten. I only have to iron them. She washes them herself.”
“There’s my last pocket-hanky!” cried Lucie. “And what are you dipping into the basin of starch?”
“They’re little dicky shirt-fronts. They belong to Tom Titmouse. He is most terribly particular! Now I’ve finished my ironing. I’m going to air some clothes.”
“What are these dear soft fluffy things?” said Lucie.
“Oh, those are woolly coats. They belong to the little lambs at Shelby.”
“Will their jackets get lost?” asked Lucie.”
“No ma’am. Look at the sheep-mark on the shoulder. We know where each one is to go. Here’s one marked for Gatesgarth. These three come from Little-Town. They’re ALWAYS marked at washing time!” said Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.
Then she hung up all sorts and sizes of clothes. There were small brown coats for mice. There was a velvety black moleskin waist-coat. There was a red tail-coat. But it had no tail. It belonged to Squirrel Nutkin.
There was a very much shrunken blue jacket. That was Peter Rabbit’s. There was a petticoat. It was NOT marked. It had gone lost during the washing. She finished hanging things up. At last, the basket was empty!
Then Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle made tea. There was a cup for herself and a cup for Lucie. They sat before the fire on a bench. They looked back and forth at each other.
Lucie stared at Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle’s hand, as she held the tea-cup. Her hand was very, very brown. And it was very, very wrinkly from the soap-suds. And her gown and her cap looked funny. There were lots of hairpins sticking wrong-end-out. So, Lucie didn’t sit too near her. She didn’t want to get pricked by the pins!
They finally finished tea. They tied up the clothes in bundles. Lucie’s pocket-handkerchiefs were folded up inside her clean apron. They fastened it all with a silver safety-pin.
Now they made up the fire, to be lit later on. Then they came out and locked the door. They hid the key under the door-sill. Then away down the hill trotted Lucie and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. They had to go slowly, with their large bundles of clothes!
All the way down the path, little animals came out to meet them. First, they met Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny! She gave them their nice clean clothes. All the animals and birds were grateful for dear Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle’s hard work.
They soon reached the bottom of the hill. They stopped next to a fence. There was nothing left except Lucie’s one little bundle. Lucie scrambled away with the bundle in her hand. She turned to say, “Good-night.” And she wanted to thank the washer-woman.
But what a VERY odd thing! Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle had not waited. She didn’t wait to be thanked. She didn’t wait to be paid! She was running, running, running up the hill. And where was her white frilled cap? Where was her shawl? Where her gown and her petticoat?
And HOW small she had grown. And HOW brown. And she was covered with PRICKLES! Why! Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle was nothing but a HEDGEHOG!
(Now some people say that little Lucie had been dreaming all this. But then how could she have found three clean pocket-handkins and an apron? How could she have a bundle pinned with a silver safety-pin? And besides, I have seen that door into the back of the hill called Cat Bells. And besides, I am very well acquainted with dear Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, myself!)
*********
WEEK TWENTY-ONE PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 55) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-A” SOUND … continued:
Letters “AY” / “AYE” … continued:
It’s Tay’s turn to be the dealer in the card game.
There are a couple of good ways that you can go about doing this to make it work well.
The crowd erupted with “yays” when Trevon slam-dunked the basketball.
That stubborn mule will bray at you if you just try to get him to move.
Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
The potter showed our class how to mold clay into a beautiful bowl.
We need to move these goods on the ocean container to a warehouse via dray.
Son, if you get into any trouble, I will flay you the second that you get home.
The wild west saloon was used to having some kind of fray going on almost every night.
Can you please take my gray suit to the dry cleaners?
Mom, can I go out to play with Harriet?
I pray that I will continue to have good health in the upcoming new year.
In this painting, you’ll see Saint George slay the dragon.
The Humane Society prefers that one spay every new kitten or puppy.
Are you sure that you can’t stay a little longer?
The boat is going to sway back and forth out in those rough waters.
I think that Tray is tall enough to be the center on our basketball team.
Let’s put out three different cheeses on this serving tray.
Fay Wray starred as the damsel in distress in the 1933 film “King Kong.”
The lone wolf bayed at the moon for hours.
When our donkey brays, it seems to rile up all the rest of the farm animals.
The science museum had an exhibit showing types of clays from different places around the world.
Let’s make sure that we invite Dayle to be a speaker at the conference.
My uncle drives drays a couple of nights a week to make some extra money.
The coach really flays the team if we’re doing poorly at our basics like blocking and tackling.
This fabric frays pretty easily at the edges.
This black and white photo has many different shades of grays in it.
The golfer Payne Stewart always wore knickers in tournaments, thus making quite a fashion statement.
We got to see two Broadway plays on our trip to New York City.
My family always prays before we eat our dinner.
In this part of the text, David slays Goliath with his slingshot.
The vet spays many young animals during the course of a year.
I hope that it stays sunny for a few more days.
Look at how that tree sways in a heavy wind.
Bring me those dirty trays for me to put them into the dishwasher.
Did you know that Bruce Wayne is really Batman?
*********
*********
WEEK TWENTY-TWO
WEEK TWENTY-TWO READING PASSAGES
Lesson 49 – Poems And Rhymes
NEW WORDS: Betty, Leeds, Romanian, Washington’s, Wendy, arrant, awhile, beetle, berry, blooming, buttercup, cheerily, chirping, chomping, clitter, confess, consent, dawning, fairies, fieldmouse, frail, froggie, gillyflower, giver, headdress, huntsmen, joyous, ladybug, loaves, lullaby, mosses, nibbling, niece, notion, nursie, oak’s, ought, pious, pistol, pleasure, pom, proper, rat’s, scarcely, snored, stacks, sugarcane, tiddely, tinkers, traveler, truth, tumbles, turnips, wonderfully, youth
What Are Heavy?
What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow.
What are brief? Today and tomorrow.
What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth.
What are deep? The ocean and truth.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
A Cup Of Tea
I’m going to Lady Washington’s, to get a cup of tea,
And five loaves of gingerbread, so don’t you follow me!
The Fieldmouse
Where the acorn tumbles down, where the ash tree sheds its berry,
With your fur so soft and brown, with your eye so round and merry,
Scarcely moving in long grass, fieldmouse, I can see you pass.
Little thing, in what dark den, lie you all the winter sleeping?
Till warm weather comes again, then once more I see you peeping.
Round about the tall tree roots, nibbling at their fallen fruits.
Fieldmouse, fieldmouse, do not go, where the farmer stacks his treasure,
Find the nut that falls below, eat the acorn at your pleasure.
But you must not steal the grain, he has stacked with so much pain.
Make your hole where mosses spring, underneath the tall oak’s shadow.
Pretty, quiet harmless thing, play about the sunny meadow.
Keep away from corn and house, none will harm you, little mouse.
Poem By Cecil Frances Alexander
The Dawning Day
Hear how the birds on every blooming spray,
With joyous music wake the dawning day.
Poem By Alexander Pope
Froggie Goes a-Courting
Froggie, a-courting he did ride,
Sword and pistol by his side.
He rode up to Miss Mouse’s door,
Where he had never been before.
He took Miss Mouse upon his knee,
Says, “Miss Mouse will you marry me?”
“Without my Uncle Rat’s consent,
I would not marry the President!”
Then Uncle Rat went down to town,
To buy his niece a wedding gown.
Oh, where will the wedding supper be?
A way down yonder in the hollow tree.
Oh, what will the wedding supper be?
Three green beans and a black-eyed pea!
The first came in was a little moth;
He spread out the tablecloth;
The next came in was a bumble-bee,
With his fiddle on his knee.
The next came in was a nimble flea,
To dance a jig with the bumble-bee.
Diddle, Fiddle
Diddle, diddle, on a bass fiddle, Tommy Cat plays all day.
Says Kitty-Bess, “I must confess, how wonderfully well you play!”
The More It Snows
The more it SNOWS-tiddely–pom,
The more it GOES-tiddely-pom,
The more it GOES-tiddely-pom,
On snowing.
And nobody KNOWS-tiddely-pom,
How cold my TOES-tiddely-pom,
How cold my TOES-tiddely-pom,
Are growing.
Poem By A. A. Milne
The Old Woman Of Leeds
There was an old woman of Leeds, who spent all her time in good deeds.
She worked for the poor, till her fingers were sore, this pious old woman of Leeds.
Fairies
Don’t go looking for fairies, they’ll fly away if you do.
You never can see the fairies, till they come looking for you.
Poem By Eleanor Farjeon
The Boy In The Barn
A little boy went into a barn, and lay down on some hay.
An owl came out, and flew about, and the little boy ran away.
Peter And Wendy
My ducks are so funny, I think, they peck at the bugs in the ground,
And always wherever they go, they follow each other around.
They like to play Follow the Leader, just watch them awhile and you’ll find,
There’s one of them always in front, the other one always behind.
Poem By Wymond Garthwaite
My Shadow
I have a little shadow, that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him, is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me, from the heels up to the head,
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
The funniest thing about him, is the way he likes to grow,
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow.
For he sometimes shoots up taller, like an India-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little, that there’s none of him at all.
He hasn’t got a notion, of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me, in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward, you can see,
I’d think “shame” to stick to nursie, as that shadow sticks to me!
One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew, on every buttercup.
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me, and was fast asleep in bed.
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
Sing, Sing!
Sing, sing! What shall I sing? The Cat’s run away with the Pudding Bag String.
Do, do! What shall I do? The Cat has bitten it quite in two.
Sleep, My Little One
Sleep, sleep, my little one!
The night is all wind and rain.
The meal has been wet by the raindrops,
And bent is the sugarcane.
Oh, Giver, who gives to the people,
In safety my little son keep!
My little son with the headdress,
Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!
Hurt No Living Thing
Hurt no living thing,
Ladybug, nor butterfly,
Nor moth with dusty wing,
Nor cricket chirping cheerily,
Nor grasshopper so light of leap,
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,
Nor harmless worms that creep.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
Betty Blue
Little Betty Blue, lost her holiday shoe.
What shall Little Betty do?
Give her another, to match the other,
And then she’ll walk upon two.
The Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveler in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Poem By Jane Taylor
The Huntsmen
Three jolly gentlemen,
In coats of red,
Rode their horses,
Up to bed.
Three jolly gentlemen,
Snored till morn,
Their horses chomping on,
The golden corn.
Three jolly gentlemen,
At break of day,
Came clitter-clatter down the stairs,
And galloped away.
Poem By Walter De La Mare
If Wishes Were Horses
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side.
And if “ifs” and “ands,” were pots and pans,
There’d be no work for tinkers!
A Romanian Lullaby
Sleep, my baby, sleep an hour, you’re my little gillyflower!
Mother rocks you. Mother’s near! She will wash you baby dear.
Wash you clean in water clear, keep the sunshine from you here!
Sleep, my baby, sleep an hour, grow up like the gillyflower!
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Stories
Lesson 50 – Part One
NEW WORDS: Loxy, Lurkey, agreement, apprehensive, becoming, believing, bumbling, chunk, creaked, currish, decent, disagree, disturbed, ducky, feathered, flapping, foxy, freaking, frenzy, groused, gruff, grumpier, grumpiest, hollered, hungrier, hungriest, indulged, inquired, intelligent, jounced, loosey, louder, noggin, pranced, ridiculous, roared, scurvy, shaken, shrieked, sobbed, tale’s, tizzy, trapping, trembling, tripping, troll
Chicken Little
It was a fine day, and Chicken Little went out to the woods. She walked along, an acorn fell, and it hit her on her head. She was a silly chicken, and she often made crazy mistakes. Guess what she thought? She thought that the acorn was a part of the sky!
This had surprised her quite a bit, and she worked herself into a tizzy. “Oh, dear me!” she cried. “The sky is falling, and I must tell the king!” She was headed to see the king when she ran into Henny Penny.
“Henny Penny! The sky is falling!” cried Chicken Little.
“How do you know?” inquired Henny Penny.
“A piece of it hit my poor head.” She remembered the feeling. She rubbed her poor little noggin.
“Then let’s go! We should tell the king!” said Henny Penny. She was now quite worried, too. So, Henny Penny and Chicken Little ran along. They ran into Goosey Loosey.
“Goosey Loosey! The sky is falling!” sobbed Henny Penny.
“How do you know?” asked Goosey Loosey.
“I felt it on my head,” said Chicken Little.
Goosey Loosey looked at Henny Penny. She nodded in agreement. “Let’s tell the king!” yelled Goosey Loosey. So, the three of them hurried along. They ran into Ducky Lucky.
“Ducky Lucky! The sky is falling!” groused Goosey Loosey.
“How do you know?” asked Ducky Lucky.
“A piece of it hit me here,” said Chicken Little. She pointed to her head. Henny Penny and Goosey Loosey nodded their heads. They were wide-eyed, and they were all freaking out!
Ducky Lucky looked at her three friends. The fear was spreading, and now SHE became worried. That’s because the others were so apprehensive. “To the king’s!” barked Ducky Lucky.
So Ducky, Goosey, Henny, and Chicken ran along fast. And there was Turkey Lurkey. Turkey was surely the biggest of the birds. “Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling!” cried Ducky Lucky.
“How do you know?” asked Turkey Lurkey.
“My head, my poor head! A chunk of sky fell on my head!” shrieked Chicken Little. Henny, Goosey, and Ducky stood behind Chicken Little. They were all flapping their wings with worry. It was a frenzy!
“The king must know!” shouted Turkey Lurkey. Who was he to disagree with four scared friends? So, the five feathered friends ran along, when they ran into Foxy Loxy.
“Foxy Loxy! The sky is falling!” cried Turkey Lurkey.
“Oh really, is that so?” asked the sly, evil Foxy Loxy. Now, that sneak knew way better, but he pretended to actually believe the five trembling birds. “Hmm, let’s see, what is the intelligent thing to do if the sky is falling? AHA, I know, you’d better keep safe in my den, where you’ll be completely safe, and then I’ll go tell the king for you, myself.”
The bumbling birds fell for his trick, so Chicken Little, Henny Penny, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Lucky, and Turkey Lurkey followed Foxy Loxy right into his den. There was dust in the den. Lots of it. It made Chicken Little sneeze. ACHOO!!!
The force of the sneeze was extremely strong, and it made Chicken Little come back to her senses. “Wait!” cried Chicken Little, “birds are supposed to stay away from foxes, aren’t they!?”
That amazed the birds, and Henny Penny, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Lucky, and Turkey Lurkey looked at each other. “Of course, you’re right!” they cried.
One of them yelled, “Run for your lives!!”
And so, the five feathered friends scrambled out of the den. They were spitting and tripping. But they got away. And they never went back there again. From that day on, they thought very carefully before believing that the sky could actually be falling!
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The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Once upon a time, there were three billy goats. They were brothers. They were all named “Gruff.” The three Billy Goats Gruff longed to go up a hillside covered with thick, green grass. They wanted to eat that grass. They knew it would be just delicious.
To get to the hillside, they had to cross a brook. Over the brook was a bridge. And under the bridge lived a troll. They were walking across it. “Trip-trap, trip-trap, trip-trap!” went the bridge.
“WHO’S THAT TRIP-TRAPPING OVER MY BRIDGE?” roared the troll. He had been taking a nap. So, he was feeling quite grumpy from being shaken awake by the trip-trapping of the bridge.
The tiny goat answered him in a wee, small voice. “It is only I, Little Billy Goat Gruff. And I’m going to the hillside to eat the delicious grass.”
“Oh-ho!” yelled the troll, who was feeling both grumpy and hungry. “I am coming to gobble you up.”
“Oh! Please don’t eat me,” said the Little Billy Goat Gruff. “I’m too little. Yes, I am. Wait a bit until my brother comes. He’s much bigger.”
“Well then, be off with you!” said the troll, in a currish voice. He was usually much more polite when his tummy was full, and when he had indulged in a decent nap. He settled back down under the bridge. He was quite determined to fall back asleep.
Soon, the Middle Billy Goat Gruff came to cross the bridge. “Trip-trap, trip-trap, trip-trap!” went the bridge.
“WHO’S THAT TRIP-TRAPPING OVER MY BRIDGE?” bellowed the troll. He jumped up from his bed. And now, the troll was becoming VERY grumpy. How was he to get any sleep with all of this noise moving over his bridge?
The goat answered him, in a not-so-small voice. “It is only I, Middle Billy Goat Gruff. I’m going to the hillside to eat the delicious grass.”
“Oh-ho!” exclaimed the troll. He was feeling even grumpier and hungrier. “I am coming to gobble you up.”
“Oh, no! Don’t eat me. Wait till my brother comes along. He’s much bigger.”
“Very well. Be off with you!” said the troll. He could not believe that he had been disturbed twice in one day. He jumped back down to his home under the bridge. He would try, once more, to take a nice nap. But just then, up came the great BIG Billy Goat Gruff.
“TRIP-TRAP! TRIP-TRAP! TRIP-TRAP!” went the bridge. It was louder than when the first two goats had walked across. The Big Billy Goat Gruff was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.
“WHO’S THAT TRIP-TRAPPING OVER MY BRIDGE?” hollered the troll. This was really getting quite ridiculous!
An answer came, booming in a very loud voice. “IT IS I, BIG BILLY GOAT GRUFF.”
“Oh-ho!” barked the troll, who was thinking now that he was feeling the grumpiest and hungriest he had ever felt. “I am coming to gobble you up!”
“Well, then, come and try it!” responded Big Billy Goat Gruff.
The troll climbed up on the bridge. But he was not prepared for what happened next. The Big Billy Goat Gruff rushed at the troll, without saying a word. He danced and pranced and jounced all over. The bridge shook so much that the pathetic troll rolled off the bridge into the water.
Then the Big Billy Goat Gruff went to the hillside, where he joined his brothers. They had quite a laugh about that scurvy troll in the water. Then they all three ate so much delicious grass that they were scarcely able to walk home again.
Snip, snap, snout. This tale’s told out.
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WEEK TWENTY-TWO PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 55) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-A” SOUND … continued:
Letters “EI” / “EIG” / “EIGH”:
When I got off of the plane in Hawaii, a flight attendant put a colorful lei around my neck.
I’m in the mood for some tasty lo mein noodles for lunch.
I pulled on the rein to slow the horse down.
The camel moved forward along the base of the seif.
In their culture, women usually wear a veil to cover their face.
In an artery, the blood is red; in a vein, the blood is blue.
I’m going to turn eight years old tomorrow!
Let’s paint the walls a neutral beige color.
She would not deign to discuss the matter with us.
I wouldn’t put it past him to feign being sick, in order to stay home from school today.
The halfback made a feint to move to his right, then quickly outwitted the linebacker and went left instead.
The horse let out a loud “neigh!” when it came upon a pack of coyotes.
The reign of Queen Elizabeth the first lasted for forty-five years.
Though I pulled as hard as I could on the reins, the horse keep speeding forward.
The landscape photographer was particularly fond of shooting seifs in the late afternoon.
We took an hour-long boat tour on the Seine River in Paris.
Sherlock Holmes often veils himself with a clever disguise.
The miners found more veins of silver deep down in the mine.
All the jockeys must weigh in at an identical weight before the horse race may commence.
Letters “EY”:
The fantasy author invented all kinds of new fey creatures for his new novel.
Hey man, how are you doing?
In Earth science, we talked about a type of soil called “gley,” where iron compounds have been oxidized.
Joel Grey was a famous and popular Broadway actor.
A grey rug would go the best with our new furniture.
A predator will always be on the hunt for prey.
When Trey caught the touchdown pass, there were only three seconds left on the game clock.
Little Miss Muffet’s curds and whey sounds like a gross concoction to have to eat.
Which shade of these greys would you prefer for your new dress?
Letters “EA”:
Yea, we get to go to the new Star Wars movie this weekend!
The crowd erupted with “yeas,” when the newscasters called the election in their candidate’s favor.
Be careful that you don’t break anything in this gift shop!
Thanks so much; that was a great meal!
Please grill my steak medium-rare.
Letters “AE”:
My friend Gae just got engaged to be married.
Mae West was a famous actress in the 1900s whose career spanned seven decades!
Did you know that Aunt Gae’s cat is a Persian?
I think that my cousin Mae’s a little bit on the wacky side.
Letters “AU”:
The tire gauge says that only one tire needs a little more air.
Letters “OE”:
The climbers felt a foehn coming down the north side of the Alps.
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WEEK TWENTY-THREE
WEEK TWENTY-THREE READING PASSAGES
Stories
Lesson 51 – Part Two
NEW WORDS: Bremen, alas, brayed, dismayed, donkey’s, farmyard, gasping, grabbing, hind, impress, loudest, musical, musicians, neighbor’s, ordinary, remained, signal, slumber, uncle’s, willing, windowsill, woken
The Bremen Town Musicians
Once upon a time there was a donkey. For many years, he had worked for a farmer. The donkey had worked on the same farm day in and day out. He longed to leave the farm and to see the world. The farmer was not happy that the donkey wanted to leave. But he saw how sad the donkey was. He told him that he could go.
The donkey left. He took the road to a town called Bremen. He had once heard a street band play sweet music there. He thought he could be a fine musician, too.
Soon, he came upon an old dog panting for breath. It seemed as if the dog had been running a long way. “What are you panting for, my friend?” asked the donkey.
“Ah,” answered the dog. “Now that I’m old, I’ve decided to leave my home and see the world. There is so much of the world to see! So, I have been running in order to get it all in!”
“Well,” said the donkey, “come with me. I am going to be a street musician in Bremen. I can play the flute. And you can play the drum.” The dog was quite willing, and so they both walked on.
Soon the dog and the donkey saw a cat sitting in the road. He had a face as long as three days of rainy weather. “Now, what’s the matter with you, old kitty?” asked the donkey.
“You would be sad,” said the cat, “if you were in my place. Now I’m getting old. And I haven’t seen any of the world beyond the barn I live in. Alas, I want to go and see the world. But I don’t know where to begin!”
“Then come with us to Bremen,” said the donkey. “I know that you sing well at night. So, you can easily be a street musician in the town. Bremen will be a great place to start your adventures.”
“That is just what I should like to do,” said the cat. So, she joined the donkey and the dog. They all walked on together.
By and by, the three musicians came to a farmyard. On the gate stood a rooster. He was crying “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” with all his might.
“What are you making so much noise for?” asked the donkey.
“Ah,” said the rooster. “I am trying to get the other animals’ attention. I am leaving to see the world. This is how roosters say goodbye.”
“Come with us, old Red Comb,” said the donkey. “We are going to Bremen to be street musicians. You have a fine voice. And the rest of us are all musical, too.”
“I will join you!” said the rooster. And they all four went on together.
They could not reach the town in one day. As evening came on, they began to look for a place to spend the night.
The donkey and the dog lay down under a large tree. The cat climbed up on one of the branches. The rooster flew to the top of the tree. There, he could look all around.
“I see a light from a window,” the rooster called to his friends.
“That means there is a house nearby,” said the donkey. “Let us ask the people for supper.”
“How good a bone would taste!” said the dog.
“Or a nice piece of fish!” said the cat.
“Or some corn!” said the rooster.
So, they set out at once. They soon reached the house. The donkey was the tallest. So, he looked in the window.
“What do you see, old Long Ears?” asked the rooster.
The donkey answered, “I see a table spread with plenty to eat and drink. And a family is sitting before it having their supper.”
“Come down,” said the dog. “We shall think of a way to impress this family. Then, they will share their supper with us.”
The four friends talked over what they could do. They wanted to show the family that they weren’t just ordinary barnyard animals. At last they had an idea!
The donkey stood on his hind legs. He placed his front feet on the windowsill. The dog stood on the donkey’s back. The cat climbed up. He stood on the dog’s back. And the rooster perched on the cat’s head.
Then the donkey gave a signal. They all began to make their loudest music. The donkey brayed. The dog barked. The cat meowed. The rooster crowed. The animals thought for sure that this sweet music would charm the family.
The family had never before heard such a noise. They were frightened! They had no idea what could be making such a terrible sound. They ran as fast as they could. They went through the woods to their neighbor’s house. Our four friends were dismayed. How had their beautiful song frightened the family so much? Still, they were very hungry from their journey. So, they decided to eat what remained of the family’s supper.
The four musicians ate as much as they could. They were now full and ready to sleep. The donkey laid down in the yard. The dog laid behind the door. The cat curled up in front of the fireplace. The rooster flew up to a high shelf. They were all so tired that they soon fell fast asleep.
Later that night, the uncle decided to go back. He just wanted to check on the house. He found everything quiet and still. So, he went inside. But he did not see the cat. He stepped on her tail. The poor kitty was caught by surprise. She jumped up, landing on the uncle’s face by accident. It gave the uncle such a fright that he ran for the door. This scared the dog, who grabbed the uncle’s leg as he went by. In the dark yard, the uncle could not see the donkey. He ran into him by accident. This scared the donkey. And he gave the uncle a great kick with his hind foot. All of this woke the rooster. He then cried out with all his might. “Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
The uncle ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He went back to his neighbor’s house. His family was waiting for him there. He was gasping for breath. “I have no idea what is going on in that house. But I am never going back! First, something tried to cover my eyes. Then something tried to stop me from leaving, by grabbing my leg. Then I was out in the yard. Something pushed me from behind. And all the while, I heard an awful noise. It was asking, ‘Who are you? Who are you’?”
The family was filled with fear. They ran away as fast as they could. Meanwhile, the animals had finally settled down after being woken up from their slumber. They decided that it was all just a bad dream. So, they went back to sleep in the cozy little house. They liked the little house a lot. So, they stayed there! They’re waiting for the family to come back. And as far as I know, they are there to this day.
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Stories
Lesson 52 – Part Three
NEW WORDS: Miller, Momotaro, amazement, bleated, bothered, bothering, carrying, coated, excitement, fainted, gazed, goat’s, gowns, harming, identified, instantly, misunderstanding, mmm, newfound, oni, oof, pheasant, prouder, quilts, realized, riches, scrubbing, stolen, swooped, tables, terrified, villagers, wolf’s
The Wolf And The Seven Little Kids
There was once a mother goat. She had seven little kids. She loved them as well as any mother has ever loved her children. One day she gathered her seven kids around her. She said, “Dear children. I must go into the forest to get food for us to eat. While I am away, don’t open the door for anyone. Be especially careful about the wolf. You will always know him by his rough voice. Also look for the dark gray fur on his paws.”
“Don’t worry, mother,” said the kids. “We’ll take good care of ourselves.” So, the mother goat bleated goodbye. She went on her way with a calm mind.
Meanwhile, the wolf was all alone in the forest. He never had anyone to play with. All the other animals were scared of him. This made him quite sad. But he thought maybe if the seven kids just got to know him, they would want to play with him. The wolf decided he would disguise himself. This was to get the kids to give him a chance.
Soon, there came a knock at the door. A voice called out, “Open the door, my dear children. Your mother is back. She has brought you each something.” But oh, what a rough voice! The kids thought it surely must be too soon for their mother to be back. “No, we won’t open the door!” cried the kids. “Our mother has a sweet, gentle voice. Your voice is rough. You must be the wolf!” And so, the kids went on playing. They felt very proud of themselves.
The wolf felt very sad. He could not help that his voice was rough. So, he ran off to a store. He bought a big lump of a special kind of chalk. He ate it to make his voice soft. Then he came back. He knocked at the door. He called out in a gentle voice, “Open the door, my dear children. Your mother is back. She has brought you each something.” The wolf felt for sure that this time the kids would open the door. Now he could prove to them that he was actually a very nice wolf. But the poor wolf had put his paws against the window. The kids could see his dark gray fur.
“No, we won’t open the door!” cried the kids. “Our mother’s feet do not have dark gray fur. You must be the wolf!” Again, the kids went on playing. They felt even prouder that they had identified the wolf by his paws.
Again, the poor wolf felt sad. He could not help that his fur was dark gray. And so, he ran to a bakery. “Baker,” he said, “Please, spread some dough over my paws.” The baker had coated his paws with dough. Then, the wolf went to the miller. “Miller,” he said, “please sprinkle some white flour over my paws.” Now the wolf’s feet looked just like the mother goat’s!
The wolf thought for sure this time the kids would open the door. Now he could show them what a nice and fun wolf he was. For a third time, the wolf went to the door. He knocked. He said in a gentle voice, “Open the door, my dear children. Your mother is back. She has brought you each something.” The wolf was almost smiling. He was so excited about playing with the kids.
“First show us your feet,” said the kids. And the wolf put his white, flour-covered paws against the window. “Yes, this must be our dear mother,” said the kids. So, they opened the door this time.
In pounced the wolf. He was ready to play! The terrified kids tried to hide. They did not know that the wolf was actually nice. The first ran under the table. The second crawled under the bed. The third hid under the rug. The fourth ran into the kitchen. The fifth jumped into the cupboard. The sixth ran under a tub. And the seventh climbed inside a big grandfather clock.
The wolf thought the kids must be playing a great game of hide-and-seek. He thought if he found them all, the kids would finally want to play with him. So, the wolf found them all. All, that is, except the youngest. He was hiding in the grandfather clock. The other kids had never been so scared. So, when the wolf found them, they fainted! They passed out asleep. The wolf was afraid that the other animals would blame him. So, he took the kids into the forest to wait for them to wake up. Then, he was tired from all of the excitement. So, he laid down under a tree. He fell into a deep sleep next to the six sleeping kids.
A short while later, the mother goat came home. Quite a sight met her eyes. The door stood wide open. Tables and chairs were thrown all about. Dishes were broken. Quilts and pillows were torn off the bed. She called out for her children. But they were nowhere to be found. She called each one again by name. No one answered. Finally, she called the name of the youngest kid.
“Here I am, mother,” a little voice cried. “I’m here inside the big grandfather clock.” The mother goat helped her youngest child out of the clock. Now, the youngest kid was quite sensitive. He had realized that the wolf thought the kids were playing a game of hide-and-seek. He told his mother so. They went off into the forest to find the other kids and the wolf. Mother Goat wanted to explain the misunderstanding.
There they saw the wolf. He was still fast asleep under a tree. He was snoring so hard that he shook the branches. Then the mother goat saw the rest of her kids. They were sleeping there, too. They were hidden behind the big wolf. “Dear me!” she thought. “How peaceful they are sleeping!” Then, one-by-one, her little kids, and finally the wolf, woke up.
The kids woke up. They saw their dear mother and youngest brother smiling at them. So, they instantly felt happy. Their mother told them that the poor wolf was actually a kind animal. He had just wanted to play. They all danced around, now. They celebrated their newfound friendship with the wolf.
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Momotaro, Peach Boy
It was once upon a time. We go to a small village. It’s in the country of Japan. There, lived a kind old man and his good, honest wife. It was one fine morning. The old man went to the hills. He was going to cut firewood. His wife went down to the river. She was going to wash clothes. She was scrub, scrub, scrubbing the clothes on a stone. Then, something strange came floating down the river. It was a peach. A very big, round peach! She picked it up. “Oof!” She carried it home with her. She thought that they could eat it.
The old man soon came home. The old woman set the peach before him. The peach began to shake! It wobbled the table. The old man and woman looked on in amazement. Then, the peach split apart. Out came a baby boy!
The old man and woman took care of the baby. They were kind to him. They raised him as their own son. They called him “Momotaro.” That was a fine name. It meant “Peach Boy.”
Momotaro grew up to be strong and brave. This was good for the village. For many years, the villagers had been bothered by the “Oni.” They were greedy monsters. They stole things from the town. Everyone wished that the Oni would stop bothering them.
Momotaro had grown to be a young man. One day, he came to his parents. “I am going to the island of the Oni. I will bring back what they’ve stolen. And I’ll stop them from harming us ever again. Please make some millet cakes for me. I will need them on my journey.”
The parents were worried. But they made the millet cakes. And so Momotaro started on his way. He had not gone far. He met a dog. “Where are you going, Momotaro?” asked the dog.
“I’m going to the island of the Oni. I’ll bring back what they have stolen from my village,” said Momotaro.
“What is in that sack?” asked the dog.
“I’m carrying the best millet cakes in all Japan,” said Momotaro. “Would you like one?”
“Mmm. Yes!” said the dog. “And I’ll come with you to the island of the Oni. I’ll help you.” The dog ate the millet cake. Then he and Momotaro walked on.
They soon met a monkey. “Where are you going, Momotaro?” asked the monkey.
“I’m going to the island of the Oni. I’ll bring back what they have stolen from my village,” said Momotaro.
“I’ll come with you,” said the monkey. And Momotaro thanked him. He gave him a millet cake.
Now the three of them walked along. Soon, they heard a call. “Momotaro! Momotaro! Where are you going?” Momotaro looked around to see who was calling. A big pheasant flew out of a field. It landed at his feet. Momotaro told him that he and his new friends were going to the island of the Oni. “Then I’ll come with you and help,” said the pheasant. Momotaro thanked him. He gave him a millet cake. So, Momotaro went on his way. The dog, the monkey, and the pheasant followed close behind.
They soon came to the island. The Oni lived in a big stone castle. The pheasant flew over the high castle walls. He swooped down. He flew back and forth so fast that it scared the Oni. The Oni shouted and screamed. They ran about in confusion.
Then the dog and the monkey helped. They, with Momotaro, broke through the gate of the castle. Oh, what a scene! The dog and monkey ran about the legs of the Oni. This tripped them up so much they had trouble standing. Momotaro ran left and right, waving his walking stick. Many of the Oni ran away. Soon, it was just Momotaro and the Oni king.
Momotaro ordered the Oni king around. “Collect all the treasure that you have stolen from us!” Momotaro and his friends gazed in amazement. There were so many beautiful gowns and jewels. There was so much gold and silver. All of it had been stolen from the village over the years.
And so Momotaro took all the riches back to the village. The village was never again bothered by the Oni. And what happened to Momotaro and the old man and the old woman? They lived in peace and plenty for the rest of their lives.
*********
WEEK TWENTY-THREE PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 56) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-E” SOUND:
Letters “EE”:
Mom shrieked, “EEK!” when she saw a mouse in the kitchen pantry.
An electric eel is misnamed, not really an eel, but a knifefish.
I can’t stand it if a bee stings me!
My friend Dee has incredibly curly red hair.
If your checking account drops below $500, there’s a monthly fee of $25.
Gee, I thought that I’d know the answer to that.
Robert E. Lee led the Confederate army in the U.S. Civil War.
Mom, I really need to pee!
I can see perfectly with my new glasses.
Let’s tee up this cool idea to the boss.
We read a story about a wee fairy who lived in a flower.
Did you know that people actually cook and eat eels?
Please buy a package of beef hot dogs when you go to the grocery.
When the timer goes “beep,” put the casserole into the hot oven.
If you don’t try at least one beet on your plate, you’re not going to get dessert.
My good deed for the day was helping an elderly lady cross the street.
When writing term papers, professors deem it necessary that you always identify your sources.
Let’s go swim in the deep end of the pool.
Please feed the pets by 6:00 PM.
After a few days of that brutal head cold, I finally feel 100% again!
The lawyer said, “My fees are $200 per hour, plus any expenses like postage.
The shoe salesperson agreed that I have really big feet for my age.
I do have to admit that I am a video game geek.
When my brother coughed, he got spit on me, so I said, “Geez, Ronnie, cover your mouth when you cough!”
Yoda said, “Heed my warning, Luke; if you are not careful, you will be tempted by the Dark Side.”
I’m going to need to replace the heel on my left dress shoe.
Our Jeep rides well on rough terrain.
I’m afraid that I’m going to keel over because of this brutal heat and humidity.
My dog has a very keen sense of smell.
I like to keep the closets in my house neat and organized.
This recipe calls for one chopped leek instead of an onion.
I didn’t realize that Mr. Leet is a mining engineer.
Clark Kent acts meek and mild, but he’s actually Superman!
Let’s meet at 4:00 PM at the store directory at the front entrance to the mall.
I need to take these pills at lunchtime.
Dad, you’re not going to want to hear this, but the dog peed on your favorite chair.
Let’s take a peek under the Christmas tree and see how many presents there are for everyone.
Don’t you find it challenging to peel a mango?
Son, fetch our ball-peen hammer, because it will be perfect for the wood-working that we’ll do this afternoon.
Kids, get to bed, and we don’t want to hear a peep out of any of you!
Thank goodness that our cat always pees in her litter box.
A reed is used in a wind instrument such as a clarinet or an oboe.
It’s beautiful underwater when you snorkel on a coral reef.
Oh, man, check your breath; you reek of garlic!
Son, a fish has been hooked on your line; now reel it in!
To think that this little seed is going to turn into a big plant!
Anyone want to play hide-and-seek?
Things are not always what they seem to be!
This rare butterfly is very rarely seen in North America.
This is a quality-built house, and water cannot seep into the basement.
I wonder what a fly sees when it has up to 4,500 “eye lenses.”
The former champion teed off to officially begin the golf tournament.
In spring, this pond will teem with frogs.
*********
*********
WEEK TWENTY-FOUR
WEEK TWENTY-FOUR READING PASSAGES
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Stories
Lesson 53 – Part Four
NEW WORDS: alarmingly, beauty, bison, compassion, content, continue, discover, eventually, exists, familiar, farther, fearful, following, forlornly, fragrances, generosity, hopeful, intended, lapping, misused, mountainside, onward, perilous, promised, regain, repay, retreated, returned, sadly, soar, swum, thankful, trod, warmth
The Story Of Jumping Mouse
Once there was a small mouse. But he had a big dream. The small mouse had grown up listening to the elders. They told wonderful stories about the far-off land. Now, the small mouse lived in the brush. This was near the sparkling river. On the other side of the sparkling river was the dry desert. The small mouse had been told where the far-off land was. It was on the other side of the dry desert.
Although the mouse was small, he was brave. He intended to go to the far-off land. One day he said goodbye to his family and friends and set off. He came to his first challenge. He had to find a way to cross the beautiful sparkling river. He was staring at the lapping water. Right then, a frog appeared beside him.
“You’ll have to swim,” said the frog.
“I don’t know what you mean,” replied the small mouse. He had never swum before.
“Watch me,” said the frog. The frog jumped into the sparkling river. He began to swim.
The small mouse watched the frog for several seconds. Then he announced, “I am afraid I can’t do that. I’ll have to find another way to cross.”
The frog returned to the edge of the river. “Why are you so determined to cross the sparkling river? Where are you going?” asked the frog.
“I’m going to the far-off land,” replied the small mouse.
“I hope you don’t mind my saying this. But you are a very small mouse. To cross such a big river and travel such a long distance to the far-off land will be hard.” The frog stared at the small mouse for a short time. He that the mouse couldn’t be swayed from following his plan. So, he decided to help the mouse.
“This is your lucky day,” exclaimed the frog. “I’m a magic frog. I will help you. I name you Jumping Mouse. You’ll soon discover something. You can jump higher than you’ve ever jumped before. Follow me, Jumping Mouse. I will take you across the sparkling river.”
With that said, the frog and Jumping Mouse jumped very high. They landed on a leaf in the middle of the sparkling river. They floated on the leaf to the other side.
“Goodbye, my friend,” said the frog. “Be brave and hopeful. You will surely reach the far-off land.”
“Thank you,” replied Jumping Mouse. “I’ll never forget your kindness.”
Jumping Mouse set off across the dry desert. He jumped across stones and twigs. His legs were now strong, as the frog had promised. He could now jump higher than ever before. He traveled by day and by night. He stopped only to eat berries wherever he found them.
Eventually, Jumping Mouse came to a stream. The stream gave life to this part of the dry desert. Beside the stream grew many bushes. Underneath one of the bushes there lived a very fat mouse. The fat mouse came out. “Good day to you,” he said.
“Good day,” said Jumping Mouse.
“Where are you going?” asked the fat mouse.
“To the far-off land,” explained Jumping Mouse. “However, I would like to rest a while. I need to eat some of the juicy berries that grow on the bushes beside the stream.”
“Be my guest,” said the fat mouse. Jumping Mouse stayed with the fat mouse for several days. He ate berries. He drank from the cool stream. Before long, he felt rested. He was ready to continue his journey.
“It’s time for me to continue my journey,” said Jumping Mouse.
“Why would you want to travel to a place like that? You are not sure it even exists. Stay here with me. You can eat berries. You can drink from the stream to your heart’s content! But, if you must go, be very careful. The journey will be perilous indeed for such a small mouse,” warned the fat mouse.
“I will be careful. And I will find a way to pay forward the kindness you and the frog have shown me. Thank you for your generosity,” replied Jumping Mouse. Then, his powerful legs carried him away. He had hope in his heart. Jumping Mouse continued on his way.
It was some time later. Jumping Mouse had arrived at the great grassy plain. There he found a bison. The beast was lying forlornly in the grass.
“Hello, bison,” said Jumping Mouse. “I am Jumping Mouse.”
“Hello, Jumping Mouse. Please tell me how beautiful the sky looks today,” said the bison sadly.
“Have you lost your sight?” Jumping Mouse asked this with compassion.
“Yes! I am blind now,” replied the bison. “I do not know what I will do now that I cannot see.”
“I’m just an ordinary mouse,” replied Jumping Mouse. “But before I reached the great grassy plain, a magic frog gave me a new name. The frog named me Jumping Mouse. The name gave me extra strength in my legs. I will name you ‘Eyes-of-a-Mouse.’ I hope that your eyes will regain their strength.”
No sooner had Jumping Mouse finished speaking, when the bison exclaimed, “I can see!”
But at that very moment, Jumping Mouse realized that HE could no longer see. “And I cannot see!” said Jumping Mouse.
“Dear Jumping Mouse,” said the bison. “You have given me your eyes. I am so thankful! Let me do something for you.”
“I am on my way to the far-off land,” explained Jumping Mouse. “Though, how I will get there now, I do not know.”
“Come, jump beneath my enormous hooves. I will guide you across the grassy plain. I’ll take you to the high mountain,” said the bison gently. And with that, they set off.
They reached the high mountain. The bison bid farewell to Jumping Mouse. Jumping Mouse rested for a while. He then began to climb the mountain. It was difficult. He could not easily tell which way to go. He sniffed the air. He followed the scent of pine.
Jumping Mouse trod along on grass and rocks. But then he trod on something that felt alarmingly like fur. Jumping Mouse sniffed the air again. “Wolf!” he said in a frightened voice.
“Do not fear me,” replied the wolf. “I am a very sad wolf. I have lost my sense of smell. I do not know how I will find food without it.”
“My dear wolf,” said Jumping Mouse. “This may seem strange to you. But I gave the bison my sight. I will call you ‘Nose-of-a-Mouse.’ We shall see what will happen.”
No sooner had Jumping Mouse spoken these words than the wolf sniffed the air. He cried, “I can smell you Jumping Mouse. And other wonderful fragrances, as well. Thank you! I am so grateful. How can I repay you?”
“I am on my way to the far-off land. I am brave. And I still have hope that I will get there. And that’s even though I can no longer see nor smell. Perhaps you can help me.”
“I will help you Jumping Mouse. Walk beneath my body. I will lead you onward,” said the wolf.
Onward they went. At last, the wolf exclaimed, “I can go no farther. We are on the top of the high mountain. I must bid you goodbye, my friend.” And with that, the wolf retreated back down the mountainside.
For the first time, Jumping Mouse felt fear. How would he ever get to the far-off land? He could no longer see nor smell? A tiny tear drop fell to the ground. At that very moment, Jumping Mouse heard a familiar voice.
“Do not be fearful.” It was the Magic Frog! “You could have misused my gift. But you did not. Instead, you showed kindness. You helped others on your journey. Jump high into the sky, my friend.”
Jumping Mouse hesitated for just a second. But then he jumped high into the sky. Immediately, he felt the air lift him up into the clouds. He felt the warmth of the sun on his back. He looked down. He saw the beauty of the land beneath him.
“Jumping Mouse,” said the magic frog. “I am giving you a new name. It is Eagle. Fly away, my friend. Soar on to your new home in the far-off land.” And that is exactly what Jumping Mouse did.
*********
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Stories
Lesson 54 – Part Five
NEW WORDS: bathing, bumpity, claim, comfortable, compared, definitely, foolishness, mightily, quizzically, refreshed, silliest, sometime, sprawled, vine, whoever, whump, yawned
Tug-Of-War
Turtle was small. But he talked big. He loved to boast. He said he was friends with the biggest animals in the jungle. He would say things like this. “I’m just as strong as the biggest animals around here. And that includes Elephant and Hippopotamus. That’s right! Elephant and Hippopotamus and I are friends. That’s because I’m just as strong as they are.”
One day, Elephant and Hippopotamus happened to talk to some of the other animals. They were told what Turtle was going around saying. Elephant and Hippopotamus laughed. “So,” they said. “Turtle thinks he is as strong as we are? That’s the silliest thing we’ve ever heard. He’s so tiny compared to us!”
Those animals told Turtle what Elephant and Hippopotamus said. Then, Turtle became very mad. “So, they do not think that I am as strong as they are? They will see that I am just as strong as they are. And then, we will definitely be friends. Just wait and see!”
Then Turtle set off to find Elephant and Hippopotamus. He found Elephant lying down in the jungle. Elephant was as big as a mountain. His trunk was as long as a river. But Turtle was bold. He walked right up. He said in his loudest voice, “Hey, Elephant, my dear friend!”
Elephant looked all around. Where was that voice coming from? Finally, he looked down, way down, and spotted Turtle. “Oh, it’s you, is it?” said Elephant. “What is this foolishness I hear? You claim to be as strong as I am? How silly! I am much larger than you, and thus much stronger than you! Big animals and little animals cannot be friends.”
“Now, Elephant,” said Turtle, “just listen. You think that because you’re so much bigger than me, that makes you better. Well, let’s have a tug-of-war to find out.”
“A tug-of-war?” said Elephant. He laughed so hard the Earth shook for miles around. “Why,” he said to Turtle, “you haven’t got a chance.”
“Maybe so,” said Turtle. “But if you’re so sure, what have you got to lose?” Then Turtle cut a very long vine. He gave one end to Elephant. “Here,” said Turtle. “Now, if I pull you down, I am stronger. If you pull me down, you are stronger. We won’t stop tugging until one of us pulls the other over, or the vine breaks. And if the vine breaks, we are equal. Then we’ll call each other friend.”
“Now I’ll go pick up my end,” said Turtle. “And when you feel me start tugging, you tug back.” So, Turtle walked off with the other end of the long, long vine. Sometime later, he found Hippopotamus bathing in the river.
“Oh, friend, I’m here!” shouted Turtle. “Come out of the water and say hi!”
Hippopotamus could hardly believe his ears. “How could we be friends? You are so much smaller than me,” he said quizzically.
“Now hold on, friend Hippo,” said Turtle. “You think that because you’re so much bigger than me, that makes you better. Well, let’s have a tug-of-war to find out. Whoever pulls the other down is stronger. We will keep pulling until one of us wins, or the vine breaks. And if the vine breaks, we are equal. Then we will finally be friends.”
“But Turtle, how could you win? You are so much smaller than me. Everyone knows that big animals are stronger than little animals,” said Hippopotamus.
“Well, let’s see,” said Turtle. So, he gave Hippopotamus an end of the long, long vine. “Now I’ll go pick up my end,” said Turtle. “When you feel me start tugging, you tug back.”
Turtle walked into the jungle. He picked up the middle of the vine. He gave it a good hard shake. When Hippopotamus felt this, he started to tug. When Elephant felt the tug, he tugged back.
Elephant and Hippopotamus both tugged mightily. That stretched the vine very tight. Turtle settled into a comfortable spot. He watched for a while as the vine moved just a little bit one way. And then it moved just a little bit the other way. He took out his lunch. He munched on his food very slowly. He enjoyed every bite. Then he yawned and fell asleep.
He woke a couple of hours later. He felt very refreshed from his nap. He looked up to see the vine still stretched tight. A big smile came across his face. Yes, Elephant and Hippopotamus were still pulling with all their might. Neither one could pull the other over. “I suppose it’s about time,” said Turtle. And he cut the vine!
When the vine broke, both Elephant and Hippopotamus tumbled down. “WHUMP– BUMPITY-BUMP-BAM-BOOM!”
Turtle went to see Elephant. He found him sprawled on the ground. He was rubbing his head. “Turtle,” said Elephant, “you are very strong and quite powerful! You were right. We ARE equal. I guess that bigger doesn’t mean better after all. So, big animals and little animals can, indeed, be friends.”
Then Turtle went to see Hippopotamus. He was also sprawled on the ground. And he was rubbing his head. “So, Turtle,” said Hippopotamus, “we ARE equal, after all. You were right, my friend.”
From then on, whenever the animals held a meeting, there at the front sat Elephant, Hippopotamus, and Turtle. And they always called each other friends.
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Lesson 55 – Poems And Rhymes
NEW WORDS: Dumpty’s, Otto, afterwards, anyway, broomstick, broomstick’s, bumpety, camel, cocoa, corkscrew, corruption, counsel, crackers, croak, deed, funniest, greatly, grieve, grownups, half’s, hamwich, handle, harnessed, haunches, humped, insist, jamwich, kettle, lumpety, maw, mee, mercy, mutton, needn’t, oom, orchestra, pump, raven, screeching, suppers, swan, trotting, unpleasantly, vestige, vowed, waddle, wombat
The Farmer And The Raven
A farmer went trotting upon his gray mare, bumpety, bumpety, bump!
With his daughter behind him, so rosy and fair.
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
A raven cried “Croak!” and they all tumbled down, bumpety, bumpety, bump!
The mare broke her knees, and the farmer his crown,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
The mischievous raven flew laughing away, bumpety, bumpety, bump!
And vowed he would serve them the same the next day,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!
Three Little Kittens
Three little kittens, lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
“Oh, mother dear,
We very much fear that we have lost our mittens.”
“Lost your mittens! You naughty kittens! Then you shall have no pie!”
“Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.”
“No, you shall have no pie.”
“Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.”
The three little kittens, found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
“Oh, mother dear,
See here, see here! See, we have found our mittens!”
“Put on your mittens, you silly kittens, and you may have some pie.”
“Purr, purr, purr,
Oh, let us have the pie!
Purr, purr, purr.”
The three little kittens, put on their mittens, and soon ate up the pie.
“Oh, mother dear,
We greatly fear,
That we have soiled our mittens!”
“Soiled your mittens! You naughty kittens!” Then they began to sigh,
“Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.”
Then they began to sigh,
“Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.”
The three little kittens, washed their mittens, and hung them out to dry.
“Oh, mother dear,
Do you not hear,
That we have washed our mittens?”
“Washed your mittens? Oh, you’re good kittens! But I smell a rat close by,
Hush, hush. Mee-ow, mee-ow.”
“We smell a rat close by,
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.”
Poem By Eliza Lee Follen
Monkeys
The funniest thing in the world I know, is watching the monkeys in the show!
Jumping and running and racing around, way up the top of the pole, then down!
First they’re here, and then they’re there, and just almost any, and everywhere!
Screeching and scratching wherever they go, they’re the funniest thing in the world, I know!
Poem By James Whitcomb Riley
Jumping Joan
Here I am, little jumping Joan,
When nobody’s with me, I’m always alone.
Bedtime
The Man in the Moon looked out of the moon, looked out of the moon and said,
“‘Tis time for all children, on the Earth, to think about getting to bed!”
Swan
Swan, swan, over the sea,
Swim, swan, swim!
Swan, swan back again,
Well swum, swan!
A Star
Higher than a house, higher than a tree,
Oh! Whatever can that be?
Fog
The fog comes in
On little cat feet.
It sits looking
Over harbor and city
On silent haunches
And then moves on.
Poem By Carl Sandburg
Humpty Dumpty’s Song
In winter, when the fields are white,
I sing this song for your delight.
In Spring, when woods are getting green,
I’ll try and tell you what I mean.
In Summer, when the days are long,
Perhaps you’ll understand the song.
In Autumn, when the leaves are brown,
Take pen and ink, and write it down.
I sent a message to the fish.
I told them “This is what I wish.”
The little fishes of the sea,
They sent an answer back to me.
The little fishes’ answer was,
“We cannot do it, Sir, because.”
I sent to them again to say,
“It will be better to obey.”
The fishes answered, with a grin,
“Why, what a temper you are in!”
I told them once, I told them twice,
They would not listen to advice.
I took a kettle large and new,
Fit for the deed I had to do.
My heart went hop, my heart went thump,
I filled the kettle at the pump.
Then someone came to me and said,
“The little fishes are in bed.”
I said to him, I said it plain,
“Then you must wake them up again.”
I said it very loud and clear.
I went and shouted in his ear.
But he was very stiff and proud.
He said “You needn’t shout so loud!”
And he was very proud and stiff.
He said “I’d go and wake them, if.”
I took a corkscrew from the shelf,
I went to wake them up myself.
And when I found the door was locked,
I pulled and pushed and kicked and knocked.
And when I found the door was shut,
I tried to turn the handle, but.
Poem By Lewis Carroll
Animal Crackers
Animal crackers, and cocoa to drink, that is the finest of suppers, I think.
When I’m grown up and can have what I please, I think I shall always insist upon these.
Poem By Christopher Morley
Toaster Time
Tick, tick, tick, tick. Tick, tick, tick.
Toast up a sandwich, quick, quick, quick.
Hamwich, or jamwich, lick, lick lick!
Tick, tick, tick,
Tick, tick, tick,
STOP! POP!
Poem By Eve Merriam
Otto
Otto would a-riding go, so he harnessed up a crow. Could he drive it? No, no, no!
Otto humped and bumped around, and Otto tumbled on the ground!
For Want Of A Nail
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost.
For want of the horse, the rider was lost.
For want of the rider, the battle was lost.
For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want, of a horseshoe nail.
At The Zoo
First I saw the white bear, then I saw the black;
Then I saw the camel, with a hump upon his back;
Then I saw the grey wolf, with mutton in his maw;
Then I saw the wombat, waddle in the straw;
Then I saw the elephant, a-waving of his trunk;
Then I saw the monkeys-mercy, how unpleasantly they-smelt!
Poem By William Makepeace Thackery
Little Lisa
Little Lisa comes a-running, who’ll buy my little calf?
How much do you want for him? A penny and a half.
A penny and a half’s too much! A broomstick’s all I’ll pay!
Then take him for a broomstick, I don’t want him anyway.
The Orchestra
Oh, we can play on the big bass drum, and this is the music to it:
Boom, boom, boom, goes the big bass drum, and that’s the way we do it.
Oh, we can play on the violin, and this is the music to it:
Fiddle-dee-dee, goes the violin, and that’s the way we do it.
Oh, we can play on the silver flute, and this is the music to it:
Toot-toot-toot, goes the silver flute, and that’s the way we do it.
Oh, we can play on the big bass horn, and this is the music to it:
Oom-pa-pa, goes the big bass horn, and that’s the way we do it.
Night Fun
I hear eating, I hear drinking, I hear music, I hear laughter.
Fun is something grownups never have before my bedtime.
Only after.
Poem By Judith Viorst
Remember
Remember me when I am gone away, gone far away into the silent land,
When you can no more hold me by the hand, nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day, you tell me of our future that you planned.
Only remember me. You understand, it will be late to counsel then, or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while, and afterwards remember, do not grieve.
For if the darkness and corruption leave a vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better, by far, you should forget and smile, than that you should remember, and be sad.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
*********
WEEK TWENTY-FOUR PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 56) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-E” SOUND … continued:
Letters “EE” … continued:
Grandma said, “When I was a teen, my mom would not allow me to wear make-up.”
I hope that Bob tees up with the boss a possible office Christmas party.
The President and the Veep flew from D.C. today to hit the campaign trail.
Dad’s gone outside to weed the garden.
Next week I fly to Germany to get a tour of our new factory there.
It’s time to ween our toddler from sucking his thumb.
Mom always starts to weep when she goes to a wedding.
My sister Bree wants to be a fashion designer.
If we drive fast enough, maybe we can flee the storm.
If you buy two of these, you get one free.
In the cuisine of India, they use a type of liquid butter that they call “ghee.”
The gymnast shouted with glee when all of the judges rated her performance a 10.
Dad said to us, “Kids, did you know that I got down on my knee when I proposed marriage to your mom?”
I love the flowers that bloom on a tulip tree.
While I was scared to death, my sister yelled, “WHEE!” as the roller coaster sped down the steep ramp.
Our fitness center’s equipment is good for someone who beefs up by lifting weights.
Three beeps from the timer mean that the meat is done.
I never have developed a liking for the taste of beets.
The knight was well-known for his countless deeds of heroism.
Our doctor deems it wise to always get a good night’s sleep.
In the deeps of the ocean, who knows what creatures man has still never encountered?
Mom feeds the dog precisely at 9:00 in the morning and 6:00 in the evening.
That shoe feels very comfortable on my foot.
Those kids may be geeks, but I will say that they’re super-smart.
The geese at the lake are honking loudly.
The kid down the street typically heeds his parents’ good advice.
I’ve got thick callouses on the heels of my feet.
Jeeps are sturdy for driving on dirt roads.
It’s not good when someone keels over from heatstroke.
Dad usually keeps around $100 in cash in his wallet.
This recipe calls for two of my favorite veggies, leeks and shallots.
Our friends the Leets have moved to be close to their grandkids.
I’d like to see a movie where Superman meets Thor.
Our old kitchen needs remodeling.
Don’t you love how a toddler peeks out from behind a curtain?
You can just trash these potato peels.
Mom peeps into our room before she goes to bed to make sure that we’re asleep.
It will really peeve me if you chew with your mouth open!
I think there are some ducks behind those reeds.
It’s estimated that more than a million species of life live around coral reefs.
This room just reeks of cigarette smoke.
This warehouse stores thousands of reels of film of old Hollywood movies.
Mrs. Reeve is a really great art teacher.
Let’s hope that one of these seeds grows into a gigantic pumpkin.
In this story, the hero seeks justice and tracks down a murderer.
It seems like time moves faster the older you get.
With a gentle rain, the moisture seeps into the soil rather than running off.
This warm tropical reef teems with marine life.
Most teens are itching to get their first driver’s license.
Three former Veeps attended the funeral service of the well-loved Senator.
It’s weeds like these that bother so many people’s allergies.
In just a few weeks it’ll be Christmas!
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WEEK TWENTY-FIVE
WEEK TWENTY-FIVE READING PASSAGES
Lesson 56 – Stories Misc
Space Hawk: Animals, Animals, Animals
NEW WORDS: Gila, Komodo, amphibians, anaconda, anemones, antelope, badger, boa, breed, caiman, capybara, cheetah, chimps, chipmunk, chuckwalla, constrictor, coral, cougar, coyote, dolphin, ferret, friendlier, gazelle, gecko, gharial, giraffes, gorilla, hippos, howler, hyenas, jellyfish, jungles, leopard, liger, marlin, mink, moray, multi, newts, octopus, okapi, orangutan, planet’s, porpoises, possum, pythons, reefs, rodent, ruthless, salamanders, skink, skunk, smartest, stonefish, toads, weasel, zebra
Animals or nothing! World Q333 could not get enough. They would not talk about another thing! It was so new to them.
Doc kept using HOLLY. “HOLLY. Show more life forms. Show reptiles. Here’s a snake. A lizard and an iguana. A skink and a gecko. A crocodile, an alligator, a caiman, and a gharial. A turtle and a tortoise. A chuckwalla. A Gila monster. A Komodo dragon. And our largest snakes. A boa constrictor and an anaconda! And don’t forget about pythons!”
Then, it was amphibians. “Here are salamanders, newts, frogs, and toads. When born, they start to live in water. Then, they live on land.”
Then Doc moved to forest animals. “HOLLY. Show animals in forests. Here’s a squirrel and a chipmunk. A fox. A wolf. A skunk. A beaver, a weasel, a mink, and a badger. A mole. A possum. A mouse and a rat. A coyote. A deer. A moose. A flying squirrel. A ferret. A raccoon.”
The people of Q333 were amazed. “Show more!” they shouted.
Doc kept going! “HOLLY! Time for BIG animals! Africa, India, jungles, and plains! Here are a lion and a tiger. A panther, a jaguar, a cougar, an ocelot. A cheetah. That’s our fastest animal. A leopard and snow leopard. Giraffes and elephants. Hyenas and wild dogs. Antelope and gazelle. A water buffalo. A zebra (they LOVED the stripes of the zebra!) Chimps and an orangutan. A gorilla. Tapirs. Okapi. Spider and howler monkeys. Our largest rodent, the capybara. And how about hippos and rhinos!?”
They asked about our oceans. Doc said, “Some of our smartest animals are dolphin and porpoises. And here’s our largest, a whale! Here are an octopus and a giant squid. Here are marlin and swordfish. And sharks. These fish can be ruthless! Sting rays are creepy looking. And so are moray eels! And you don’t want to touch a stonefish. And we have pretty places called coral reefs. Look at these anemones! And the multi-colored tiny fish. And jellyfish. They sting, and some of them can kill you!
We talked for hours. At one point, we talked about zoos. They thought that was awful. That we would cage up animals. But in 2166, zoos were “friendlier” places. It was more like being in the wild. And we showed how some animals would be extinct. Zoos protected them. And new kinds of animals could breed. Like a liger. Dad’s a lion. Mom’s a tiger. So a liger looks kind of “half-lion” and “half-tiger.” That couldn’t happen in the wild. Lions are in Africa. Tigers are in Asia. In a zoo, a lion and a tiger can meet up together!
At one point, our talk went sour. Their planet’s so different that “food” is a very different thing. They don’t eat anything that’s “living.” Well, they found out that animals eat animals. And that humans eat meat! They just about kicked us out! But we calmed them down. We showed how this was “just our way” on Earth. They did not like it. But they knew that some things that THEY did might not set well with US, either.
The bottom line is this. When you meet with Aliens, you’d better have an open mind!
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view.)
The Green Fern Zoo
Lesson 57 – Part One
NEW WORDS: Bess, Carl, Norm, Vern, bobcat, bobcat’s, bobcats, creeks, figs, gills, grooming, jet’s, mandrill, mandrills, panthers, puffin, puffin’s, puffins, scales, unlike, yawning
Meet Vern
My name is Vern, and I have the best job! My job is to take you kids in to see the Green Fern Zoo. We will see things with wings, and things with scales, things that bite, and things that sting, things that creep, and things that swim. I have lots of fun facts and tales to share with you. So let’s see the zoo and have some fun!
Things That Swim
I hope you kids like things that swim, because this is the room where we keep all the fish. The fish here are trout. A trout is a fish that swims in cool lakes and creeks. You can see that they have lots of spots and marks. The spots and marks help the trout hide. They make the trout look a lot like the sand on the bed of a creek.
Here’s a big fish that makes all of the wee fish run and hide. This is a reef shark. It has that name because it likes to make its home close to a reef, where there are lots of fish.
You can see that the reef shark has fins and a set of gills on its side. You can not see them from here, but this shark has lots of sharp teeth in its mouth. Would a reef shark bite you? Well, you are not the lunch that this shark would like best. A reef shark likes to feed on squid, crabs, and shrimp. But it would be smart not to get the reef shark mad at you, all the same!
Chimps
Next, let’s see the chimps. We have ten chimps here at the Green Fern Zoo. You can see them all out there if you look hard. The one you see here is Bess. She has a snack in her mouth. Bess and the rest of the chimps like to munch on plants, nuts, and seeds.
Do you see that chimp with the stick? That’s Bart. Bart likes to have ants for lunch. To get the ants, he takes a stick and sticks it in an ant hill. Then he lifts it up and licks off the ants. Yum, yum!
The chimp with the rope in his hand is Max. He’s just a babe. He was born in March. Bess is his mom. Max is a lot of fun. He likes to swing on the rope and splash in the pool.
The two chimps up on the rocks are Carl and Norm. Carl is the one on the left. Carl and Norm are pals. But they were not pals last week. Last week we gave them a branch from a fig tree for lunch. Norm took the branch and ran off with it. He ate all of the figs. Carl was mad at Norm all week. But that was last week. This week, the two of them are pals.
Mandrills
Here you can see two mandrills. Mandrills are a lot like chimps. Do you like the red nose? The mandrill with the red nose is a male. The mandrill on the left is grooming the male with the red nose. She is looking for ticks and bugs. Mandrills like grooming, because it makes them look good and feel good, too.
Look! One of the mandrills is yawning! You can see that he has long, sharp teeth. Those sharp teeth help him chop up his food. Mandrills like a lot of foods. We feed our mandrills ants, grass, nuts, bark, plant shoots, and roots.
Mandrills have sacks inside their cheeks. They can stuff food in the sacks and keep it there until they need a snack. Then they pop the food out and munch on it!
Things with Wings
Next, let’s see some things with wings. This is a puffin. He makes his home up north, not too far from the North Pole. Look at those cute feet! But they are not just cute. The puffin’s feet help him swim. Note, as well, his big bill. The puffin can use his bill to get fish.
Puffins are born from eggs. The puffin mom and dad sit on their egg. The mom sits. Then the dad sits. In the end, the chick pops out of the shell. The mom and dad take care of the chick until it can care for itself. Look! That puffin has fish in her bill! She will feed those fish to her chick.
In this next room, we have a finch. Unlike the puffin, the finch makes a home in woodlands. He can use his bill to snap up grass seeds for food. I’m sad to tell you that the finch is getting to be quite rare. We are proud to have five of them here at the Green Fern Zoo.
Big Cats
Do you like cats? If you do, look there in the grass. Do you see the cat? That is not the sort of cat that you keep in your home and feed cat food. That is a bobcat. Bobcats are good hunters. They hunt rabbits, rats, and sometimes deer and sheep. That bobcat’s name is Robert, or Bob for short. Get it?
If you look up on that rock, you will see a cat that’s bigger than a bobcat. It’s a panther. Panthers can have spots. They can be tan, too. Here at the Green Fern Zoo, we have two black panthers. The name of this one is Jet.
That’s Jet’s sister, Flash, up on the tree branch. Flash has strong legs that help her run fast. She has sharp teeth and sharp claws that help her hunt rabbits and deer. She can use her claws to scamper up a tree if she needs to. You can see that she is not all black like Jet. She has some spots.
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view.)
The Green Fern Zoo
Lesson 58 – Part Two
NEW WORDS: Agnes, Alex, Allen, Fred’s, blend, coiling, cranes, critters, dine, dweller, garter, groundhogs, hissing, hooting, hoss, killer, mound, ostrich, otters, pools, rattler, sandhill, slugs, spoonbill, spoonbills, termite, termites, wades, webbed, webbing
Groundhogs
Here you can see a groundhog. Groundhogs have sharp claws that help them dig holes in the ground. They spend a lot of time down in those dark holes.
Groundhogs like to feed on grass and plants. But when they run out of their holes to get food, they have to be on the lookout. Some critters, like bobcats and snakes, like to dine on groundhogs. This groundhog here is sitting up to see if there is a snake or a bobcat close by.
This groundhog is named Pepper. We feed her grass, tree bark, and insects, but the food that she likes best is corn. We found that out yesterday morning, when she got out from her pen. We found her in the petting zoo. She ate a lot of the corn that was there for the ducks and hens.
The Reptile Room
Who likes snakes? Hands up if you like them! Some kids like snakes best of all, and some kids can’t stand them. If you do not like snakes, you can skip this next room because it is the reptile room.
This is a garter snake. Garter snakes feed on slugs, insects, and frogs. For those critters, the garter snake is a killer. But for us, it is harmless. A garter snake could bite you, but its bite would not make you sick.
This is a rattler. He is a desert dweller that hunts for rats and rabbits. He has a pattern on his scales that helps him blend in and hide in the desert sands. When the rattler is hidden, it is hard for rats and rabbits to see him.
A rattler is not harmless like a garter snake. If you ever see this snake hissing and coiling up, you better stand back and let it be. The rattler has sharp fangs, and a bite from a rattler could kill you. But we are safe here in the reptile room. There is a sheet of glass keeping us safe from the snakes.
Termites
What do you kids like to have for lunch? Hot dogs? Chicken nuggets? What if I gave you a lump of wood, or a big tree stump, for lunch? Would you like that? Well, if you were a termite, you would like it. Termites are insects that like to munch on wood.
See this big spike sticking up from the ground? It looks sort of like a rock, but it is a termite mound. If you could look inside, you would see lots of termites.
If you would like to see what termites look like, take a peek in this box. As you can see, termites look a lot like ants. They have six legs like ants. A termite mound has a queen who makes eggs, just like in an anthill. Here you can see that the termite queen is much bigger than the rest of the termites.
Would a termite munch on your home? It would if your home is made of wood. The termites from a big mound could have your living room for lunch and your bedroom for dinner!
River Otters
Do you like to run and jump? Do you like to chase your pals? Do you like to splash in the pool in the summer? Do you like to slide down hills in the winter?
Well, if you like to do those things, you would make a good otter! You can see three of our river otters up on the rocks: Alex, Allen, and Agnes. That’s Alex up on top of Allen. The last one is Agnes.
Otters have short, strong legs with webbed paws and sharp claws. The webbing helps the otters swim fast and get their food. River otters hunt for fish, frogs, and crabs. When it is time for bed, the river otters scamper to their den. They have nests on land that are lined with grass, moss, and bark.
Cranes and Spoonbills
Here you can see two sandhill cranes. A sandhill crane has long legs, a dark, pointed bill, and a red spot next to its bill. Sandhill cranes are found in wetlands. They like to hunt for frogs, snakes, and insects.
Those are sandhill cranes, too. In fact, that’s a mom and a dad with their chicks. When sandhill cranes mate, they tilt their bills up and make hooting sounds. Then the mom and dad make a nest. The mom sits on the eggs for 4 weeks until the chicks are born.
That’s a spoonbill. He has that name because his bill is shaped like a spoon. The spoonbill wades in pools to get his food. He swings his bill back and forth. If he feels an insect swimming inside his bill, he snaps it shut.
When spoonbills mate, they make a nest. When the chicks are born, they can’t see. The mom and dad have to care for them until they can see.
The Ostrich
This is an ostrich. He is a big one. He tips the scales at close to two hundred pounds. An ostrich has wings that it can flap, but it can’t get off the ground. Still, an ostrich can run fast on land. It can run as fast as a car!
If it gets mad, an ostrich can kick you. My pal Fred, here at the zoo, got kicked by an ostrich. The ostrich broke Fred’s leg in three spots! Ouch!
Deer
Look there! Do you see the two deer in the woods? The one who is looking at us is named Hope. Hope was not born in this zoo. I found her by my home one morning after a storm. A tree fell on her and broke her leg. She could not stand up.
I drove her here and the vet fixed up her leg. We named her Hope and found a spot for her in the zoo. Today her leg is fine, and she is as strong as ever.
The Petting Zoo
Well, kids, the last thing that you all get to see is the petting zoo. You can’t pet the ostrich, the otters, or the spoonbills. And it would not be wise to pet the panther or the bobcat! But in this part of the zoo, you can pet all of the critters.
This rabbit’s name is Hoss. He likes it when you rub his neck. Here are two chickens. They like it when you toss them seed corn. You can pet the chickens, too. But sometimes they get scared. It’s best if you do not run up to them, because running scares them.
There’s Pam, our pet pig. You can pet her, too. Pam likes to be petted.
Well, kids, that’s it for me. I hope you had a good time at the zoo today. I had fun pointing out some of the critters that I like best. I hope some of you can visit with your moms and dads. There is so much to see here at the Green Fern Zoo. You could visit us five times and still see lots of cool things!
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WEEK TWENTY-FIVE PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 56) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-E” SOUND … continued:
Letters “EE” … continued:
Almost every parent weens their toddler from sucking their thumb.
Mom usually weeps when watching tragic romance movies.
This paper cut won’t bleed for long.
Commander, we’re registering an unusual bleep on the ship’s radar.
What breed of dog did you get?
In Sunday school today we learned about the Apostles’ Creed.
Because of the rainstorm, the creek will soon rise and flow over its banks.
I’m going to creep up behind him and yell, “BOO!”
I don’t think that poor dweeb will ever get chosen to be on an athletic team.
In this part of the story, the boy flees his kidnapper.
A quarter of their naval fleet was involved in the war games.
The prisoner was freed when they found out that he had a lock-tight alibi.
The boss has high confidence in us, and he frees us to make our own decisions.
Ebenezer Scrooge led a life ruled by his own greed.
The play that we’re reading in English class is a Greek tragedy.
Her kitchen is cozy, with lots of green plants.
Let’s be ready at the front door to greet Granny.
The boxer defaulted his match, because he kneed his opponent in the stomach.
When you approach the King, make sure that you kneel before him.
Deb got down on her knees and said, “Mom, please let me go to Nancy’s party.”
The Queen will preen herself in her most elegant ceremonial robe.
I found out that I have a terrible aim and am not good at skeet shooting.
The mink that’s in the zoo has a very sleek coat of fur.
I had a great night’s sleep, except for one weird dream.
The sleet on the ground is going to make driving hazardous.
Honey, please make sure that you drive within the speed limit.
The cowboy mounted his trusty steed.
Superman is called the Man of Steel.
That hill is way too steep for me to be able to climb.
My chore for today is to sweep the basement floor.
My sweet tooth really activates when I walk into an ice cream parlor.
That darned dog from up the street has treed our cat again.
The trees swayed wildly in the blustery winds.
The professor showed up wearing a handsome tweed suit.
A “tween” is a ten to twelve year old, too old to be a “child,” and too young to be a teenager.
We heard the new baby bird tweet from its nest.
The front left wheel on my wagon is off-kilter.
Letters “EE” that “roll into” the “ER” sound:
The guy at the end of the bar ordered a beer.
Mom, Dad, there’s a deer in our back yard!
The politician made a nasty jeer at his rival.
The leer on the criminal’s face suggested that he was plotting something big.
The scientist was waiting for a peer review on his latest article.
I had to veer to the right to avoid the blown-out tire on the interstate.
I can’t have even two beers, because I get too giddy.
Farmer Jones is very pleased with his new John Deere tractor.
During his speech, there were lots of angry jeers from the crowd.
My peers at work all get along very well.
In this scene in the movie, the pilot adeptly veers away from a huge flock of birds.
In social studies today, Mrs. Greer talked about when women in the U.S. achieved the right to vote.
The arrogant musician would sneer at any other player who he thought to be an inferior performer.
Mrs. Speer, my piano teacher, has challenged me to play this Mozart piano sonata.
Mr. Steer is going to give me a summer job with his construction company.
The captain ordered his navigator to steer clear of the distant iceberg.
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WEEK TWENTY-SIX
WEEK TWENTY-SIX READING PASSAGES
Lesson 59 – Dale-Chall Vocab Builder
NEW WORDS: Bible, Finnish, Nickelodeon, apiece, arrange, attend, avenue, awaken, banquet, beggar, begged, beginning, bicycle, biology, blackberry, bleachers, bleed, bobwhite, bride, broadcast, brutally, calendar, campfire, carriage, certainly, chatter, citizen, court, cramps, crossing, crowded, daytime, demonstrate, deposit, despise, digestive, dislike, douse, drowsy, drunk, dwarf, eighteen, engineer, errand, everyday, exam, expression, exquisite, fasten, firearm, firecracker, flowery, fountain, freedom, fudge, garage, gaslight, geography, gleam, gooseberry, grandchild, graveyard, groom, hairpin, handwriting, happiness, harp, hatch, hell, helmet, homesick, honeymoon, housework, impossible, intend, interested, jockey, junior, lard, laundered, lightness, limp, locomotive, manager, marriage, mathematical, member, mend, miler, moonlight, muddy, mushroom, nasty, nevermore, ninety, officer, onion, outline, outward, overeat, overnight, painful, painter, pare, paste, pasture, peaches, pension, pill, pitcher, placard, poison, practically, praise, puncture, purchased, quail, radish, rap, recess, rejoice, relieved, repair, review, roadside, sadness, satin, satisfactory, savior’s, scheme, schoolhouse, scorch, seatbelts, select, service, settlement, shave, shears, sherry, slate, sleepover, snuff, spooky, stable, stampede, station, steamer, stepping, stoop, story’s, stranger, suffering, swear, tablet, theorem, thimble, title, toadstool, tomato, towel, trace, transpire, tribulation, unfinished, unfold, unfortunate, unhappy, unpleasant, unsavory, upper, valentine, warn, whipped, windmill, woolen, worst, yolk
Let’s have the banquet elsewhere.
No need to worry.
The dog’s hind leg is broken.
Check out the lightness of this metal.
We can give away our baby carriage.
You should demonstrate more self-control.
Did the sheep hide the shears?
Work was unpleasant today.
My hairpin fell out.
Have you read the whole Bible?
Trace this on the paper.
I love rap music.
We can arrange for that to transpire.
Put the photo in this frame.
She’s got a desire to be famous.
Don’t swear at me!
Douse the campfire.
That was the worst Nickelodeon show ever!
Park in the garage.
Turn the motor off.
That’s a nasty skin puncture!
That horse is a strong miler.
I can’t attend that meeting.
I’d warn him about that.
I forgot to take my pill.
That unfortunate beggar is homeless.
A thief stole her purse.
Her outward expression looks calm.
I love to eat fudge!
There’s a radish in my salad.
Let’s hire a painter.
Their marriage is rocky.
I’ll pare the onion.
Your handkerchief is in the washer.
What a flowery dress!
That biology exam was impossible.
Drop your firearm!
Make the pie crust with lard.
My grade is “satisfactory” in math.
Their family faced much sadness.
I practically begged for more cake.
Meet the new club member.
That’s an exquisite outfit.
They’re ten cents apiece.
I’m suffering from digestive cramps.
That jockey won the Derby.
They danced by moonlight.
Don’t eat that toadstool!
Please mend this woolen sock.
He should wear his bicycle helmet!
I don’t know that stranger.
She purchased two cans of chicken stock.
I hate when my teeth chatter.
Snuff out the candle.
Paste up this placard.
Is that the “bluebird of happiness?”
I’m certainly relieved that tribulation is past us.
Fill this water pitcher.
Take notes on this tablet.
We rejoice the Savior’s birth.
Write an outline for your story.
Pass the gooseberry jam.
Let’s eat at that roadside diner.
You have a gracious home.
What’s the story’s title?
Awaken me when it’s daytime.
She’s a Finnish citizen.
Will he stoop to a new low?
I see the gleam of a gaslight.
I’m grateful for that gift.
I despise a runny egg yolk.
Unfold the clothes that have been laundered.
I’m willing to do that.
Stay on the stepping stones.
How can I ever repay you?
He’s about to hatch an unsavory scheme.
I intend to write a book.
I’m interested in his mathematical theorem.
Satin sheets are soft.
The railway workers have a pension.
She’s brutally unhappy.
Let’s have an overnight sleepover.
You’ll get fat if you overeat.
Let’s hope the herd doesn’t stampede.
Fasten your seatbelts.
He was a locomotive engineer.
A bobwhite is a type of quail.
That’s a Dutch windmill.
The cows are in the pasture.
They have a slate roof.
They went down the river on a steamer.
Will you be my valentine?
That’s just an everyday mutt.
Your shoes are muddy.
It’s loud at a lumber mill.
Do you believe in heaven and hell?
That used to be a one-room schoolhouse.
Gramps turned ninety.
What’ll it cost to service my car?
Their geography doesn’t support much farming.
Let’s listen to the live broadcast.
The U.S. got its freedom from King George.
They went west to start a settlement.
Where’s the water fountain?
Nevermore will I trust that guy.
Take me to the train station.
We sat in the upper bleachers.
Light the candle.
Let’s shop on Fifth Avenue.
Those two are drunk on love.
Drop your weapon!
Let’s have a pillow fight.
Let’s move onward and upward.
I love peaches and cream.
Please run an errand for me.
I need to review my notes.
Yum, blackberry pie!
Repair the leak in the sink.
It’s chilly outside!
The tennis court is wet.
I got homesick at camp.
She’s our first grandchild!
A graveyard can be spooky.
I can’t read his bad handwriting.
He was born in January.
That firecracker was a dud.
He’s able to limp off the field.
The horse is in its stable.
Pour me a thimble-full of sherry.
I love whipped cream.
I dislike beets!
Don’t step on that beehive!
Don’t you love harp music?
We’ll have recess in the gym.
My dad’s a bank manager.
It feels good to receive praise.
Mom’s doing housework.
The bride and groom look so happy.
Kids, don’t get into mischief!
Hand me a paper towel.
Officer Jones gave me a ticket.
Jot this note on the calendar.
I’m beginning to lose weight.
How’re ya’ doing, Junior?
I’m going to shave off my beard.
Which donut will you select?
This bus is crowded.
That mushroom would poison you!
Take a nap if you’re drowsy.
I’ll deposit this check at the bank.
We have an unfinished basement.
You can vote when you’re eighteen.
Take care when you’re crossing the street.
I’ve got a nose-bleed.
I love tomato soup.
Where’d you go on your honeymoon?
That shot was painful.
Which dwarf did Snow White like the most?
This heat wave will scorch our lawn.
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Lesson 60 – Poems And Rhymes
NEW WORDS: Timothy, Tompkins, ashore, basked, boasted, boating, burrowed, busily, buzzed, charmingly, chatterer, croaked, cuckoo, dessert, dived, estate, flaw, froggies, grumble, hamsters, hastened, heath, hummed, ketchup, lighthouse, lighting, lizards, loveliest, meddle, mossy, muskrat, napkin, noted, prettiest, ratties, ribbons, rook, rooks, sakes, scrubbed, spiders, sweetly, thirsty, toadie, trodden, tuft, waggled
The Cuckoo And The Donkey
The cuckoo and the donkey,
Each boasted one fine day,
That he could sing the sweetest song,
To greet the lovely May.
Said Cuckoo, “I sing sweetly!”
And straight he did begin.
“But I can still sing better!”
The donkey, he joined in!
Their song was sweet and lovely,
And quite without a flaw.
For those two sang together,
“Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Hee-Haw!”
Thunder And Lightning
I like the rain! I like the rain!
It makes the world so clean!
The thirsty flowers, they drink it up.
I’ve watched them, and I’ve seen!
I like the thunder, too. I do!
It makes so big a noise!
“Rumble! Grumble! Bang!” it goes.
It makes more noise than boys!
And how I like the lightning flash!
Oh my, is that a sight!
To see a flash of lighting, “BING!”
Light all the world by night!
Poem By Olive Beaupre Miller
The Rooks
(Note – A “rook” means this: “A black, European crow. It’s noted for being quite a chatterer!” A “rook” is also a board piece in the game of chess. It can also be called the “castle.”)
The rooks are building on the trees.
They build there every spring.
“Caw, caw,” is all they say,
For none of them can sing.
They’re up before the break of day,
And up till late at night.
For they must labor busily,
As long as it is light.
And many a crooked stick they bring.
And many a slender twig.
And many a tuft of moss, until,
Their nests are round and big.
“Caw, caw.” Oh, what a noise,
They make in rainy weather!
Good children always speak by turns,
But rooks all talk together.
Poem By Jane Euphemia Browne
I’d Like To Be A Lighthouse
I’d like to be a lighthouse,
All scrubbed and painted white.
I’d like to be a lighthouse,
And stay awake all night.
To keep my eye on everything,
That sails my patch of sea.
I’d like to be a lighthouse,
With the ships all watching me.
Poem By Rachel Field
Jenny Wren
As little Jenny Wren,
Was sitting by her shed,
She waggled with her tail,
And nodded with her head.
She waggled with her tail,
And nodded with her head,
As little Jenny Wren,
Was sitting by the shed.
The Little Doll
I once had a sweet little doll, dears,
The prettiest doll in the world.
Her cheeks were so red and so white, dears.
And her hair was so charmingly curled.
But I lost my poor little doll, dears,
As I played in the heath one day.
And I cried for her more than a week, dears.
But I never could find where she lay.
I found my poor little doll, dears,
As I played in the heath one day.
Folks say she is terrible changed, dears,
For her paint is all washed away.
And her arm trodden off by the cows, dears.
And her hair not the least bit curled.
Yet for old sakes‘ sake she is still, dears,
The prettiest doll in the world.
Poem By Charles Kingsley
Rain
The rain is raining all around.
It falls on field and tree.
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
The Bunch Of Blue Ribbons
Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Johnny’s so long at the fair.
He promised he’d buy me a bunch of blue ribbons.
He promised he’d buy me a bunch of blue ribbons.
He promised he’d buy me a bunch of blue ribbons.
To tie up my bonny brown hair.
Over In The Meadow
Over in the meadow,
In the sand, in the sun,
Lived an old mother-toad,
And her little toadie one.
“Wink,” said the mother.
“I wink,” said the one.
So she winked and she blinked,
In the sand, in the sun.
Over in the meadow,
Where the stream runs blue,
Lived an old mother-fish
And her little fishes two.
“Swim,” said the mother.
“We swim,” said the two.
So they swam and they leaped,
Where the stream runs blue.
Over in the meadow,
In a hole in a tree,
Lived an old mother-bluebird,
And her little birdies three.
“Sing,” said the mother.
“We sing,” said the three.
So they sang and were glad,
In the hole in the tree.
Over in the meadow,
In the reeds on the shore,
Lived a mother-muskrat,
And her little ratties four.
“Dive,” said the mother.
“We dive,” said the four.
So they dived and they burrowed,
In the reeds on the shore.
Over in the meadow,
In a snug bee-hive.
Lived a mother honey-bee,
And her little bees five.
“Buzz,” said the mother.
“We buzz,” said the five.
So they buzzed and they hummed,
In the snug bee-hive.
Over in the meadow,
In a nest built of sticks,
Lived a black mother-crow
And her little crows six.
“Caw,” said the mother.
“We caw,” said the six.
So they cawed and they called
In their nest built of sticks.
Over in the meadow,
Where the grass is so even,
Lived a gay mother-cricket
And her little crickets seven.
“Chirp,” said the mother.
“We chirp,” said the seven.
So they chirped cheery notes
In the grass soft and even.
Over in the meadow,
By the old mossy gate,
Lived a brown mother-lizard
And her little lizards eight.
“Bask,” said the mother.
“We bask,” said the eight.
So they basked in the sun
On the old mossy gate.
Over in the meadow,
Where the quiet pools shine,
Lived a green mother-frog
And her little froggies nine.
“Croak,” said the mother,
“We croak,” said the nine.
So they croaked and they splashed
Where the quiet pools shine.
Over in the meadow,
In a sly little den,
Lived a gray mother-spider
And her little spiders ten.
“Spin,” said the mother,
“We spin,” said the ten.
So they spun lace webs
In their sly little den.
Poem By Olive A. Wadsworth
The Meal
Timothy Tompkins had turnips and tea.
The turnips were tiny.
He ate at least three.
And then, for dessert,
He had onions and ice.
He liked that so much,
That he ordered it twice.
He had two cups of ketchup,
A prune, and a pickle.
“Delicious,” said Timothy.
“Well worth a nickel.”
He folded his napkin,
And hastened to add,
“It’s one of the loveliest breakfasts I’ve had.”
Poem By Karla Kuskin
Little Tom Tucker
Little Tom Tucker,
Sings for his supper.
What shall he eat?
White bread and butter.
How will he cut it,
Without even a knife?
How will he be married,
Without even a wife?
Where Go the Boats?
Dark brown is the river.
Golden is the sand.
It flows along forever,
With trees on either hand.
Green leaves a-floating.
Castles of the foam,
Boats of mine a-boating,
Where will all come home?
On goes the river,
And out past the mill.
Away down the valley,
Away down the hill.
Away down the river,
A hundred miles or more,
Other little children,
Shall bring my boats ashore.
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
A Wise Old Owl
A wise old owl sat on an oak.
The more he saw, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?
Poem By Edward Hersey Richards
Hamsters
Hamsters are the nicest things,
That anyone could own.
I like them even better than
Some dogs that I have known.
Their fur is soft, their faces nice.
They’re small when they are grown.
And they sit inside your pocket,
When you are all alone.
Poem By Marci Ridlon
Looking Forward
When I am grown to man’s estate,
I shall be very proud and great.
And tell the other girls and boys,
Not to meddle with my toys.
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
Whistle
“Whistle, daughter, whistle.
Whistle, daughter dear.”
“I cannot whistle, mommy.
I cannot whistle clear.”
“Whistle, daughter, whistle.
Whistle for a pound.”
“I cannot whistle, mommy.
I cannot make a sound.”
*********
Lesson 61 – Short / Long (Vowel) Reflex-Builder
NEW WORDS: Abe’s, Aggie, Bates, Cary, Coney, Connie, Danes, Danish, Finn, Hattie, Heidi, Hugo, Janine, Katrina, Maddie, Pate, Patrick, Rhodes, Rog, Rogers, Romans, Rome, Sirius, Whitman, abs, ag, app, arg, atom, atomic, barge, beware, boardwalk, bon, bons, cape, caper, chef, club’s, cod, code, con, despite, dune, fate, file, fink, freaks, granola, kale, knight, locate, mate, meteor, meter, moped, nape, noodles, pane, paninis, pills, poet, ripen, robe, rogue, sergeant’s, shark, sire, smokes, sobe, squad, wage, wary, werewolf, whine
Don’t mope. Get off your moped. Bring that mop!
That’s my pal. He’s holding a big pail. He looks pale.
I met Jane, Jan, and Janine.
Wow! Al ate it all.
Will this train fare get me far?
I hear her over here.
Vic works with the Vice Squad.
He eats cod while working on his computer code.
Tim is never on time.
The Sergeant’s got on a baseball cap and a cape. And he’s starting on a new caper.
Mr. Bates has bats in his attic.
Dad grew up in Dade County.
He can hit the ball to a great height.
I did not write that note.
Skinny Bonny is bony. That’s despite eating lots of bon–bons.
Pip smokes a piping hot pipe.
I’d be a rat-fink to rate that show as “good” to you.
That poet wrote an odd ode.
Maddie! That made me mad.
Kit is there with his kitten. He likes to fly his kite.
Don’t “but” me. Get your butt climbing up that butte!
Connie likes to eat an ice cream cone on the boardwalk on Coney Island. And she looks for con men.
I hope that bunny can still hop.
You’d look cute without that bad hair cut.
Hugo! Give me a huge hug.
She was in pain. So, she threw a pan of paninis through the window pane.
It would wear me out, and make me weary, if I were a werewolf.
Phil! Please fill the file cabinet with these papers.
Whit turned white as a sheet. He saw the ghost of Mrs. Whitman!
Sam looks just the same.
This hotel is too hot.
Rod rode the horse fast down Rhodes Road.
That man on Main Street has hair like many a lion’s mane.
I was taking a nap. My cat licked the nape of my neck.
Abe’s abs look like a six-pack.
Sire! I’m your serious new knight. Sir Sirius.
Cary! I care well for my carrot-colored car.
Ben! How have you been?
I ate at a new place. It’s called the Atomic Atom.
I bade the bad man, “Good-bye!”
Dan’s parents are Danes. And they love their dandy daily coffee and Danish.
Hattie! I hate this hat.
Sit down. I’ll tell you about the new work site.
Aggie entered Ag School at a young age.
It’s your lucky fate to not be fat.
Kate, Kat, and Katrina! I can’t locate my cat.
How many teeth can a baby teethe at once?
A large pirate on a barge yelled, “Arg!”
Don came down from the sand dune. He said, “I’m done with my hike.”
Bea! How would you be if you were a beaver who’d been stung by a bee?
The poor woman takes piles of pills each day.
Rom likes to roam around Rome. It’s because he likes Romans.
An ape can’t develop a computer app!
Heidi hid there once. But she doesn’t know where to hide next, to be well-hidden.
The dog will bite on this bitter bone for a little bit.
Don’t whine. I think this wine will win the ribbon at the show.
Beware! I’m wary that they might declare war on us.
You can have this candy cane.
Dom is amazed at the beauty of this church dome.
Holly yelled from a fox-hole. “Holy smoke!”
I met her at a parking meter. It was at the Meteor Club’s swim meet.
Patrick Pate has a sister named Pat. She freaks out when she hears a patter on the roof.
Rip the skin off of this ripe banana. Soon, it will over-ripen.
Chef Finn! Some shark fin soup is fine to start with.
See that sweet dog by the red wagon? He’d rather wag his tail than wage war with his neighbors.
I saw her sob into her sobe noodles.
We were playing chess on the mat. I said “check-mate” to Matt.
Pete got a new pet.
Stu fixes a great beef stew.
My Gran eats whole grain bread and granola.
Cal got a phone call while eating his kale.
Sid! Whose side are you on?
Wad that up! Do it before you wade over to the boat.
Rog Rogers is a rogue.
Put these cloths next to your clothes.
Sally! Sal found a good sale on sea salt.
Rob ran into a robber. He had gone outside in his bath robe to feed the robin.
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WEEK TWENTY-SIX PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 56) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-E” SOUND … continued:
Letters “EA”:
Kids, we’re going to eat supper at 6:00 PM.
I ate every single pea on my plate.
I love to sail out on the deep blue sea.
Try a cup of this tasty hibiscus tea.
The interviewer did a nice job putting me at ease.
A hurricane is heading toward the east coast of the U.S.
Our dog eats virtually anything that you put in front of him.
There’s a wasps’ nest hanging from the eave just above your head.
I appear to have lost more than one bead from my favorite necklace.
Wow, that bird certainly has a long beak.
A beam of light shone through the clouds.
Mom’s fixing a bean soup with ground lamb in it.
We told our drummer that he needed to speed up the beat on this song.
We got a good deal on some sale items at the clothing store.
My friend Dean has finally finished sending in his college applications.
They’ve just named a new dean for student affairs.
It was quite a feat when she landed a perfect 10.0 score on her dive.
I think that boo-boo will heal pretty quickly.
Young man, you are in a heap of trouble!
Today is a scorcher, and the heat index is going to be over a hundred degrees.
Jean is excited to have a new baby sister.
Allow me to lead you to the area of the department store that you’re looking for.
Wow, it looks like you raked up every single leaf in the front yard!
It’s an emergency if you start to have a leak in your car’s gas tank.
Lean over and see if you can touch your toes.
This new product represents a leap forward in technology.
The pirate said to the innkeeper, “Give me a pint of your best mead.”
We’ve got enough leftovers to make this another meal.
I’m a vegan, so I don’t eat meat.
I’m not exactly sure what you mean.
They set out to fish at the neap tide.
Good job; for once, your room actually looks neat!
The rising sun will hit that mountain peak in about five minutes.
I love to hear the bells peal from the church tower.
We’re having green peas as our vegetable for dinner.
Let’s try peat moss as our mulch for the bushes this spring.
Did you read about the UFO that was seen yesterday?
Relax, kiddo, monsters under the bed are not real.
We need another ream of paper for the copying machine.
Do you know the saying, “You shall reap what you sow?”
Seal this envelope and put it into the mailbox.
I’ll sew these together so that you’ll barely even see the seam.
That old man spent most of his life sailing the high seas.
Please take a seat, and the doctor will be with you shortly.
I think that this teak chest of drawers is gorgeous furniture.
Do you think that this bluish color is closer to teal or turquoise?
Mom, Dad, I made the softball team!
We have a number of flavored teas for you to choose from.
I ordered veal marsala for my entree at the restaurant.
*********
*********
WEEK TWENTY-SEVEN
WEEK TWENTY-SEVEN READING PASSAGES
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Lesson 62 – Mount Rushmore Presidents
NEW WORDS: Abraham, Abraham’s, Italian, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lincolns, Martha, Monticello, Potomac, Roosevelt, Rushmore, Theodore, Thomas, Thomas’s, Vernon, acquired, alley, appointed, approved, battled, borrowed, colonists, cowboy, critical, dauntless, declaration, defeated, document, elect, engrave, escarpment, esteemed, exercised, explored, eyeglasses, farmworker, flags, fragments, handwritten, hatchet, invent, invented, inventor, invested, measures, monarch, nation’s, nearsighted, oval, pennies, ranches, resided, rules, sixteenth, sizable, soldier, splitter, studied, surveyor, titled, tutor
Chapter One: Four Great Presidents
The president is the leader of the United States. Four of our greatest presidents are honored at Mount Rushmore. That’s in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It’s a huge mountainside. Their faces have been carved in stone there. Who are these four men? George Washington. Thomas Jefferson. Theodore Roosevelt. Abraham Lincoln.
It took over fourteen years to engrave their faces into the rock. Workers blasted huge fragments of rock off the escarpment. They did that to make four head shapes. The men who carved the stone were dauntless. They had to hang from ropes, high above the ground. They used special tools. They carved the eyes, noses, and mouths. The noses on the faces are taller than a person!
How does one get to be president? In the U.S., the people elect, or choose, the president. In some countries, people don’t get to choose their own leader. You’ve heard about kings and queens. How do you become a “monarch?” Usually, your mom or dad was a king or queen. But it’s not like that in America. The people of the U.S. have the right to vote for you.
What kind of person should the president be? Most people say this. He or she should be honest, smart, fair, and brave. Who can become president? Can a farmer become president? Yes! George Washington was once a farmer. Can an inventor become president? Yes! Thomas Jefferson was an inventor. How about a store clerk? Yes! Abraham Lincoln worked in a store when he was young. And how about a cowboy? Yes! Theodore Roosevelt once worked as a cowboy.
The president of the U.S. works in our nation’s capital. That’s Washington, D.C. He or she lives and works in a sizable building. That’s the White House. You may have seen it on T.V. You may have seen it in magazines or newspapers. It’s very large, with many rooms.
The president helps to run the country. The president works from the “Oval Office.” That room is shaped like an egg. The White House has its own bowling alley. And it has a movie theater. When presidents travel, they can take a helicopter. They take off right from the lawn of the White House!
Chapter Two: George Washington
There’s a story about George Washington as a young boy. We know that the story isn’t true. But it’s a good one to tell, anyway.
It goes like this. George was six years old. He was given a hatchet. George cut down his father’s favorite cherry tree. His father was angry, of course. But George said, “I cannot tell a lie. I cut down the tree.” His father was happy that his son was an honest boy.
George grew up. He became a surveyor. That’s a person who measures big pieces of land. You do that in order to make maps. George loved this job. It’s because he could go off exploring. George explored Virginia. He acquired land there.
George married a lady named Martha. They lived in Virginia. They lived on a large farm named Mount Vernon. That’s on the Potomac River, close to Washington, D.C.
George was appointed to be the leader of the American army. The American army battled the British army.
George was an esteemed leader. The American army defeated the British. Thus, the United States became a free nation.
The United States needed its first president. The people chose George. They knew that he was an honest man, a hard worker, and a good soldier.
Because George Washington was our first president, he has been titled the “Father of Our Country.”
Chapter Three: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia. That was many years before the U.S. became a country. Thomas had six sisters and three brothers. The family resided on a large farm. Thomas didn’t go to school. A tutor, or teacher, came to his house, and they read together. Many people today visit Thomas’s childhood home.
Thomas was seventeen years old. He went to the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He was a hardworking student. He learned many languages. These included Italian, Spanish, and French. His favorite subject was math. Thomas became a lawyer after his college years.
Thomas planned and built a family home in Virginia named Monticello. The word “Monticello” means “little mountain” in Italian. Thomas lived at Monticello with his wife, Martha, and their children.
Today, many people visit Monticello to learn about Thomas’s life. Thomas liked to invent things. He invented a machine that could make two copies of a handwritten letter.
Remember when lots of colonists were mad at King George III of England? They wanted to be freed from British rule. Thomas wrote the Declaration of Independence. This was a very important document. It was sent to the British king, George III. It explained why Americans were going to fight England for their freedom.
The Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776. That was our very first Independence Day. That’s why we call the Fourth of July holiday our nation’s birthday. American flags, fireworks, and parades all help us to celebrate and honor our country.
Years later, Jefferson became the third president of the U.S.
Chapter Four: Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is the third Mount Rushmore president. He was born in Kentucky in a small house made of logs. This log cabin had only one room, one window, and a dirt floor. Abraham’s father made him a bed from logs and dried corn leaves.
Later, Abraham lived in Indiana. There were very few stores where the Lincolns lived. The family had to grow their own food. They had to make almost everything they needed. They chopped down trees for firewood. They made their tables, chairs, and spoons out of wood.
Abraham was often called Abe. He learned how to read and write. He made a pen from a turkey feather. He used berry juice for ink. Abe had few books of his own. But his family had a Bible. Abe read it over and over. He taught himself many things by reading.
Once, Abe borrowed a book from a neighbor. At home, he stored it between the logs of the cabin near his bed. But water came through the logs. That soaked the book. Abe was sad. He went to his neighbor and told him what had happened. The neighbor asked Abe to do some chores for him. Then he gave the book to Abe. The book was “The Life Of George Washington.”
As a young man, Abe lived in Illinois. He was strong and tall. He worked many different jobs. Abe worked as a log splitter, and as a farmworker. He became a clerk in a store. Once, he walked a long way to give back a few pennies to someone who had paid too much. He became known as “Honest Abe.”
Abe really wanted to be a lawyer. He studied hard to become one. He worked for the Illinois government and helped to write state laws.
Abe did a very good job in the government of Illinois. His friends suggested that he run for president. Abraham Lincoln became the sixteenth president. That was during a difficult time in our history. That was when southern states fought northern states in what we call “the Civil War.”
Chapter Five: Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt was sick a lot when he was a boy. So, Teddy hardly ever went to school. Instead, teachers came to his home to teach him. That sounds pretty lonely, doesn’t it? However, Teddy said that he was a very happy child.
When Teddy was fourteen years old, he received his first gun. He went hunting with his friends. But he could not see things that were far away. He was nearsighted. Teddy needed eyeglasses. Many years later, he wrote about his eyesight. He’d had no idea how beautiful the world was until after he got his glasses.
Teddy exercised and grew up to become a strong man who loved being outdoors. He started working in the government in New York. A few years later, he invested in two ranches out west. He wore cowboy clothes and rode horses to round up his cattle. He also hunted bison.
Teddy went back to New York City. He became the head of their police force. Then Spain and the U.S. went to war against each other. Teddy Roosevelt joined the army. He was the leader of a group of soldiers called the “Rough Riders.”
Teddy Roosevelt came to see how critical the land is to all living things. Once he took a trip into the mountains. There he saw forests filled with plants and animals. He worried that someday they would all be gone.
Teddy Roosevelt became the twenty-sixth president. He made new rules for forest areas in America. On this special land, people could not harm trees or animals.
*********
Lesson 63 – Poems And Rhymes
NEW WORDS: Eden, Lawrence, Welshman, ages, approaching, astray, bathe, beauteous, bridges, brink, cleverest, comforter, dismay, dripping, earthen, errors, eternity, expecting, faintly, faithful, flown, frosted, ghosts, green’s, headlong, horsey, hosts, jumpity, knot, laughter, moments, nakedness, nigh, overtops, pepper, plight, plumed, possibly, princes, river’s, ruddy, russet, scanty, seventeenth, shivering, situation, taffy, taffy’s, tartine, thrushes, thum, trudged, twill, virtue, wandered, wintry
Grasshopper Green
Grasshopper green,
Too quick to be seen,
Jump like a Mexican jumpity bean!
Grasshopper high,
Grasshopper low,
Over my basket of berries you go!
Grasshopper low,
Grasshopper high,
Watch it, or you will end up in a pie!
Poem By Nancy Dingman Watson
The Robin
The north wind does blow.
And we shall have snow.
And what will the poor robin do then?
Poor thing!
He’ll sit in a barn,
And keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing.
Poor thing!
The Rainbow
Boats sail on the rivers,
And ships sail on the seas.
But clouds that sail across the sky,
Are prettier than these.
There are bridges on the rivers,
As pretty as you please.
But the rainbow that bridges heaven,
And overtops the trees,
And builds a road from Earth to sky,
Is far prettier than these.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
Hi-Ho Horsey!
Hop, my horsey, leap and spring,
And a little song I’ll sing.
Over stick and stone you go,
Never tired and never slow.
Hop, hop! Hop, hop!
Gallop-a-trot! Hop, hop!
See how green’s the meadow grass.
Flowers are springing as we pass.
Birds are singing, “Oh, Hi-Ho!”
All along the way we go.
Hop, hop! Hop, hop!
Gallop-a-trot! Hop, hop!
There’s our house now through the trees.
Hurry horsey, if you please.
Mother’s waiting, mother dear!
Whoa, my horsey. Now stop here!
Hop, hop! Hop, hop!
Gallop-a-trot! Hop, hop!
Raindrops
How brave a ladybug must be!
Each drop of rain as big as she.
Can you imagine what YOU’D do,
If raindrops fell as big as you?
Poem By Aileen Fisher
A Sneeze
If you sneeze on Monday,
You sneeze for danger.
Sneeze on a Tuesday,
Kiss a stranger.
Sneeze on a Wednesday,
Sneeze for a letter.
Sneeze on a Thursday,
Something better.
Sneeze on a Friday,
Sneeze for sorrow.
Sneeze on a Saturday,
Joy tomorrow.
Two Little Kittens
Two little kittens, one stormy night, Began to quarrel, and then to fight.
One had a mouse, the other had none. And that’s the way the quarrel had begun.
“I’ll have that mouse,” said the biggest cat. “You’ll have that mouse? We’ll see about that!”
“I will have that mouse,” said the eldest son. “You shan’t have the mouse,” said the little one.
I told you before, ’twas a stormy night, When these two little kittens, began to fight.
The old woman seized her sweeping broom, And swept the two kittens right out of the room.
The ground was covered with frost and snow, And the two little kittens had nowhere to go.
So they laid them down on the mat at the door, While the old woman finished sweeping the floor.
Then they crept in, as quiet as mice, All wet with the snow, and cold as ice,
For they found it was better, that stormy night, To lie down and sleep than to quarrel and fight.
The Sheep
“Lazy sheep, pray tell me why,
In the pleasant fields you lie,
Eating grass, and daisies white,
From the morning till the night?
Everything can something do,
But what kind of use are you?”
“Nay, my little master, nay,
Do not judge me so, I pray.
Don’t you see the wool that grows,
On my back, to make you clothes?
Cold, and very cold, you’d be,
If you had not wool from me.
True, it seems a pleasant thing,
To nip the daisies in the spring.
But many chilly nights I pass,
On the cold and dewy grass.
Or pick a scanty dinner, where,
All the field is brown and bare.
Then the farmer comes at last,
When the merry spring is past,
And cuts my woolly coat away,
To warm you in the winter’s day.
Little master, this is why,
In the pleasant fields I lie.”
Poem By Ann and Jane Taylor
Taffy
Taffy was a Welshman.
Taffy was a thief.
Taffy came to my house,
And stole a piece of beef.
I went to Taffy’s house.
Taffy was not home,
Taffy came to my house,
And stole a cooking-bone.
I went to Taffy’s house.
Taffy was not in.
Taffy came to my house,
And stole a silver pin.
I went to Taffy’s house.
Taffy was in bed.
I took the cooking-bone,
And flung it at his head!
Tartine
There was an old dame called Tartine,
Had a house made of butter and cream.
Its walls were of flour, it is said,
And its floors were of gingerbread!
Her bed she did make,
Of white frosted cake.
And her pillow at night,
Was a biscuit so light!
Ladybug, Ladybug
Ladybug, ladybug,
Fly away home.
Your house is on fire,
And your children are gone.
My Teddy Bear
A Teddy bear is a faithful friend.
You can pick him up at either end.
His fur is the color of breakfast toast,
And he’s always there when you need him most.
Poem By Marchette Chute
Bee! I’m Expecting You!
Bee! I’m expecting you!
Was saying yesterday,
To Somebody you know,
That you were due.
The Frogs got Home last Week,
Are settled, and at work.
Birds, mostly back,
The Clover warm and thick.
You’ll get my letter by
The seventeenth. Reply,
Or better, be with me.
Yours, Fly.
Poem By Emily Dickinson
Little Things
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean,
And the beauteous land.
And the little moments,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages,
Of eternity.
So our little errors,
Lead the soul away,
From the paths of virtue,
Into sin to stray.
Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Make our Earth an Eden,
Like the heaven above.
Poem By Julia A. Carney
Auntie
“Auntie, where are you going,
And what do you carry, please?”
“I carry ducks and geese and ducks,
And geese and ducks and geese!”
Jungle Journey
Through the jungle an old woman wandered, Her journey was crooked and far.
So, being afraid of the jungle beasts,
She rolled in a large earthen jar.
Cried Thomas, the Tiger, “Where are you
going?”
Cried Lawrence, the leopard, “Where are you from?”
But all that the bouncing jar would say, was,
“Thump, thump-ah! Thump, thump-ah! Thum!”
The Story of Johnny Head-in-the-Air
(Notes: “nigh” means “very close; approaching.” “Plight” means “in a bad situation, possibly even dangerous.”)
As he trudged along to school,
It was always Johnny’s rule,
To be looking at the sky,
And the clouds that floated by.
But what just before him lay,
In his very way,
Johnny never thought about,
So that everyone cried out,
“Look at little Johnny there,
Little Johnny Head-in-Air!”
Running just in Johnny’s way,
Came a little dog one day.
Johnny’s eyes were still astray,
Up on high,
In the sky.
And he never heard them cry,
“Johnny, mind, the dog is nigh!”
Bump!
Dump!
Down they fell, with such a thump,
Dog and Johnny in a lump!
Once, with head as high as ever,
Johnny walked beside the river.
Johnny watched the swallows trying,
Which was cleverest at flying.
Oh! what fun!
Johnny watched the bright round sun,
Going in and coming out,
This was all he thought about.
So he strode on, only think!
To the river’s very brink,
Where the bank was and so, so steep,
And the water very deep.
And the fishes, in a row,
Stared to see him coming so.
One step more! Oh! Sad to tell!
Headlong in, poor Johnny fell.
And the fishes, in dismay,
Wagged their tails and swam away.
There lay Johnny on his face,
With his nice red writing-case.
But, as they were passing by,
Two strong men had heard him cry,
And, with sticks, these two strong men,
Hooked poor Johnny out again.
Oh! you should have seen him shiver,
When they pulled him from the river.
He was in a sorry plight,
Dripping wet, and such a fright!
Wet all over, everywhere,
Clothes, and arms, and face, and hair.
Johnny, he will never forget,
What it is to be so wet.
And the fishes, one, two, three,
Have come back again, you see.
Up they came the moment after,
To enjoy the fun and laughter.
Each popped out his little head,
And, to tease poor Johnny, said,
“Silly little Johnny, look,
You have lost your writing-book!”
Poem By Heinrick Hoffman
Robin Redbreast
Goodbye, goodbye to Summer!
For Summer’s nearly done.
The garden smiling faintly,
Cool breezes in the sun.
Our Thrushes now are silent,
Our Swallows flown away.
But Robin’s here, in coat of brown,
With ruddy breast-knot gay.
Robin, Robin Redbreast,
Oh, Robin dear!
Robin singing sweetly,
In the falling of the year.
Bright yellow, red, and orange,
The leaves come down in hosts.
The trees are Indian Princes,
But soon they’ll turn to Ghosts.
Poem By William Allingham
The leathery pears and apples,
Hang russet on the bough,
It’s Autumn, Autumn, Autumn late,
‘Twill soon be winter now.
Robin, Robin Redbreast,
Oh, Robin dear!
And what will this poor Robin do?
For pinching days are near.
The fireside for the Cricket,
The wheat-sack for the Mouse,
When trembling night-winds whistle,
And moan all ’round the house.
The frosty ways like iron,
The branches plumed with snow.
Alas! in Winter, dead, and dark,
Where can poor Robin go?
Robin, Robin Redbreast,
Oh, Robin dear!
And a crumb of bread for Robin,
His little heart to cheer.
Bed In Summer
In winter, I get up at night,
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see,
The birds still hopping on the tree.
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet
Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
Winter Time
Late lies the wintry sun in bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head.
Blinks but an hour or two, and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.
Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise.
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.
Close by the jolly fire I sit,
To warm my frozen bones a bit,
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore,
The colder countries ’round the door.
When to go out, my nurse doth wrap,
Me in my comforter and cap,
The cold wind burns my face, and blows,
Its frosty pepper up my nose.
Black are my steps on silver sod,
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad.
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
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Lesson 64 – Stories Misc:
Snake On The Loose
NEW WORDS: Cheshire, Elle, Elle’s, Elvis, Gollum, Roo, Rooby, Sean, Sean’s, Smeagol, Spock, accuse, acolyte, aid, assured, astute, attempt, bandaged, barely, blueberry, boxed, brainer, breathed, brightened, c’mon, celery, charity, chime, chortle, coiled, comment, composed, conceal, confirm, cornered, corralled, courageous, credit, crestfallen, crouched, demanded, demeanor, difficulty, disbelief, display, doughty, drama, drawled, elder, entrap, envisioned, eureka, exhaled, fascinating, finders, fired, flinched, flustered, forked, furious, furrowed, furtive, giggled, gonna, goosepimply, grasp, guilt, guilty, hallway, handling, hissed, huffed, injure, inquiry, keepers, kid’s, lashed, latch, latched, leapfrogged, leapt, logic, losers, lunged, mentor, mired, mulled, mummy, namby, nearing, newborn, nimbly, noisome, nonchalant, nudged, obviously, pamby, peeked, pensive, perused, phone’s, piped, placid, pondered, pouted, previously, privacy, proceed, promising, pronto, provided, pulsating, pyramid, queried, recognized, refocused, rejoined, response, revolting, rockin, routes, rudimentary, rundown, sacrifice, saluted, sarcastic, scaly, scaredy, scariest, scooted, shrouded, siblings, sighting, skirted, skittered, slither, smarts, snakey, stat, stress, stumbled, surveyed, sweating, thoughts, towards, trooper, trusty, unhinged, uptight, utter, utterly, valiant, wager, weepers, weepy, whisked, withdraw, witnessed, witty, wriggled
Chapter One – The Escape
Elle scampered down the hallway. It sounded like a stampede. She was out of breath. She found Sean. He was in front of their upstairs loft TV. She cried out. “Sean! Help!”
He glanced up. “What, Sis?”
She barked, “It’s Pete. I can’t find him!”
Sean scowled. “What do you mean? Your pet snake got out of his cage? No way.”
Elle looked guilty. “Well. I was playing with him. He slid out of my hands. Then he fled the room.”
Sean said, “You’re not to let him out of his cage in the house! You know that! Go catch him! He’s YOUR beast.”
Elle whined. “But I can’t find him. I’ve tried. I’ve tried HARD! I don’t know where else to look.”
Sean huffed, “Good grief. I’ll help. But I won’t touch his slimy, scaly hide.”
Elle laughed. “Thanks. But don’t be a scaredy cat. Pete’s safe to humans.”
Sean said, “Look. I can’t help it. Snakes are revolting. That’s all there is to it!”
Elle sighed. “Sean. Pete’s just a black snake. He couldn’t injure a flea.”
Sean pushed back. “I know. But they’re noisome. We’d best find him fast. You don’t want Mom to get home first. You’d be in massive difficulty.”
Elle said, “Right! Let’s start searching. STAT!”
Sean entered the hall. He bellowed, “There he is!”
Pete was still. He was coiled up. He was smack in the middle of the long hall. He stuck his forked tongue out. Back and forth it went. He had a naughty look on his face. It was like, “I dare you!”
Sean said, “What a creep! I know his thoughts.”
Elle said, “Tell me. What’s he thinking?”
Sean replied, “He’s a rogue. He wants to say this. ‘Bet you can’t catch me, kids’!”
Chapter Two – The Plan
Sean nudged himself forward. But Pete darted away. He moved nimbly. Elle cried, “He’s heading to the guest room. Come on!”
Sean stayed still. “Elle! Stop a sec. We need a plan.”
Elle cocked her head. “A plan?”
Sean said, “Yeah. No one can come to our aid. It’s just you and me. It’s a test for our trusty brains. We have to master how to catch a snake. And we have to do it all on our own.”
Elle sputtered. “You mean, ‘think this through first’?”
Sean nodded. “Of course. Perfect. Not, ‘ready, fire, aim.’ But, ‘ready, aim, fire.’ You can’t just launch into something. It’s like you said. You must think it through, first.”
Elle smiled. “That’s good logic. All right. You’re the big brave elder brother. Show me the way. Be my mentor. TEACH ME! What should we do?”
Sean rolled his eyes. “Okay, my acolyte. We proceed slowly but surely. Let’s do a room-by-room search.”
Elle saluted. “Right! And we do this when we go to each room: we shut all the doors. If he’s there, he can’t get out. Cornered!”
Sean grinned. “Now you’re thinking. Superb job!”
Elle went on. “And we do this when we’re done with a room: we shut the doors when we exit.”
Sean said, “Exactly. That way, the sneak can’t get back in. We’ll have covered our backs. The goal is rudimentary. We block off all escape routes. Then he’s ours. We’ll own him!”
Just then, Elle yelled out. “Look! He’s gone into Mom and Dad’s bedroom.”
Sean moaned. “That’s NOT promising news. That’s the LAST room we want him in. Quick, then. You know what to do. Sprint on in. I’m right on your heels.”
The kids skittered to their parents’ bedroom. Elle slammed the door once they were in.
Sean barked, “Bathroom first! I wager he’ll try for the toilet.”
Elle said, “Sean! Pete couldn’t climb up into the toilet.”
Sean howled with laughter. “Duh! Just a joke.” They crowded into the bathroom. They shut the door behind them.
Elle said, “Maybe Pete’s in the tub, taking a bath.” Now they both started to chortle. The chase had actually become kind of fun.
Sean called out, “Here, snakey, snakey!”
Elle giggled. “We have more smarts than you do. We’re gonna get you!”
Chapter Three – Fifty Bucks
Sean said, “Okay, Elle. We’ve perused every crack and corner. We’ve been quite thorough. No Pete, yet. He’s not in the bathroom.”
Elle said, “Let’s slither on to the bedroom, then.”
“Very witty,” replied Sean. “So funny I forgot to laugh.”
The two kids entered the bedroom. Elle closed the bathroom door. Then she asked, “Where would a snake conceal itself?”
Sean said, “That’s an astute inquiry. I bet he’s behind, or under, something.”
Elle rejoined, “Like a sweater box under the bed. That’s where the best monsters withdraw to. They’re under the kid’s bed. All the time.”
Sean fired back, “Or behind the curtains. Somewhere in the long shadows.”
It was only a week till Halloween. Elle was in the trick-or-treat spirit. She became a bit goofy. She put on her scariest voice. “ROOBY–ROO!” Sean flinched. “They were shrouded by the elongated shadows of the pyramid. The snake hunters could barely see. They didn’t know that the mummy was just behind them. It started to raise its bandaged arms. It crouched down to bound towards them.”
Sean got goosepimply. He pouted, “That makes me uptight, Elle! So, now YOU look under the bed. Not me! But first, let’s take a gander at any area that’s open.” Sean circled the room. He looked under the desk. He peeked beneath each chair. No sign of Pete. “Elle? Can you check under the dresser?”
Elle laid down on the floor. A couple of seconds passed. She said, “Nothing. But wait. There’s something under here.” She stretched her arm back to the wall. “Whoa!”
Sean asked, “What is it?”
Elle stared at her newfound treasure. She piped up. “Cool. It’s a fifty-dollar bill. Hot dog! Finders keepers, losers weepers. I’m rich! I’m wealthy!”
Sean pushed back. “No way! That’s not YOUR money.”
Elle whined, “Not fair. I found it.”
Sean said, “Elle. Look at yourself in the mirror. Don’t you care about being honest? You didn’t earn it. You didn’t work for it. You didn’t get it as a gift. Ya’ know what they do in my friend Tom’s family? They might find money, like in a parking lot. They give it to charity. They know it’s not theirs. So they put it to proper use. Deal with it, Sis. That’s Mom’s and Dad’s money. And you know it!”
Elle hissed at Sean. “I bet they don’t know that it’s lost. They won’t miss it.”
Sean held his ground. “Elle. That’s obviously crazy. It’s theirs. It’s not yours, PERIOD. Now let’s get back to the problem at-hand. Let’s snag a snake!”
Elle gave in. “Oh, all right. Here. Give it to them.” She handed Sean the fifty bucks.
Sean said, “I’ll hold on to it. But we’ll both give it to them. And I mean at the same time. That way, you can’t accuse me of keeping it for myself.”
Elle said, “Okay. But now I’m crestfallen. Let’s get back to the hunt. That way, I can take my mind off of the money. It was almost mine. I was like Gollum, in Lord Of The Rings. ‘MY PRECIOUS! MY PRECIOUS!’ So close! Yet so far!” Sean gave Elle a stern look. Elle refocused on the hunt. “Now, you’re such a coward about the shadows, Mr. Namby–Pamby! So, I’LL check beneath the bed.”
“Just do it, Smeagol!” quipped Sean. They were both big Lord Of The Rings fans.
Elle knelt down. She lifted the bedspread. “I’ll pull out one box at a time. He’s not behind this one. Not behind that one. Oh! There you are, Pete! You furtive sneak!”
Sean asked, “You see him?”
Elle was about to confirm her sighting. But then, without warning, Pete turned away from her. He scooted out the opposite side of the bed. He went between Sean’s legs. Sean screamed, “Ha! You’re boxed in, you creepy-crawly reptile.”
Sean mulled over their scheme. They SHOULD be fine. The closed bedroom door would wall Pete in. But as Sean turned around, Elle heard him yip. “Yikes! Elle! I heard you slam the door when we came in here. But the door didn’t latch. There’s a crack in it. Pete just got back out to the hall. All he needed was a one-inch opening.”
Elle responded, “Well, at least he’s stuck upstairs. And now we have two rooms closed off.”
Sean wasn’t so assured. He demanded, “Explain, ‘he’s stuck upstairs’.”
Elle answered him. “Well, surely, snakes can’t go down, stair-by-stair, can they? CAN THEY, SEAN? Uh-Oh!”
Chapter Four – Snake Food?
Elle screeched! “Move fast, Sean. After him!” She was getting up from the floor. She crawled over her parents’ bed. She leapt onto the floor running. She poked her head around the bedroom door. She immediately witnessed more bad luck.
Pete was nearing the top of the stairs. Sean dove towards him. “Ouch!” he yelled. He hit the wood floor hard. He slid a few inches. His hand reached for Pete. But he just couldn’t grasp him.
Elle leapfrogged over Sean. She went after Pete, now. But it was too late. The two siblings stared at each other. They were in deep trouble. Pete the snake COULD go down the stairs, after all.
They surveyed the stage before them, both furious. They were mired in a state of disbelief. Pete wriggled down to the first floor. How he did it wasn’t pretty. But he DID make it down. They heard, “Clump, clump, clump.” Pete landed at the bottom. He whisked himself around the corner. They couldn’t see him anymore.
Elle breathed in deeply. She then exhaled. “Well, you BOTH looked goofy there. But I’ll give you some credit. ‘Sir Sean, the steadfast and true!’ It was doughty how you lunged after him. That was a valiant attempt. But you weren’t graceful at all. You looked like a newborn deer, trying to walk.”
Then, Elle looked downstairs. There was their empty front hall. She yelled down the stairs. “And Pete?! You looked like a giant ‘Gummy-Snake’. You were bouncing around, all over the place. You sounded like Santa’s reindeer, prancing on the roof.”
Both kids were silent. They calmed down. Sean offered this comment. “Hey? You know what? It’s a shame that Pete’s not a mouse.”
Elle asked, “Why would you think that?”
Sean said, “Well, we’d put cheese out. Mice love cheese. Put some out, and they’re easy to catch in a trap. What foods might Pete like?”
Elle became sarcastic. “Let’s see. A lettuce and onion salad?” She paused. “With some celery and bacon bits? And a glass of orange juice?” She thought some more. “And maybe some blueberry pie? Yeah! With vanilla ice cream.”
Sean groaned, “So humorous of you.”
Elle lashed back. “Well, that was dumb. You can’t entrap a snake with food. C’mon, Sean. Get serious! What’s the new plan?”
Sean said, “Of course. Right. We’ve got to catch Pete, pronto. We’ll have to …” And then they heard a pulsating chime. It was Sean’s cell phone!
Elle freaked. She became unhinged! She screamed, “Who is it? Is it Mom? Is it Dad?”
Sean was sweating. He looked at the phone’s display. He recognized the caller. “Oh, great. Just what we were afraid of. Mom.” Elle gasped. She threw her hands to her head. Sean answered the phone. He tried to level his voice. He tried to be nonchalant. Slowly, he drawled, “Oh, hi Mom. What’s up?”
Her answer couldn’t have been worse! “Hi, Sean. I left work early. I’m about two minutes from the house. I was lazy this morning. The trash bins are still blocking my spot in the garage. Can you move them? Then I won’t have to get out of the car.”
Sean winced. “Oh, sure Mom. No problem. See you in a bit!”
Then Elle saw Pete. He skirted into the kitchen. A light bulb went off in her head. She cried, “EUREKA! Sean! Take care of the trash bins. I’ve got Pete.” Sean couldn’t utter a response. Elle darted past him too quickly. She stumbled into the kitchen. She slammed the door behind her.
Their Mom was in the house a few minutes later. Sean was shocked by Elle’s calm demeanor. She was utterly composed! She was calm, cool, and collected. She looked as guilt-free as the previously–flustered kids at the very end of The Cat In The Hat. It was as if there’d been no stress in the household, at all. Sean tried to talk to her. Elle nodded her head, “NO!” She held her fingers to her lips. Her lips puckered. She meant, “SHH!”
Their Mom went up to change clothes. Elle whispered, “Follow me!” They both went out to the back yard. They needed privacy for their conversation.
Sean queried, “What’s the deal? How can you be so placid? Where’s Pete?”
Elle provided the rundown of what had transpired. “A thought came to me. I realized this. If I could close the hall door to the kitchen, Pete was trapped. So, I shut it. This time, I made sure it latched! Now, I knew I couldn’t catch him. He’s like The Flash. Way too quick for me. I envisioned this: Mom would come in. I’d still be on the chase. NOT GOOD! So, it was sacrifice time. I had to let Pete go.”
Sean asked, “What do you mean?!”
Elle explained. “The back door. It was a no-brainer. I opened the back door! I grabbed a broom. I banged it on the floor. Pete freaked. I herded him toward the door. I corralled him. He saw his exit. Out he went. Pete’s gone. He’s never to be seen again.”
Sean said, “Well, you’re holding up well. I’m amazed there’s no weepy drama here. You don’t look like you’ll even cry. Surely, you’ll miss him. But I won’t!”
Elle smiled. “Look! I’ll find a new black snake. They’re a dime a dozen! Pete’s easily replaced. And I’ll have fond memories.”
Sean responded with surprise. He said, “Wow! You’re a brave trooper! And what you did was brilliant. You’d never have a snake in the house again, if Mom had seen you chasing Pete INside! So, you’ll get a new black snake. No harm! No foul! Great plan. What will you name it?”
Elle became pensive. She pondered things for a moment. Then her eyes brightened. She furrowed her forehead and eyebrows. She looked like Mr. Spock, on Star Trek. “Hmm! Fascinating! How about, ‘Elvis‘?”
Sean grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “Now that’s a rockin‘ good name! Fantastic choice, my courageous snake-handling sister!”
*********
WEEK TWENTY-SEVEN PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 56) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-E” SOUND … continued:
Letters “EA” … continued:
This flu has made my body too weak to do much but lie in bed.
She was a great Queen, and she cared much for the public weal.
I need to wean myself from always having dessert after dinner.
With great zeal, the runner started off in his quest to win the marathon.
The cat keeps scratching herself, so I bet that she has a flea.
The defense attorney made one final plea for the jury to find the defendant “not-guilty.”
Finally, the rain eased off, and within a couple of hours, the sun peeked through the clouds.
Dad, I just saw two bats hanging under the eaves of our house.
These pretty beads could be made into attractive costume jewelry.
Different types of birds have a wide variety of beaks.
The astronomers wondered if the odd beams of light were actually some attempt at communication from an alien race.
The green beans growing in the garden look very healthy.
The extinct T-Rex was once a mighty beast.
“Three-four time” means that there are three beats to each measure.
Okay class, it’s tie to calm down and cease this silly behavior.
Dad deals playing cards very fast.
All of the deans at our college signed a letter supporting the college president.
Mom prepared the most scrumptious Thanksgiving feast.
Their soldiers performed many feats of heroism and held the invaders at bay.
When this heals, you’ll feel as good as new.
Dad heaps lots of hot fudge onto his vanilla ice cream.
When the meat heats to 160 degrees in the center, then it’s ready to eat.
The ship’s captain called out, “Heave the anchor overboard!”
Your blue jeans are hanging on the clothesline.
The police had some pretty strong leads with which to catch the criminal.
There were lots of leaks in the building’s ceilings.
The famous Tower of Pisa leans at about a four-degree angle!
In this scene, the bad guy leaps out of his car and starts running.
I’m trying to decide whether I should lease or buy a new car.
We think that she is the least likely suspect in the crime.
The bartender let me try three different meads, and they were all very potent to the taste.
We’ll get Happy Meals for all of the kids in the birthday party.
They are fortunate to have the means to send their kids to college.
You can make your own sandwich, choosing from this platter of meats.
It was a momentous day when the two countries signed their peace treaty.
The mountain peaks are covered with snow this morning.
Norman Vincent Peale wrote “The Power Of Positive Thinking.”
The peals from church towers reminded us that it was Christmas morning.
I am so happy that my daughter reads voraciously.
Put those reams of paper by the copier.
That farmer reaps his crops using a combine harvester.
Your willingness to add that clause to the contract seals our deal!
His shoes were frayed at the seams.
For a change, how about reserving our seats in the balcony?
Any of these four teams is strong enough to win this year’s Super Bowl.
If you tease her about her new braces, she’ll get really mad at you.
When one weans their child from sucking their thumb, it’s not always easy.
I have learned how to weave a basket.
Oh yum, Mom is making her world-famous yeast rolls for dinner.
*********
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WEEK TWENTY-EIGHT
WEEK TWENTY-EIGHT READING PASSAGES
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Exploring And Moving To America
Lesson 65 – Part One
NEW WORDS: Americas, Christopher, Columbus, Columbus’s, Cuba, Europeans, Ferdinand, Genoa, Indies, Isabella, Maria, Nina, Pinta, San, Salvador, Taino, adventurer, believed, cabins, captains, cinnamon, diary, islands, monarchs, pineapples, pirates, rails, refrigerators, risky, robust, rulers, spices, stocked, swords, unload, voyage, voyages
Chapter One: Christopher Columbus: A Young Adventurer
Let’s meet Christopher Columbus when he was a boy. He lived in the city of Genoa, Italy. He loved the sea. He had a younger brother. They spent lots of time at the dock watching ships sail in and out. They watched the sailors hard at work. They would unload huge boxes that were filled with silk cloth and spices. The brothers dreamed of being sailors, too!
Christopher turned fourteen. He got a job on a ship. He carried messages from the captain to the sailors. One year later, he was hired as a ship’s helper. He soon got a bigger job, and he became a sailor! His dream of adventure at sea was coming true. During that time, his brother had learned to make maps. Together, they hoped to sail far away.
Back then, people didn’t know about all the continents and oceans. Some thought that the Earth was flat. They worried about a ship sailing too far across the ocean. They thought the ship would fall off the edge! But others believed that Earth was round. Columbus was one of those people.
Why did people want to go on long voyages then? The main reason was that people wanted to trade. They wanted to buy and sell such things as spices and silk. Those things could not be found in Europe. And trade could also make people rich!
Chapter Two: Christopher Has An Idea
In Columbus’s time, there were no refrigerators. So, it was hard to keep food fresh. Europeans often ate food, especially meat, that was NOT fresh. People used spices to help make that food taste better. Cloves, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg all helped to do this.
Many of these spices could only be found in a faraway part of the world. This region was called “the Indies.” Today, that’s Asia. A voyage to the Indies and back was long and dangerous. You had to sail part of the way across water. Then, some people had to carry goods on camels. This would be across hot deserts, and many times, they were robbed, or they might get lost. They might even run out of water.
Christopher had an idea. What if the Earth was round? Maybe he could sail west around the world! Maybe he could reach the Indies that way. It might be a shorter trip than heading east. The whole trip could be made by ship. They’d sail across the Atlantic Ocean. There’d be no need to go across hot, dry deserts. Plus, many more spices and other goods could be carried on ships than on camels.
Today, we know what happens if you sail west across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe. You reach North and South America. But Christopher didn’t know this. Then, many people thought there was nothing but ocean if you sailed west.
Chapter Three: Christopher Sails West
Christopher needed someone to believe he could sail across the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second largest ocean on Earth. So, for many years, he planned his voyage. He also searched for someone rich, since this risky adventure would cost a lot. Finally, he got his chance. He met King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, the rulers of Spain. He told them his idea. Maybe you could reach the Indies faster. Why not sail west across the Atlantic?
The Spanish monarchs listened with interest. They DID want to find an easier way for ships to get to the Indies. They wanted to trade their cloth, glass, and tools. They wanted spices, silk, jewels, and gold, in return. Spain would be rich if the plan worked.
The King and Queen decided to pay for the trip. Now Christopher could start his great adventure! He was given three ships. They were the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Each ship had a captain. Columbus was the captain of the Santa Maria. The three ships were small, but they were robust enough to sail across the stormy waters of the Atlantic.
Chapter Four: The Voyage West
Columbus found sailors who wanted to go with him to the Indies. They loaded the ships. There was enough food and water to last a year. And they stocked up on many things they could trade. They also took firewood, cooking pots, medicines, fishing lines, swords, and guns. They were ready! They set sail across the wide, blue ocean. No one was sure of what they might find. There might be pirates. There might be sea monsters. What if things went wrong? No one could help them.
They kept busy. They cleaned the decks. They fished in the sea. Each day, two or three sailors cooked a meal for everyone on their ship. At night, they slept on the deck. There were no beds. Only the three captains had their own small cabins. On stormy nights, the men tied themselves to the ship’s rails. That way, they wouldn’t fall into the sea.
The ships sailed for weeks, but they did not find any land. The men were afraid. What if the Earth really was flat? Would they soon sail right off the edge? What if they ran out of food and water? The crews asked to return home, but Christopher was sure that his plan would work. He stayed firm.
One day, there was a good sign. Small birds flew by the side of the ship! The sailors knew that small birds often flew near land. Then, a sailor spotted something. “Land! Land!” he shouted. It had been almost two months. The crews were glad to see a sandy beach and beautiful green trees. They had found an island. In his diary, Christopher wrote down the date. It was October 12, 1492.
Chapter Five: Exploring The Americas
The island they found was home to the Taino. These were a people who lived and farmed on the island. Christopher named it “San Salvador.” He placed a flag in the sand. Christopher met some of the Taino. He called them “Indians,” because he thought he had arrived in the Indies.
The sailors spent a few months exploring other islands. That included Cuba. The Taino lived on these islands, too. These new lands had palm trees and white sand. Christopher and his men collected many things to take back to Spain. This included gold, tobacco plants, pineapples, and wild turkeys.
Christopher arrived back in Spain. He was a hero, and the king and queen were quite pleased with him. They said they’d pay for more ships. That way, he could sail back across the ocean. Christopher led four more voyages. They always looked for gold, spices, and jewels.
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Exploring And Moving To America
Lesson 66 – Part Two
NEW WORDS: Elizabeth, George’s, Mayflower, Parliament, Plymouth, Squanto, barrels, concerned, crow’s, enslaved, farms, fences, gardens, hammocks, leaked, machines, necessities, noticed, owners, pilgrims, protested, rights, settlers, signed, slavery, slaves, worship
Chapter Six: The Pilgrims Search For A New Home
Then a hundred years passed. Now, another group of Europeans set off. They were going to what is today the United States of America. Their story is different from that of Columbus. Let’s meet them and find out about their adventures.
Elizabeth stood with her parents. They were ready to board a ship. It was named the Mayflower. They were leaving Plymouth, England. They were to sail to America. Elizabeth, her parents, and friends were known as “Pilgrims.” The Pilgrims were making this trip for an important reason. They wanted to live in a place where they could worship God in their own way.
The Mayflower was loaded with necessities. There were things that the Pilgrims would need for the voyage, and for when they arrived. There were axes and saws for building homes. There were hooks and lines for fishing. There were seeds for gardens. There were warm clothes for the winter. There were also barrels of water, dried meat, vegetables, biscuits, and cheese.
The Mayflower set sail, leaving England behind. Elizabeth explored the ship. She noticed one thing fast. It was crowded. Below-deck was dark and stuffy. In the darkness, she saw that there were hammocks for people to sleep in. Everyone knew the trip would be long and dangerous. But still, Elizabeth was excited!
Chapter Seven: On Board The Mayflower
She spent much of her time exploring the ship. She watched as sailors pulled on ropes. They raised large, cloth sails. The sails would puff out in the wind. Then, the ship would move faster over the waves.
Soon, the weather changed. Strong winds blew. Tall waves crashed against the ship. Rain leaked in below-deck. Everyone’s clothes and beds got soaked. The ship tossed from side to side. The Pilgrims were scared that the ship would sink. Elizabeth was no longer excited to be sailing to their new home!
Long weeks went by, and they all tired of looking at the sea. They tired of living in such a small space. People were getting sick, too. Then, early one morning, a sailor up in the crow’s nest cried out, “Land! I see land!” The Pilgrims rushed up on deck to see. Their voyage was almost over!
Chapter Eight: The Pilgrims Work Hard
After landing, some of the Pilgrims set off first. They were charged with finding a good place to settle. They chose a place they called Plymouth. They named it after the town they had left behind.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but wonder about her new home. Would there be strange creatures in the forests? Would the Wampanoag and other Native Americans welcome them?
The Pilgrims had arrived just as the weather was turning cold. They needed to build homes as quickly as they could. They worked hard cutting down trees. They would use the wood to build their homes. And more than the cold concerned them. They were worried that they might run out of food. To stay warm, the women and children stayed on board the ship.
That first winter was rough, and many of the Pilgrims became sick and died. It was a sad time for them. But springtime came. Many of them could move into their new homes. It would soon be time to plant crops. Then they would have more food to eat.
Then one day, a man came to visit the Pilgrims. His name was Squanto. He was a Native American. Squanto could speak English. Even though the Pilgrims had settled on Native American land, Squanto helped them. They planted crops, such as beans, corn, pumpkins, and other vegetables. Thanks to Squanto, the crops grew well. Soon it was time to harvest them. And it was time to celebrate.
The Pilgrims had a feast of Thanksgiving. They invited their Native American friends. It was quite a feast. They ate deer, turkey, corn, and baked bread. They gave thanks for all of this food that they had. Then they enjoyed an afternoon of fun and games.
Chapter Nine: American Independence
Many years passed. The Pilgrims and other settlers lived happily in their new home. Many of these settlers were from England. So, they were happy to follow some English laws. They also made some of their own rules about how to live in America. But things began to go wrong.
After a time, King George III and his Parliament in England passed new laws. These laws seemed very unfair. The settlers became angry. Some people protested. American leaders decided to hold a meeting. They tried to plan on what to do next.
These leaders wrote a letter to King George III. They explained why they felt that the laws were unfair. The letter was called the “Declaration of Independence.” It explained that the Americans wanted to make many of their own laws. They did not want to follow all of the laws made by the king.
King George III didn’t agree with the Declaration of Independence. So, he sent his army to fight the Americans. The Americans had a great leader named George Washington. He helped America defeat King George’s army. Today, we celebrate America’s birthday on July the Fourth. That’s the date that the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Chapter Ten: Taken To America
There is another story about moving to America. This is the story of people from parts of Africa. They were forced onto ships and were taken to America. There, they became enslaved workers. This is a very sad story. But it is one that we must NEVER forget.
People from Africa were taken to America. They were forced to work on large farms. They were slaves, so they were not free. They did not have rights. Enslaved workers were not even paid for the hard work they did. Americans today are not proud of this awful time of slavery.
Most of the farms where the slaves worked were in the southern part of America. There were no machines to do the hard work. Enslaved workers did it, instead. They worked hard in the fields. They planted and picked crops. They carried water. They fixed fences. They took care of farm animals.
Enslaved children couldn’t go to school. They couldn’t learn how to read and write. Families were often broken up. Farm owners even sold children or parents! Many people in America knew that slavery was very wrong. They knew that America could not be truly free until everyone was free. But it took time, and another war, before enslaved workers would win their freedom.
Today it is very important to remember the many African-Americans who never got the chance to be free.
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Lesson 67 – Poems And Rhymes
NEW WORDS: God’s, afterward, airs, almighty, argued, balanced, beheld, bleat, brightens, brimful, certified, curtsied, dangling, darkest, deceitful, downy, efforts, elephone, elephop, eletelephony, entangled, farmhouse, fasted, foe, foxglove, gladness, glowing, grant, howe’er, incessantly, instructed, lark, maimed, mattered, mentioned, muscular, mused, neighed, ointment, outstretched, pigtail, pigtail’s, promises, seeming, shilling, slack, smoothed, somersault, sorrowed, sound’s, suet, sunned, supple, swiftly, swore, telefunk, telephant, telephee, telephone, telephong, tragic, unbroke, uncommonly, vain, veiled, violent, whim, wiles, wrath, yore
Good Night and Good Morning
A fair little girl sat under a tree,
Sewing as long as her eyes could see.
Then smoothed her work, and folded it right,
And said, “Dear work. Good night! Good night!”
Such a number of rooks came over her head,
Crying, “Caw! Caw!” on their way to bed.
She said, as she watched their curious flight,
“Little black things. Good night! Good night!”
The horses neighed. And the oxen bellowed.
The sheep’s “Bleat! bleat!” came over the road,
All seeming to say, with a quiet delight,
“Good little girl. Good night! Good night!”
She did not say to the sun, “Good night!”
Though she saw him there like a ball of light,
For she knew he had God’s time to keep,
All over the world, and never could sleep.
The tall pink foxglove bowed his head.
The violets curtsied and went to bed.
And good little Lucy tied up her hair,
And said on her knees her favorite prayer.
And while on her pillow she softly lay,
She knew nothing more till again it was day.
And all things said to the beautiful sun,
“Good morning! Good morning! Our work is begun!”
Poem By Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton
Answer to a Child’s Question
Do you ask what the birds say? The sparrow, the dove,
The robin and thrush say, “I love. And I love!”
In the winter they’re silent. The wind is so strong.
What it says, I don’t know. But it sings a loud song.
But green leaves, and blossoms, and sunny warm weather,
And singing, and loving, all come back together.
But the lark is so brimful of gladness and love.
The green fields below him. The blue sky above.
That he sings, and he sings, and forever sings he,
“I love my Love. And my Love loves me!”
Poem By Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Young and Old
When all the world is young, lad.
And all the trees are green.
And every goose a swan, lad.
And every lass a queen.
Then call for boot and horse, lad.
And round the world away.
Young blood must have its course, lad.
And every dog his day.
When all the world is old, lad.
And all the trees are brown.
When all the sport is stale, lad.
And all the wheels run down.
Creep home, and take your place there.
The spent and maimed among.
God grant you find one face there.
You loved when all was young.
Poem By Charles Kingsley
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near.
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
Poem By Robert Frost
A Tragic Story
There lived a sage in days of yore.
And he a handsome pigtail wore.
But wondered much, and sorrowed more,
Because it hung behind him.
He mused upon this curious case,
And swore he’d change the pigtail’s place.
And have it hanging at his face,
Not dangling there behind him.
Says he, “The mystery I’ve found.”
I’ll turn me ’round!”
He turned him ’round.
But still it hung behind him.
Then ’round, and ’round. And out and in.
All day the puzzled sage did spin.
In vain, it mattered not a pin.
The pigtail hung behind him.
And right and left. And ’round about.
And up and down. And in and out.
He turned. But still the pigtail stout,
Hung steadily behind him.
And though his efforts never slack,
And though he twist, and twirl, and tack.
Alas! Still faithful to his back,
The pigtail hangs behind him.
Poem By William Makepeace Thackery
The Eagle
He clasps the crag with crooked hands,
Close to the sun in lonely lands.
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls.
He watches from his mountain walls.
And like a thunderbolt, he falls.
Poem By Alfred Lord Tennyson
The Arrow And The Song
I shot an arrow into the air.
It fell to Earth. I knew not where.
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air.
It fell to Earth. I knew not where.
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak,
I found the arrow, still unbroke.
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.
Poem By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Father William
“You are old, Father William,” the young man said. “And your hair has become very white. And yet you incessantly stand on your head. Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
“In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain. But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”
“You are old,” said the youth, “as I mentioned before, And have grown most uncommonly fat. Yet you turned a back somersault in at the door, Pray, what is the reason of that?”
“In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his gray locks, I kept my limbs very supple. By the use of this ointment, one shilling the box. Allow me to sell you a couple?”
“You are old,” said the youth. “And your jaws are too weak, For anything other than suet. Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak, Pray, how did you manage to do it?”
“In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife. And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw, Has lasted the rest of my life.”
“You are old,” said the youth. “One would hardly suppose, That your eye was as steady as ever. Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose. What made you so awfully clever?”
“I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father. “Don’t give yourself airs! Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff? Be off, or I’ll kick you downstairs!”
Poem By Lewis Carroll
Eletelephony
Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant.
No! No! I mean an elephone,
Who tried to use the telephone.
(Dear me! I am not certain quite,
That even now I’ve got it right.)
Howe’er it was, he got his trunk,
Entangled in the telefunk.
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee.
(I fear I’d better drop the song,
Of elephop and telephong!)
Poem By Laura Richards
All Things Bright and Beautiful
All things bright and beautiful.
All creatures great and small.
All things wise and wonderful.
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens.
Each little bird that sings.
He made their glowing colors.
He made their tiny wings.
The purple-headed mountain.
The river running by.
The sunset, and the morning.
That brightens up the sky.
The cold wind in the winter.
The pleasant summer sun.
The ripe fruits in the garden.
He made them every one.
He gave us eyes to see them.
And lips that we might tell.
How great is God Almighty.
Who has made all things well.
Poem By Cecil Frances Alexander
A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend.
I told my wrath. My wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe.
I told it not. My wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears.
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine.
And he knew that it was mine.
And into my garden stole,
When the night had veiled the pole.
In the morning glad I see,
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
Poem By William Blake
A Guinea Pig
There was a little guinea pig,
Who being little, was not big.
He always walked upon his feet,
And never fasted when he ate.
When from a place he ran away,
He never at the place did stay.
And while he ran, as I am told,
He never stood still for young or old.
He often squeaked, and sometimes violent.
And when he squeaked, he was never silent.
Though not instructed by a cat,
He knew a mouse was not a rat.
One day, as I am certified,
He took a whim, and fairly died.
And as I’m told by men of sense,
He never has been living since.
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WEEK TWENTY-EIGHT PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 56) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-E” SOUND … continued:
Letters “EA” … continued:
What a depressingly bleak day it is outside.
We heard the bleat of a newborn lamb out in the barn.
Sea bream is a particularly popular fish that people in Europe like to eat.
It’s that time of year where we need to clean our windows inside and out.
He nailed a cleat into the side of the bookcase to keep the supports from slipping.
When Scooby-Doo heard a creak in the door, he thought it was a ghost.
“Fish ice cream” from Japan doesn’t really have a fish flavor to it!
I had a dream that I was an astronaut flying to explore the planet Saturn.
We got a good treatment from the vet, so our dog no longer has fleas.
It was a freak accident how Tommy broke his leg.
My grandma always has a mischievous gleam in her eye.
It took me a while to glean what the professor was trying to teach us.
Mom, I’d be happy to help you knead the bread.
Let’s plead with our teacher to see if she’ll delay the quiz from Friday to Monday.
The pleas from the prisoner for a shorter sentence were not heeded by the judge.
I’ll iron that pleat in your new pair of pants.
I’m going to sneak up on Dad and put some snow down the back of his shirt!
You need to speak out if you think that an injustice has been done.
It’s wrong to steal from someone, even if it’s as small as a dollar bill.
I take such hot showers that I steam up the bathroom mirror.
It was a treat to get a tour of the cruise ship.
Let’s tweak this one line, and then the speech will be ready.
I’d like my ham sandwich on wheat bread.
The coming hurricane is going to wreak havoc on our city.
Letters “EA” that “roll into” the “ER” sound:
I can hear better out of my right ear.
The doc had to clean wax out of both of my ears.
My dear friend Elsie is going to visit us for the first time in years.
The appearance of a hawk brought fear to the squirrels.
Have you packed all of the gear for our hiking trip?
Did you hear that we’re getting a new cheerleading coach?
My favorite Shakespeare tragedy is “King Lear.”
We’ll be near the Grand Canyon on our trip, so can we stop to see it?
I prefer to sit in the rear of an airplane.
I saw a tear rolling down her cheek.
I hate it, but I have to send in my taxes every single year.
Honey, your beard is out of control, and you look like a mountain man.
Granny greeted the three siblings with, “Hello, my dears!”
The dictator was playing to the people’s fears in his speeches.
Dad taught us about the gears in cars today.
One hears about TikTok a lot these days.
The monster comes out to torment the village when it nears sunset.
Okay kiddos, please get your rears firmly planted on your chairs, please.
Sears used to be a retailing powerhouse, but not any more.
After he had spilled many tears, he finally got a grip and calmed down.
Many years ago, a child’s education occurred in a one-room schoolhouse.
He was concerned about the recent blear in his vision.
I hear that we’re going to have clear weather tomorrow.
Put your lipstick on carefully, and don’t smear it.
The Native American hunter threw his spear at a buffalo.
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WEEK TWENTY-NINE
WEEK TWENTY-NINE READING PASSAGES
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Farms
Lesson 68 – Part One
NEW WORDS: Delilah, MacDonald, Sadie, absolutely, abundance, accidentally, accumulated, additional, alfalfa, appeased, assists, assortment, baas, bales, bingo, boisterous, bottling, calves, considerable, contingency, contraptions, contrasted, convey, crucial, depart, doubtless, equipment, escaped, experienced, farmstead, feisty, finishing, gate’s, generally, generates, grange, hamburgers, hayloft, homestead, hoses, implements, ingredient, introduce, laboring, majority, males, meats, milking, modest, moos, mows, nourishes, occasionally, oinks, operate, originates, pastures, pitchfork, pitching, plentiful, produces, prominent, provides, recall, requires, resembles, sightsee, significant, silo, silo’s, squeezes, squirts, starving, stash, steaks, supplies, teat, teats, tractor, typically, udder, udders, unlatched, unpredictable, variety, vigorous, woofs, yogurt
Chapter One: Old MacDonald Has a Farm
Hello! Let me introduce myself. I’m Old MacDonald. I have a farm. You might already know that. That’s because my farm is one of the most well-known farms around. My farmstead is quite prominent. A few years back, someone made a song about it. The song is about the animals on my farm and the noises they make.
One thing’s for sure. My farm is a boisterous place. I have an assortment of animals here. Each one makes a different sound. Here are a few of the animals I take care of. Do you know the sound each one makes? We have “moos, oinks, clucks, and baas.” That’s just to name a few. We also have “woofs!” This is my dog Bingo. There’s a song about him, too. Maybe you can recall it. It sounds a little like the song about me.
“There was a farmer had a dog.
And Bingo was his name-oh.
B-l-N-G-O,
B-l-N-G-O,
B-l-N-G-O,
And Bingo was his name-oh!”
Bingo assists me here on the farm. Mostly, he keeps me company while I’m out laboring. But occasionally, Bingo helps in other ways. Here’s an example. Yesterday, I accidentally left a gate unlatched. One of my sheep escaped. Bingo chased the sheep back inside.
As a farmer, I have many crucial jobs to do around our homestead. It’s hard to say whether one job is more important than another. But what if you were able to ask my animals?! They’d tell you this. Taking care of them is the most significant thing that I do.
After all, farm animals don’t take care of themselves. The cows, chickens, pigs, and sheep need a farmer. The farmer provides them food, water, and shelter. After all, they’re farm animals. They weren’t born to live on their own in nature. They need help. Excuse me, while I use my pitchfork. I’m pitching a little hay to one of my cows. She’s starving, as always.
This is my barn. It’s a good animal home when it’s cold or rainy outside. I bring my animals into the barn for shelter. I also stash away my tools and other equipment in the barn. As you can see, I have a lot of implements and contraptions. There are many jobs to do on the farm. Each job requires its own tool.
I keep hay for the animals. It’s up in the hayloft. And that’s my tractor right there. I love to ride through my fields on my tractor. Let’s take a ride!
I grow most of the animals’ food here on the farm. There are pastures full of green grass for the cows and sheep. I also plant and harvest crops of corn and wheat. Can you see it out in the fields? I feed most of these crops to my animals.
Farm animals are big eaters. So, I must have an abundance of feed on hand. That keeps them healthy and appeased. I store additional supplies of feed for the animals in my silo. A silo’s like a giant can. This silo is full of dried corn. I’ll use the corn to make feed for my cows in the winter. That’s because there’s less grass for them to eat out in the pasture.
By the way, this is my wife. Meet Mrs. MacDonald! I have three children, too. Their names are Delilah, Sadie, and John. You can see our farmhouse in the background. This farm wouldn’t run smoothly without Mrs. MacDonald and the children. It takes a whole family to operate our modest little grange!
This might surprise you. Our farm is small contrasted with others. Sure, we have many different types of animals. And we grow and harvest a considerable variety of crops. But we don’t have nearly as much land as some of the other farms I will show you.
Farms are important. Most of the food we eat, from hamburgers to carrots to French fries, originates on a farm. Many kinds of fruits and vegetables come from farms. We also get milk, cheese, ice cream, and eggs from farms. Which of those foods do you like?
Bread, cakes, cereal, and crackers don’t come straight from farms. There are no farms with cookie trees or bread bushes. But the things you need to make bread and other foods come from farms. All kinds of meats come from farms, too.
Well, I have lots of work to do. I need to feed the rest of the animals. And I must water the crops. But first, I’ll fix this gate’s latch. That’s so the sheep doesn’t get out again. After finishing my work, I’ll keep my promise. I’ll take you on a tour. We’ll go see some other farms. You’ll learn more about farming and farm animals.
Chapter Two: With a Moo, Moo Here
I’m done with my day’s jobs. Let’s sightsee at some farms. We’ll depart for Farmer Brown’s place.
What’s the first thing you think of on farms? Cattle may come to mind. This is Mr. Brown’s cattle herd. I have just a few cows. He has a whole herd.
Female cattle are “cows.” The majority of cattle in this shot are cows. They’re like most farm animals. They spend their days standing around eating. That’s fine. In fact, that’s great! That’s absolutely what farmers want cows to do. The more they eat, the better!
Baby cattle are “calves.” A calf resembles its mother. They’re just smaller. Cows typically give birth to one calf each year. They’re like all mammals. This mother cow produces milk inside her body. The calf nourishes itself with the milk each day. That will change when the calf grows up. It will eat grass and other types of feed.
Look at the cow in this shot. You’ll see a large pouch on her belly. It’s near her hind legs. This is the cow’s “udder.” That’s where she generates and stores milk. The udder has four teats. Her calf will suck on one of those teats. It will drink milk when it’s hungry. Sometimes, the mother can’t make enough milk for her calf. Here’s what the farmer does in that case. He’ll feed the calf milk from a bottle.
Males, or father cattle, are called bulls. They are generally larger than cows. Bulls don’t make milk. A farmer has lots of cows. But they have just one or two bulls. Bulls can be unpredictable. Even an old, experienced farmer like me needs to be careful. Bulls can get feisty!
Cattle spend their time out in the fields. They graze on fresh, green grass. Grass isn’t always plentiful. So, some farmers use their extra fields. They grow grass, alfalfa, and other grains. For all of these, they can turn it into hay. Hay is dried grass. Cows and other farm animals can eat that. It’s good to have that as a back-up. It’s smart contingency planning.
The farmer lets these plants grow in his extra fields. Then he mows it down. He pulls a machine with his tractor to do that. Then he uses another machine to gather it up. That’s how you make hay bales.
You can store the hay bales in the field. Or, you can convey them to the barn. That keeps them nice and dry. They’ll be there for cattle to eat in the winter. That’s because there’s not much grass in the winter.
Some farmers give cows feed made from corn. And that’s not corn on the cob! People eat what’s called sweet corn. Farmers grow a different kind. It’s called “field corn.” It has lots of uses. It can be used for animal feed. Or, it can be an ingredient in lots of foods we eat.
Calves aren’t the only ones who drink cow’s milk. People drink it, too. Lots of you drink milk each day. It’s used to make ice cream, too. And it makes other dairy products. These include cheese, butter, and yogurt. So, cows’ milk is also helpful to people. That’s we have dairy farms.
People get a cow’s milk by milking the cow. Here’s how you do that. This girl squeezes a teat on the udder. She gives it a vigorous tug. With each tug, a bit of milk squirts into the bucket. It will take her a while to fill it. Her hands and arms will doubtless be sore and tired. Over time, she’ll get used to it. She’ll build her muscles.
On modern dairy farms, machines are used to milk cows. You hook hoses up to the udders. Then the machines do the work. They pump the milk out of the udders. There’s a name for the building where the cows are milked. It’s called the “milking parlor.”
Fresh milk is accumulated twice each day. A truck comes to the dairy farm every other day. Often, the milk will go to a bottling factory. Then, it will be sold to a grocery. One day, it ends up in your frig.
Not all cows are dairy cows. Some farmers raise beef cattle. Beef is the word for cow meat. Here are some beef products. Roast beef, steaks, hamburgers, and beef stew.
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Farms
Lesson 69 – Part Two
NEW WORDS: Charlotte’s, Wilbur, affectionate, aggregates, anxious, awakening, barbecued, barter, boars, commonplace, comparison, consists, conveyor, deluxe, descriptions, earring, enclosure, favorites, fenced, fling, foraged, grunts, hopefully, incubators, litter, litters, loin, messy, miraculous, nametag, naturally, nesting, nocturnal, omelets, pellets, perching, pigsty, poached, predators, primed, rainwater, releases, reputation, roost, scamper, scoops, simultaneously, situate, skunks, sloping, smarter, snort, snorts, squeals, straighten, strips, suited, sustenance, traded, transparent, utilize, wallow, wallowing, wattle, wattles, weasels, white’s
Chapter Three: And a Cluck, Cluck There
Old MacDonald here once more. This time we’ll talk about chickens. I have a few chickens. But some farmers have LOTS of chickens. Chickens are birds. But they don’t really fly.
They’re like other birds in most ways. They have feathers, feet, beaks, and wings. But chickens can’t fly. They CAN flap their wings. And, at times, chickens can get a few feet off the ground. They might even get to the top of a shed roof. But chickens’ bodies aren’t suited to fly.
Some farmers let their chickens out in the yard. They peck around the ground for insects, seeds, and food. They tend to stay close to home. That’s as long as there’s food to be foraged. There’s no need to be anxious that they’ll run away.
Chickens need help from the farmer. That’s how they get the food they need. The farmer feeds them special pellets. It’s called chicken feed. Or, he can feed them dried corn, wheat, or oats.
Chickens live in a “coop.” Sometimes they’re there just at night. Sometimes it’s all day. A chicken coop is not a deluxe shelter. It consists of a small building. The chickens make their nests there. That’s where they roost, or sleep, at night.
The coop has a fenced-in dirt yard. Why’s there an enclosure? It’s to keep animals out. Let’s face it. Chickens are tasty. And they can’t fly. They’re easy prey for lots of animals. Who would like to eat them? Owls, foxes, raccoons, weasels, and skunks! Those creatures are “nocturnal” predators. That means they hunt at night. So, farmers make sure that the chickens are locked up. They should be in the coop each night. That’s before they go to bed.
Female chickens are “hens.” Hens lay eggs. People love to eat eggs! What goes on in most farms? The farmer collects eggs from the nests. That happens each morning and evening. On other farms, the hens lay their eggs in cages with sloping bottoms. So, the eggs roll out onto a conveyor belt that aggregates them. The farmer and his family eat the eggs. And they may barter or sell them to others.
Eggs have hard shells. Crack the shell to break open the egg. This releases the yolk and white. Egg yolk is yellow. Egg white is transparent. But it turns white when you cook it. Eggs are great for breakfast. They can be fried, scrambled, boiled, or poached. Omelets are yummy, too. Eggs are also used to make other foods. This includes cakes, cookies, and other baked goods.
This hen laid several eggs. Now she’s sitting on them. What if the farmer does not collect the eggs? The hen will keep sitting on them. That keeps them warm and protected. This is called “nesting.”
The hen sits on the eggs for about twenty-one days. Then, something miraculous happens. A chick is born. It will utilize its beak to crack open the shell from the inside! What’s gone on for these twenty-one days? The chick has gradually grown inside the egg. All this time, it has used the egg yolk and white as its food. Within a few hours, the chick will be fluffy and yellow. On some farms, the eggs are hatched in incubators. These machines warm the eggs like a mother hen.
Hens are good mothers. They naturally know to situate themselves on eggs to keep them warm. And they know how to raise baby chicks. They’ll even sit on other hens’ (or even other birds’) eggs! Chickens are unlike cows and pigs in one big way. Chickens don’t produce milk to feed their young. After the chicks hatch, they quickly learn to scratch and peck. Soon, these chicks will be primed to peck the ground. They’ll find food for themselves.
Male chickens are called roosters. The farmer usually has only one rooster. Roosters don’t lay eggs. This rooster has a red comb on top of his head. It’s like the comb on hens’ heads. Here’s another comparison. A rooster has a larger “wattle” than a hen. This is a flap of bare skin. It hangs down on a bird’s throat. Roosters have larger wattles than hens.
Roosters are famous for perching on fences. Some can flap or scamper to the top of the barn. You’ve heard them loudly crow, “cock-a-doodle-do!” Roosters are alarm clocks for farmers. They often crow simultaneously with the sunrise. And awakening early is just fine for farmers. They know that “the early bird gets the worm.” Roosters continue crowing, from time-to-time, all day long. But they don’t crow “cock-a-doodle-do” at night.
Farmers don’t raise chickens just for their eggs. Many folks eat chicken. One of my favorites is fried chicken. But some folks like to eat roasted chicken. Barbecued chicken is great, too.
What’s a commonplace food for many kids? Chicken fingers! Of course, chickens don’t really have fingers! Chicken fingers are strips of cooked chicken meat. You eat them with your fingers.
Well, that’s “all things chicken.” My birds are getting hungry now. So, I’d better go fling a few scoops of feed into the coop.
Chapter Four: Here An Oink, There An Oink
I also have pigs on my farm. Some farmers raise lots of pigs. They’re like cows and chickens. Pigs depend on farmers for sustenance and habitation.
It’s feeding time. The farmer walks to the pig’s feeding trough. He dumps a bucket of feed into it. What’s the trough like? It may be a long, narrow, wooden bowl or steel pan.
Sometimes, pigs are called hogs. Call them what you like. It’s a known fact that pigs like to eat a lot. Some grow to be over 200 pounds! Pigs eat grass, grain, cheese, and vegetable scraps. They’ll eat pretty much whatever you feed them. (For some great descriptions of what pigs eat, here’s a tip. Read E.B. White’s classic, Charlotte’s Web. You’ll meet Wilbur the pig. His descriptions of what he’s eating are hilarious!)
Now here’s one for you! Some farmers use their pigs to help at harvest time! They help with the corn, bean, and turnip crops. They root around with their pointy snouts. That helps till the soil. The pigs even eat the weeds! That’s what I call smart farming.
What do pigs do when they’re not busy eating? They like to lie around in a cool spot. The farmer might let his pigs outside in a pasture. They’ll put their pointed noses to good use. They’ll make holes in the ground where rainwater collects. They become puddles. They make a nice, cool place to lie on a hot day. The pigs often wallow in the puddles. And they stir up plenty of mud. You see, pigs don’t sweat like people do! So, the mud helps keep them cool in the hot summer. It helps keep the bugs away, too.
Cows moo. People say that pigs go “oink.” But if you ask me, pigs have their own language. Listen to their grunts, snorts, and squeals. I hear that when I go near the pigpen. They sound like they’re having a conversation! “Pigsty” is another word for “pigpen.” But this might surprise you. Pigs really aren’t dirty or messy. So, what if someone says that your room looks like a pigsty? Straighten them out. Let them know that pigs actually don’t like their homes to be dirty.
Yes, they do have a reputation for being dirty, lazy, and greedy. That’s because they snort and eat a lot. And because they spend so much time wallowing in the mud. But here’s the real story. Pigs are intelligent, friendly creatures. (And I think they’re kind of cute!). Some folks say that pigs are smarter than dogs. But don’t tell that to my dog, Bingo! Some folks say that pigs make good pets. They are affectionate. And they like to play.
Here’s a new pig fact. They’re actually quick animals. When they need to, pigs can really move. I’ve owned lots of pigs in my life. I’ve learned the hard way. It’s really hard to catch a pig if it gets out of the pen.
Male and female pigs have different names. This is a male pig. They’re called “boars.” That’s not an earring in his ear. Each pig has a tag with a number. That way, the farmer can identify it. It’s like his nametag.
Female pigs are called “sows.” This sow has given birth to piglets. Sows give birth to litters of between six and twelve piglets each year. Pigs are mammals. So, pigs produce milk for their young. Sows do not have udders like cows. But they do have lots of teats. Hopefully enough for every piglet. What if the mother pig can’t produce enough milk? Another sow might have extra milk. The farmer may move one of the piglets to her.
Farmers raise pigs for their meat. Meat that comes from a pig is “pork.” It’s used to make products like bacon and sausage. You can also buy ham, pork chops, and pork loin. These are popular foods. You can roast, grill, or fry them.
Pigs are valuable animals. In some parts of the world, each family may own a pig. It can feed a whole family for a month or more. And, the sow may have a litter of piglets. The family waits till they’re grown. They can then be sold or traded in the market. That gets them money to buy food or other important things.
How would you like to get a pig of your own? Do you have room for one at your house?
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Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Farms
Lesson 70 – Part Three
NEW WORDS: afford, babysitter, broccoli, calories, challenging, contributes, coyotes, differently, discussed, edible, firmly, flock, imbedded, leads, mashed, minerals, occasion, processed, radishes, rams, razors, responsibilities, rhyme, shaggy, shearing, sheepdogs, sheeps, shepherds, spaghetti, tastier, unusual
Chapter Five: Everywhere A Baa, Baa
Old MacDonald here. You may remember this. I have sheep on my farm. The sheep say “baa, baa” here, and “baa, baa” there.
Up the road is my neighbor’s farm. You hear “baa, baa” all over it. She has a large flock of sheep. That’s right: a “flock.” Birds aren’t the only animals that travel in flocks. Sheep do, as well.
You might know something unusual about the word “sheep.” You have one cow, or a herd of cows. You have one pig, or a herd of pigs. You have one chicken, or a flock of chickens. But you have one SHEEP, or a flock of SHEEP. Did you get it? What do you call more than one sheep? The same word. SHEEP! You don’t need to add the “s” sound to the end of the word. Look at it this way. You would not say “a flock of ‘sheeps‘.” “She has a flock of SHEEP.”
A female sheep is called a “ewe.” It sounds the same as the word “you.” For instance, “How are YOU?” The words “you” and “ewe” sound the same. But they’re spelled differently. And they don’t mean the same thing.
A male sheep is called a “ram.” Farmers treat rams like they do roosters. They don’t keep many males in the flock. My neighbor has one or two rams. The rest of her flock is female.
A baby sheep is called a “lamb.” The ewe often has twin lambs. Baby lambs feed on their mother’s milk. The ewe may not have enough milk for two lambs. So, the farmer feed one of the lambs milk from a bottle.
So, you know all of this now. Farmers raise animals for milk, eggs, and meat. Sheep are mammals, like cows and pigs. They give birth to live young. And they make milk to feed their babies.
Some farmers raise sheep for milk. That’s used to make cheese. Some people raise sheep for meat. But most farmers raise sheep for their “wool.” That’s the fur that grows on their bodies. Wool is an important material to people. Sheep’s wool can be turned into yarn. It’s then woven into warm clothing or blankets. Look at this shot. Can you find the person who’s wearing a wool sweater?
Sheep lead simple lives. They spend most of their time grazing in the field. The farmer lets them out to graze each morning. He leads them back to their safe pen at night.
Sheep tend to stay with their flock. There is safety in numbers. Sheep don’t have to worry about small animals. Raccoons or skunks don’t sneak up and eat sheep. But sheep aren’t as big as cattle and pigs. And they’re certainly not fast. So, sheep farmers must protect sheep from larger predators. Coyotes and wolves might hunt sheep for food.
On occasion, a sheep does stray from the flock. It might be looking for some tastier grass. Sheep are valuable farm animals. They’re worth lots of money. The farmer cannot afford for them to wander off.
My neighbor hires a shepherd. He helps watch over her flock. The shepherd’s job is to lead the sheep out to pasture. He then will watch over them. It’s kind of like being an animal babysitter. He makes sure that sheep don’t wander off or get eaten by other animals. The shepherd’s job has big responsibilities. The shepherd must stay alert. He must be on the lookout for predators. What if a sheep starts to wander? The shepherd can catch the sheep with his “crook.” That’s a long wooden stick. It has a hook on the end. Then he leads the sheep back to the flock.
Shepherds sometimes need help themselves! Larger flocks are quite challenging. Dogs are trained to help care for the sheep. Dogs who work with sheep are called “sheepdogs.” They run after sheep that try to wander away. They chase them back to the flock. Sheepdogs are also good at chasing away predators.
The sheep eat grass. They grow thick coats of fuzzy wool all year round. You give them time to grow long, shaggy coats of wool. Then, the farmer gets out her shearing clippers. These are like electric razors that a barber uses to cut hair. The farmer uses the clippers to cut the wool off of all her flock’s sheep. She does this in the springtime. With warmer weather, the sheep no longer need a thick coat of wool. Winter will come around again. But the sheep will have grown new wool. That will keep them warm during the cold weather.
The farmer is careful when she shears the wool. She cuts it off in a way that does not hurt the sheep. The wool that she cuts off is called the “fleece.” The majority of the fleece comes off in one big piece.
A farmer might sing while shearing the sheep. It might be this old nursery rhyme. Do you know it?
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
One for the master,
And one for the dame.
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Chapter Six: All Kinds Of Crops
You’ve been learning lots about farm animals. From my farm, we’ve discussed cows, chickens, pigs, and sheep. I take good care of my animals. I give them food and shelter. I protect them. I get milk, eggs, wool, or meat from them.
I’ve mentioned this before. I plant and harvest wheat and corn crops. I feed some of that to my animals. I raise a number of additional crops. Some of them are cucumbers, beans, and carrots. We keep some for ourselves. We sell some to others.
Look at this shot. It shows foods that different farmers grow. Can you name the fruits and vegetables that you see here? I don’t grow all of these on my farm. Grocery stores buy fruits and vegetables from lots of farmers. So, when you go to the store, you have lot of choices.
Where will you find these at the store? They’re in the produce section. Most produce is grown on farms. They’re brought to the store after they’re harvested.
There’s a nice thing about vegetables. They’re healthy for you. And, you can eat as much as you want! They’re very low in calories. And they’re full of vitamins and minerals. Those are good for you. And what a broad choice you have. Carrots, green beans, cabbage, celery. Green peppers, lettuce, broccoli! I love to eat veggies. I hope you do, too.
You should eat at least two or three fruits each day. Did you know this? Tomatoes are fruits. They’re not veggies! I like to pick fresh tomatoes. Then I eat them like an apple. Mmm! So good!
One crop that I grow is field corn. Most of it is for feed for my animals. But I also grow sweet corn. I sell some of it at the local market each summer. Lots of folks like to eat corn, too.
My neighbor grows potatoes on her farm. This shot shows a crop of potato plants. Look closely. Do you see any potatoes? Nope! That’s because potatoes are part of potato plant’s roots! So where are the potatoes? Well, roots grow beneath the soil, right? So, the potatoes are underground!
All plants have roots. Roots take in water and nutrients from the soil. And they keep plants firmly imbedded in the Earth. And that’s even through wind and rain. Not all plants have edible roots. But potato plants do! At harvest time, farmers dig the potatoes out of the ground.
How do you eat potatoes? Baked? Mashed? What other foods are ways to prepare potatoes? How about potato chips and French fries?
Carrots, radishes, and beets are all root vegetables, too. How do farmers harvest them? Yes. They dig them up, too.
What else is grown on farms besides fruits and veggies? I happen to grow wheat. Some of that is food for my animals. People also eat wheat products. But we don’t eat it “raw,” like animals do! Wheat gets harvested. Then it gets processed. That puts it into a form of food that people like to eat. Some farmers grow other grains. These might be rice or oats.
Do you eat cereal. You’re likely eating wheat, oats, or rice grains! Look at a cereal box. Find out what kind of grains are in it.
Sometimes the grain is made into flour. Flour is then used in different recipes. It contributes to foods like bread, muffins, and cookies. It also turns into spaghetti! I’m proud to grow crops that become food for you.
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WEEK TWENTY-NINE PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 56) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-E” SOUND … continued:
Letters “IE”:
I would as lief go to the party as not.
We have put a lien on his property until he pays us what he owes us.
My favorite cheese is a nice, creamy brie.
I challenge you to a race around the playing field.
James Bond finally caught the evil fiend and the courts put him behind bars.
Did you know that my niece is an accomplished ballet dancer?
Here is the final piece to complete the jigsaw puzzle.
The King’s army laid siege to the enemy castle.
Please be brief when you tell me what happened.
She went through a long period of grief after her mother passed away.
We skied all day, and I bet that we’re going to be really sore tomorrow.
The salesperson was convincing when he gave his spiel.
Letters “IE” that “roll into” the “ER” sound:
You can walk way out to the end of the pier, and the fishing is often pretty good there.
Many piers along the coastline were damaged by the hurricane.
Let’s sit in the second tier of the theater.
Wow, this wedding cake has six tiers to it!
Letter E “just by itself”:
I’d like to be an astronaut when I grow up.
I know that he thinks you are pretty!
It’s fine with me if you wait until tomorrow to finish this.
We would like to invite you over to dinner at our house this Saturday night.
He’d be a great guy to add to the team.
I know that he’s excited about seeing the movie this afternoon.
I thought that we’d all enjoy pancakes for breakfast this morning.
I bet that he’ll take you up on your offer.
We’ll need to take the dog to the vet in the morning.
I think that we’ve got a casserole in the freezer that we can have for dinner tonight.
Letter “E” just by itself where the Long-E sound “rolls into” the “ER” sound:
I think that the new vase would look good right here on the table.
We’re so happy to see you!
Here’s a good place to stop and fill the car with gas.
Letters “EI”:
Leif Erikson, a famous Viking, is thought to have been to the New World centuries before Columbus.
Vivien Leigh was well-known for her iconic role in the film “Gone With The Wind.”
Sam Neill acted in more than one “Jurassic Park” film.
The pirate captain yelled, “Seize that ship!”
Letters “EI” that “roll into” the “ER” sound:
That new kid at school is one weird dude!
Letter “I” “just by itself”:
Editor’s note: Letter-I making the Long-E sound is actually the third most frequent sound of Letter-I ! Once you move into longer words, this phenomenon occurs all the time, in words like: “serious, macaroni, pepperoni, khaki, ganglia, pastrami, sierra, police, kiwi, corgi, etc., etc…”
Let’s head to the ski lodge for a warm cup of hot chocolate.
I’m excited about trying out my new pair of skis on the slopes tomorrow.
The pianist said, “I will next play a gigue that was written by Bach.”
Letters “EY”:
Is this the right key to the door?
I asked the janitor, “How many keys do you have on that keychain?”
Some jerk keyed my car door in the parking lot today.
Letters “AY”:
A number of boats were moored along the quay.
The sailor couldn’t count the number of quays where he’d anchored a boat.
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WEEK THIRTY
WEEK THIRTY READING PASSAGES
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Farms
Lesson 71 – Part Four
NEW WORDS: Barry, adequate, aisle, anew, applesauce, apply, beekeeper, bouquet, canning, churning, created, cultivate, decoration, destroying, differs, drought, droughts, easiest, emerge, ensure, evenly, farmer’s, farmhands, fertilize, fertilizer, fertilizers, fortunately, fragile, frequently, irrigate, irrigation, labeled, livestock, locust, locusts, machinery, mangoes, manure, oinked, option, packaged, pesticides, pests, pickup, planting, plowed, processing, quacked, repel, risk, ruin, shred, sorted, spreader, spreaders, sprouted, stalks, summertime, supermarket, swoops, tailgate, thickened, trampling, trucked, usual, vengeance, whipping, wildflowers, yield, zinnias
Chapter Seven: The Little Red Hen
A little red hen worked hard each day. But the other farm animals never helped.
She was scratching around in the barnyard one day. She found some grains of wheat. “We can plant these seeds. Then they will grow,” thought the hen. So she asked, “Who will help me plant these grains of wheat?”
“Not I,” quacked the duck.
“Not I,” meowed the cat.
“Not I,” oinked the pig.
“Then I will do it myself,” clucked the little red hen. And that is just what she did. All by herself!
Each day she checked on her wheat plants. First they sprouted. Then, they were growing nicely. She pulled the weeds up around them. That gave the wheat room to grow. They grew all summer. They had grown into tall stalks of ripe, golden grain.
Now the stalks of wheat were ripe. The grain was ready to be harvested from the field. At this point, the little red hen asked for help. “Who will help me cut the wheat?”
“Not I,” quacked the duck.
“Not I,” meowed the cat.
“Not I,” oinked the pig.
“Then I will do it myself,” clucked the little red hen. And that is just what she did. All by herself!
She had now cut the wheat. She asked, “Who will help me grind this wheat grain into flour?”
“Not I,” quacked the duck.
“Not I,” meowed the cat.
“Not I,” oinked the pig.
“Then I will do it myself,” clucked the little red hen. And that is just what she did. All by herself!
She had now ground the wheat into flour. She asked, “Now, who will help me make this flour into bread dough?”
“Not I,” quacked the duck.
“Not I,” meowed the cat.
“Not I,” oinked the pig.
“Then I will do it myself,” clucked the little red hen. And that is just what she did. All by herself!
Now that she had mixed the dough, She asked, “Who will help me bake the bread?”
“Not I,” quacked the duck.
“Not I,” meowed the cat.
“Not I,” oinked the pig.
“Then I will do it myself,” clucked the little red hen. And that is just what she did. All by herself!
The little red hen had worked hard all summer. She had received no help from anyone else. Now she baked a fine loaf of bread. She said, “Who will help me eat the bread?”
“I will,” quacked the duck.
“I will,” meowed the cat.
“I will,” oinked the pig.
“Aha!” clucked the little red hen. “No, you will not! I planted the wheat all by myself. I cut the wheat all by myself. I ground the wheat grain into flour all by myself. I mixed the dough and baked it all by myself. And now I will eat the bread All by myself!”
And that is just what she did. All by herself! And it was the best tasting loaf of bread she’d ever eaten!
Chapter Eight: The Seasons Of Farming
There are four seasons in a year. Spring always follows winter. Summer follows spring. And fall, or autumn, follows summer. After autumn comes winter. Then, the cycle begins anew. A farmer’s work changes from season to season. He or she does certain jobs each season.
Let’s learn about how a farmer’s jobs change. It makes sense to begin with spring. That’s when plants awaken from winter. New buds, leaves, and blossoms appear on trees. Wildflowers bloom in the fields. Springtime also marks the beginning of the crop cycle. Seeds are planted. New crops begin to grow.
A farmer can’t plant if he does not prepare the ground first. Typically, this is done with a plow. This plow has long sharp teeth. They dig into the Earth. They shred the dirt and plants. That makes room for new seeds.
We have a good way to describe how the soil is prepared. The farmer will “cultivate” the soil. He adds a little fertilizer. That adds nutrients to the soil. The right fertilizer differs from plant to plant. Some fertilizers are made from chemicals. Some are made from animal manure, or animal waste.
How will a farmer plant large crops? Most will use tractor-driven seed spreaders like this one. It drops the seeds into the plowed rows that the farmer created. It drops the seeds evenly in the rows. Then, the seed spreader brushes a layer of soil over the seeds.
Then, it’s a waiting game. The farmer watches the weather. And he hopes for rain. The seeds need water. That’s so they can sprout into seedlings. In many places, spring is a rainy season. Few things make a farmer happier than the sight of dark rain clouds overhead.
Eventually, the brown field will turn green. Seedlings emerge from the soil. They have sprouted. These new plants will continue to need water. Spring will turn to summer. These corn plants will then be about knee-high. They will get taller and taller throughout the hot summer.
Sometimes, problems arise. The plants may not grow as expected. Crops fail, or die, sometimes. And that’s no matter how hard a farmer works. And it’s no matter how much he knows about farming. Drought is one of the farmer’s worst enemies. Droughts occur when there is a lack of enough rain. They occur most frequently during summertime. The crop in this picture should be tall and green. But, there’s a drought. So, the crop is brown and wilted.
It helps if he has a good source of water nearby. Then, the farmer can “irrigate” his crops. (That’s a gigantic version of watering your lawn!) But a long drought can cause wells and rivers to dry up. Irrigation can work well. But there still needs to be adequate rainfall.
Unfortunately, rain isn’t the only worry a farmer has. Pests can ruin a crop, as well. That risk is greatest in the summer. This is a locust. It’s a type of grasshopper. Locusts are famous for destroying crops. They eat them up with a vengeance! And there are lots of worms, beetles, flies, and other insects to worry about. They can also eat a farmer’s crops.
Fortunately, farmers have ways to protect their crops. Sometimes, farmers spray “pesticides.” These are chemicals that repel bugs and insects. This can ensure that the crop will survive. Then it should yield plenty of fruits or veggies. How does a farmer apply pesticides? She uses the same equipment that she uses to fertilize her crops.
There’s one other option. This is used with very large crops. There is a ton of land to cover in this case. And some crops are fragile. They could be damaged by tractor wheels. So, the farmer can hire a crop duster. That’s a type of airplane. The pilot swoops down out of the sky. He opens his hatch. He releases the pesticides over the crops. The crop duster can spray a large area. And there’s no trampling of his crops by tractor tires.
On some farms, the harvest is the hardest time. Crops must be harvested at just the right time. If not, they’ll spoil. Harvest time is different from crop to crop. It may run from early summer through the fall season. Some crops must be harvested by hand. That’s so they’re not damaged. Grapes are a good example. During harvest time, farmers need all the help they can get. They often hire part-time helpers or farmhands. These extra folks help bring in the harvest more quickly.
This may surprise you. Not all farmers plant new crops each winter. Think about farmers who own orchards. These are fruit-tree farms, like apples and peaches. They only have to plant each tree one time. That may sound easier. But it also requires a lot of hard work and patience. Apple trees don’t bear fruit right away. The orchard owner must wait several years. It takes time before they’re able to produce big, red, juicy apples. After the trees are fully grown, they’ll follow the usual crop cycle. They’ll produce new leaves and flowers in the spring. Young fruits will arrive in the summer. The apples grow all summer long until fall. Then it’s apple-picking time.
After harvest time, the farmer can finally rest. You might think that winter would be the easiest season for a farmer. And compared to other seasons, it probably is. But there’s still work in winter. It’s the only time the farmer has to fix tools and machinery. Some may have worn out or broken during the rest of the year. It’s also time to plan for the next planting season. The farmer will buy seeds and test the soil. Then he decides how much fertilizer he will need next year. It doesn’t matter what the season is. There’s always work to be done on the farm!
Chapter Nine: From Farm To Market
Long ago, where were most people in the U.S? They lived and worked on small farms. They got all the food they needed from their own farm. They grew crops. They had livestock. They ate their own veggies, fruits, and meats. They made their own bread, butter, and cheese. Their own farm gave them what they needed.
What about on my farm? We still make a lot of our own things. Most people buy those at the supermarket or other stores. Here’s an example. We don’t eat everything right when we harvest it. We pack some of our produce in glass jars. This is called canning. We make our own canned beans, beets, and pears. Canned food will not spoil. It remains edible for months and even years. Even fresh fruits and veggies will spoil fairly soon. And that’s even if you keep them in the frig.
Long ago, farmers made butter in a butter churn. We still have a butter churn on our farm. But it’s just for decoration. We don’t use it now. Back then, here’s what you did. You’d pour milk into the churn. You’d swish it up, down, and all around with a stick. It took a while. And it was hard work. But the milk changed with all the churning and whipping. It thickened and turned into butter! Now, we DO still make some of our own ice cream. We use a machine like a butter churn. We use fresh milk from the cows. We churn it in a special ice cream machine. It takes a while to make. But it sure tastes good!
Most farmers don’t grow or make everything they need. I don’t grow coconuts, mangoes, or pineapples. But I like to eat them. Nor do I raise turkeys. But I eat one each Thanksgiving. So, I get things that I don’t grow or make. Where do I get them? I buy them, just like everyone else.
Once or twice a week, I go to the Farmer’s Market. I take my extra produce. I sell it there. That’s where I earn some of my money. Today, I’ll take beans, tomatoes, corn, and eggs. Come along! Let’s see how business is at the market today.
Goodness, there are lots of folks here. I just backed my pickup truck under the tent. I opened up the tailgate. Before I knew it, I had a line of people! They were waiting to buy my fresh produce. I’ve been here two hours. I have sold all my goods. I think I’ll wander around. Let’s see what the other farmers have to offer.
There’s Barry the Beekeeper. He has jars of dark, rich honey. They’re made by his own bees. I bet he’ll trade with me. How about a big jar of honey for two or three dozen eggs. Yum!
I see Mary the Flower Lady. She brought zinnias, daisies, and sunflowers. I’ll buy a bouquet for Mrs. MacDonald. Then I’ll go to the supermarket. There are other things that I need.
Look at all the food in this store! There are so many choices. I can’t even begin to count them all. There are so many breakfast cereals. There are tons of canned fruits and vegetables. There’s beef, chicken, and pork. There’s milk, eggs, juice, and yogurt. There are noodles, cheese, crackers, and so much more. Here’s what I see each time I come here. Almost everything here got its start on a farm!
All groceries have a canned food aisle. These cans come from canning factories. Farm produce is packed into metal cans or glass jars. It’s labeled so you can tell what’s inside.
This man is loading boxes of canned goods onto a truck. Where was it a few months ago? It was growing on a plant. It was somewhere in a farmer’s field. Now it’s in a can. It’s on its way to a grocery. There’s really no telling where it will end up now. For all you know, it could wind up in your belly!
Here’s another place where farm produce is processed. Have you ever seen so many apples? I work hard just to grow a few dozen of them. I can’t imagine trying to grow so many of them. But some farmers do.
These apples were harvested a few days ago. But the farmer had to wait for a truck driver to come and pick them up. He would drive them to the processing plant. They’d be washed, sorted, processed, and packaged. Then they’d be trucked off to the store. Some of these apples will be in the produce section. You can buy one and munch on it right away. There are other ways that apples are prepared and eaten. Can you think of any? I’ll get you started. How about applesauce?
Here are a few foods made from apples. How many have you tasted? Did you get them at the farm or at the market?
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Lesson 72 – Inf./Deriv. Builder
NEW WORDS: Justin, Justin’s, aired, airhead, airheads, airing, anthills, beelines, befriend, befriended, birdlike, birdwatching, biter, biters, blacker, blower, blowers, blowhard, blowhards, blowouts, bluefish, boxcars, boxfish, boxing, buyer, buyers, buyout, buyouts, buzzes, bygones, bystander, bystanders, callers, catbird’s, catlike, catty, childlike, climbers, colds, coolly, courses, crier, criers, cutters, daddies, daddy’s, darkly, deadly, dens, dogfish, doghouse, doghouses, doglike, fairer, fairest, fairs, fallout, fasting, fasts, feeders, feeler, findings, fishlike, floater, floaters, floats, floods, flyby, flyer, flyers, froggy, girlfriends, golder, goldest, goodly, grayer, grayest, haircuts, hairdos, horsehair, horsehairs, horseplay, housefly, letdown, longhairs, mayday, mayflies, mayfly, outcry, playday, playdays, putdown, runaround, runarounds, sailboats, sailfish, shortcut, shorthairs, shutdown, songbird, tonight’s, turnarounds, whitefish, withstand, withstanding, withstands, withstood
Her cats are all shorthairs.
He has a birdlike face.
I love black-eyed peas.
What just buzzed by my ear?
Pick up your clothes.
The new child is a biter.
There was a big outcry from what he said.
What were your findings?
Stop giving me the runaround.
She fasted for days.
I don’t like her, she’s catty.
His hair has gotten grayer.
You must let bygones be bygones!
Is there a buyer for your house?
Eat some of these goodies, if you please.
It’s brightly lit here.
Those blowhards think they’re so smart!
Cut out the horseplay!
I found a shortcut home.
There were beelines to get out on all six floors.
Daddy’s home!
Let’s go boating today.
Pull off the road at one of those turnarounds.
There’s a fishlike smell in their house.
That’s the grayest sky in days.
Three is greater than two.
Who’s the fairest of them all?
How many calls did we get?
This is the darkest room in the house.
Can Tom come for a playday?
Jill is Tom’s girlfriend.
We’ve had lots of floods this year.
She made a catlike sound.
Dad, you’re in the doghouse with Mom!
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it!
Is this violin bow made of horsehair?
It’s not nice to call her an airhead.
You are our fifth caller today.
There are ten redbirds at our bird feeders.
How much did they get for the buyout?
I think she has fairer skin than you.
Ask that bystander what he saw.
She’s put out feelers about getting a new job.
He looked me coolly in the eye.
I want to be a hair cutter.
That pretty thing is a deadly frog!
Mayflies stay near the water.
I saw lots of pigs in those boxcars.
I saw lots of anthills when I cut the grass.
I hate how he puts on airs.
He catches too many colds.
Justin has two girlfriends.
Let’s see if this floats.
Are these doghouses too small for our dog?
When did Tom befriend Max?
Are the froggies at the pond singing?
We need to get a snow blower.
They have taken up birdwatching.
I’m sick of all these runarounds they’re giving me.
What’s that buzzing sound?
My ring is golder than yours.
That’s a goodly bit of food!
His cats are all longhairs.
He has a doglike nose.
I will be fasting for three days.
What is the fallout from their big fight?
I can’t withstand this much heat.
I love this story about a kind froggy.
You’re way too old to be so childlike.
There have been three buyouts in our town.
Our buyers think that costs too much.
That’s one of the best haircuts you’ve had.
That shortcut is flooded.
That’s Justin’s daddy.
We’ve had four playdays this year.
All of their children are biters.
Were any bystanders hurt?
He’s a floater on our team.
When it buzzes, call me.
Look at the climbers way up there!
Bring a lot of clothing on the trip.
The feeler I put out didn’t help me.
Mom fasts once a year.
Who’s calling this late in the day?
I love going to State Fairs.
I keep finding more dead bugs.
She withstood a hard day!
How many courses is she taking?
The Town Crier is loud.
They’re all hair cutters.
Aren’t the sailboats pretty to watch?
I boxed them up and put them in the car.
He hid in a boxcar.
I’ve never seen a blacker night.
That’s not one of your best hairdos.
How did horsehairs get in the house?
That show will be airing tonight.
I love Airheads candy.
She’s sitting in the catbird’s seat!
That’s a lovely songbird.
That’s the goldest tooth I’ve seen.
I don’t know how he withstands that.
Hand out these flyers to the girls.
Songbirds like our garden.
He aired his thoughts to the team.
Our car has had three blowouts.
How many snow blowers does our town have?
Is bluefish good to eat?
The dens in the home show all had TVs.
Mayday, our ship needs help!
There’s a mayfly on your head.
Tonight’s show has been light on callers.
The floaters on our team are good.
Min befriended Jin last year.
I am withstanding lots of pain right now.
Get that flyer from the door.
Lots of daddies came to the show.
That room is too darkly lit.
I like to watch boxing.
There is such a thing as a dogfish.
Look at that big starfish!
Whitefish is pretty good to eat.
Dad likes to catch sailfish.
A yellow boxfish has polka-dots.
This plant dies, then comes back in the spring.
All that blowhard does is talk, talk, talk!
It was a letdown that he didn’t get the job.
That was a really mean putdown!
Give me the rundown on what’s going on.
You can’t get in, they’re on shutdown.
We’ll eat at sundown.
All their children have been criers.
The ship made a close flyby around the moon.
There’s a housefly in my milk!
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Lesson 73 – Coxhead Academic Vocab-Builder
NEW WORDS: Principal, Superman, abandon, accompany, accurate, achieve, alternative, appreciate, approach, assist, attach, attitude, author, available, aware, channel, collapse, concentrate, conflict, contradict, contribute, convince, cooperate, crimes, debate, decade, define, deny, draft, erode, error, estimate, final, flexible, furthermore, generation, guarantee, identical, impact, index, individual, initial, inspect, instruct, intelligence, issue, label, lecture, link, maintain, manipulate, medical, military, nuclear, obvious, ongoing, outcome, overall, overseas, parallel, participate, partner, percent, perspective, phase, physical, portion, precise, prime, prior, priority, professional, purchase, quote, remove, research, respond, reverse, schedule, somewhat, strategy, text, trigger, uniform, widespread
Abandon ship!
Accompany me to the show.
Your answer is accurate.
I’ll achieve lots this year.
At what age do you become an “adult?”
Here’s an alternative idea.
I appreciate your doing that.
Don’t approach that dog.
Please assist me with that.
Attach this to the zip-line.
You have a bad attitude!
Who’s the author of that book?
None are available right now.
Are you aware I heard that?
Take a brief break.
You’re very capable of doing that.
I said it would be a challenge!
Turn the TV channel.
I’m so tired I might collapse!
Will you make a comment about that?
You must communicate better.
Concentrate when you take the test.
What’s this conflict about?
Did they contact you yet?
Don’t contradict what I said!
She’ll really contribute to the team!
Do you think you can convince him?
Cooperate with her!
That’s a happy couple.
Mom found her credit card!
You can’t debate me on that.
I met her a decade ago.
Define this word.
Do you deny you said that?
What’s that device you’ve got?
Have you read the document?
Are you done with your first draft?
That’s enough drama, class!
His dog is enormous!
We must care for our environment.
Land will erode with this kind of rain.
There’s just one error on my test!
Can you estimate how many there are?
He’s an expert at that game.
This is your final chance.
Let’s stay flexible, just in case.
Furthermore, you’d better clean up your room!
He’s from an older generation.
Our class has a new globe.
I got a good grade!
This has a one-year guarantee.
Highlight that phrase on your page.
Can you identify the bad guy?
The two dogs look identical.
There’s an image of it in my head.
How much impact will that have?
Turn to the index in your book.
She’s a kind individual.
What’s your middle initial?
Take care, and don’t injure yourself.
May I inspect your clean-up job?
I will instruct you in the dark arts!
She shows high intelligence.
What’s the issue here?
Add that item to the bag.
Pull the label off that shirt.
Dad gave me a long lecture about that.
Is there a link between the two crimes?
Did you locate your cell phone?
What’s the logic behind your answer?
Try to maintain a cool head.
Don’t you try to manipulate me!
He’s now more mature.
She has lots of medical problems.
My dad’s in the military.
It’s just a minor problem.
It’s time to act normal, please.
Many people are scared of nuclear power.
Isn’t the answer obvious?
It didn’t occur to me that she’d do that.
This seems to be an ongoing problem.
Do we have another option?
What’s the outcome of the study?
Overall, we did a good job.
My dad takes trips overseas.
What is a parallel line?
Will you participate in the game?
My dance partner is sick.
I’m a hundred percent sure of it!
You have a different perspective about this.
He’s just going through a phase.
She’s in great physical shape.
That’s too big a portion to eat.
Pose, and smile for the picture.
You’re positive you saw that?
Be precise when you solve math problems.
Who can tell me what a prime number is?
Our new Principal is nice.
My prior boss was not nice.
Your first priority is to clean your room.
You may now proceed into the room.
She is a sports professional.
I hope to publish this book.
How many did you purchase?
Have you heard this famous quote?
How did she react when you told her?
Remove your shoes.
Are you done with the research for your paper?
Respond to my question.
The ship had to reverse course.
We’re behind schedule.
I feel somewhat sick.
I need a more straightforward answer.
What’s your strategy for getting that done?
I’m under lots of stress.
Text me your phone number.
Are we ready to pull the trigger?
Put on your school uniform.
Superman has X-ray vision.
The flooding is widespread.
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WEEK THIRTY PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 57) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-I” SOUND:
Letters “IE”:
If you don’t water this flower, it’s going to die.
Before the joust commenced, the knight yelled to his opponent, “Fie on you!”
Hie yourself down to this once-in-a-lifetime sale!
You must tell the truth and never lie to someone!
I’m drooling to have a slice of that blueberry pie.
Should I wear this paisley tie, or that striped one?
Are you going to vie to become captain of the team?
Our grandma died three years ago today.
The mythical bird the Phoenix dies, and then it is reborn from its own ashes.
In the Middle Ages, you might farm land called a “fief” that was still owned by a Lord.
Dad hied to the golf course early in order to hit some practice balls.
In this scene in the movie, she hies to the emergency room because she’s about to have her baby.
If that politician lied once in that press conference, then he really lied ten times!
That guy is so bad that every time he opens his mouth he lies!
Our teacher read us the story of the Pied Piper today.
Mom baked two different kinds of pies for Thanksgiving.
Look, Mom, I tied both of my shoes in less than a minute.
The Congressman from our own District vied to become Speaker of the House.
My bossy older sister always vies to be the leader of whatever group she is in.
The Noble’s feudal territory included some twenty fiefs.
My brother cried, “Watch out for that snake!”
My little sister cries if Mom won’t get her a treat at the grocery store.
Dad always eats dried apricots with his cereal for breakfast.
Blast it, all these flies are landing on my food.
I think I’ll order the fried catfish for lunch.
Dad pried off the top to that rusted paint container.
I just can’t stand how Mrs. Russell always pries into my private business.
I skied my drive, and the golf ball went only a hundred yards.
Nothing picks up my mood more than beautiful sunny skies.
We spied on Mom’s and Dad’s party from the outside windows.
The two spies met to exchange messages at a very secluded location.
I tried calling her, but she didn’t answer her phone.
My little sister tries to annoy me, but I ignore her.
Letter “I” — “just by itself”:
You’ve got it all wrong; I meant something entirely different.
“Lady Di” was a term of endearment for Princess Diana of England.
When you saw Santa come down the chimney, did he say “hi” to you?
I’d like some vanilla ice cream on my cake, please.
I’m exhausted and ready for bed.
This coffee shop needs to boost the signal on its wi–fi.
My uncle belonged to the Chi Phi fraternity in college.
I think I’ll go shoot some hoops for a little while.
I will go tell the boss that I’ve got a good solution to this problem.
I handed the mic to the assistant principal so that she could make her announcement.
I just finished the third book in a great sci-fi trilogy.
We’re in quite a bind in this situation.
Dern it, I cant find my car keys.
The dog is limping on its hind right leg.
They sailed their boat to a beautiful isle.
That’s very kind of you to help me with this.
Get some salsa at the store, but make sure that it’s mild.
They visited many small isles in the Pacific Ocean.
Do you mind if I sit here?
Bring home a pint of half-and-half from the store, please.
Let’s grate a bit of this lemon rind to put into the pound cake.
Our trip down the rapids was wild!
I need to go wind up the grandfather clock.
Signing this contract binds you to many terms and conditions.
This new dinosaur fossil is one of the most important finds in many years.
There are many different kinds of delicious fruits to choose from here.
These high-quality gloves are made of lisle thread.
The clock’s ticking, so you’d better make up your minds!
The waitress brought over three pints of beer to our table.
Let’s put these orange rinds in with the mulling spices, and the kitchen will smell wonderful!
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WEEK THIRTY-ONE
WEEK THIRTY-ONE READING PASSAGES
Lesson 74 – Beatrix Potter
The Tale Of Benjamin Bunny
NEW WORDS: Benjamin’s, boldly, clogs, doorsteps, enjoying, forgave, frames, greenhouse, habit, knitted, lavender, lettuce, lolly, managed, marched, mortar, muffatees, nephew, observed, perplexed, planks, poorly, presently, ridiculously, sandiest, scarecrow, shanter, shrunk, spanked, spoils, strung, tam, terrace, topped, trit, widow
It was a nice morn. A little rabbit sat on a bank. He pricked his ears. He heard a “trit-trot” sound. It was a pony. A coach came up the road. Mr. Gregg was driving it. Mrs. Gregg sat next to him. She had on her best bonnet.
They passed the rabbit. Then he slid down to the road. His name was Ben Bunny. He went down the road. He liked to hop, skip, and jump. He wanted to see his cousins. They lived in the woods. Those were the woods at the back of Mr. Gregg’s garden.
Those woods were full of rabbit holes. He would look for the neatest, sandiest hole. That’s where his cousins lived. They were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. Old Mrs. Rabbit was a widow. She was Ben’s Aunt.
Mrs. Rabbit had to earn a living. So, she knitted rabbit-wool mittens. Some did not cover the fingers. Those were called muffatees. I once bought a pair at a fair. She also sold herbs, tea, and rabbit-tobacco. (We call that lavender).
Ben did not want to see his Aunt. He came round the back of the fir-tree. He nearly fell on top of his Cousin Peter. Peter was sitting by himself. He looked poorly. He was dressed in a red cotton pocket-handkerchief.
“Peter,” whispered little Ben. “Who has your clothes?
Peter said, “The scarecrow in Mr. Gregg’s garden.” He told how he had been chased about the garden. He had dropped his shoes and coat. Little Ben sat down by his cousin. He assured him that Mr. Gregg was on a ride. Mrs. Gregg was with him. He thought they be gone all day. That’s because she was wearing her bonnet.
Peter hoped that it would rain. At this point, old Mrs. Rabbit called out. “Cotton-tail! Cotton-tail! Fetch some more tea!”
Peter said he might feel better if he went for a walk. He and Ben went away hand in hand. They got on the flat top of the wall. That was at the bottom of the woods. From here, they looked down into Mr. Gregg’s garden.
Peter’s coat and shoes were easy to see. They were on the scarecrow. They were topped with an old tam-o’-shanter cap of Mr. Gregg’s. Little Ben said, “It spoils people’s clothes to squeeze under a gate. There’s a proper way to get in. That’s to climb down a pear-tree.”
Peter fell down head first. But he was ok. The bed below was newly raked. So, it was quite soft. It was full of lettuces. They left a great many odd little foot-marks all over the bed. Ben’s were easier to see. He was wearing clogs.
Little Ben said that the first thing to be done was to get back Peter’s clothes. That way, they might be able to use the pocket-handkerchief. They took them off the scarecrow. There had been rain during the night. There was water in the shoes, and the coat was somewhat shrunk. Benjamin tried on the tam-o’-shanter. It was too big for him. Then he suggested that they should fill the pocket-handkerchief with onions. They could be a little present for his Aunt.
Peter did not seem to be enjoying himself. He kept hearing noises. Benjamin, on the contrary, was perfectly at home. He ate a lettuce leaf. He said that he was in the habit of coming to the garden with his father. They would get lettuces for their Sunday dinner. (The name of little Benjamin’s papa was old Mr. Benjamin Bunny.) The lettuces certainly were very fine.
Peter did not eat anything. He said he would like to go home. Soon, he dropped half of the onions. Little Benjamin said that it was not possible to get back up the pear-tree. Not with a load of vegetables. He led the way boldly towards the other end of the garden. They went along a little walk on planks. These were under a sunny, redbrick wall.
The mice sat on their doorsteps cracking cherry-stones. They winked at Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin Bunny. Presently, Peter let the pocket-handkerchief go again. They got among the flower-pots, and frames, and tubs. Peter heard noises worse than ever. His eyes were as big as lolly-pops!
He was a step or two in front of his cousin when he suddenly stopped. This is what those little rabbits saw round that corner! Little Benjamin took one look. It was a cat! So, in half a minute, he hid himself, Peter, and the onions underneath a large basket.
The cat got up and stretched herself. She came and sniffed at the basket. Perhaps she liked the smell of onions! Anyway, she sat down upon the top of the basket. She sat there for FIVE HOURS. I cannot draw you a picture of Peter and Benjamin underneath the basket. It was too dark there.
The smell of the onions was fearful. It made Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin cry. The sun was now behind the woods. It was quite late in the afternoon. But still, the cat sat on the basket.
At length, there was a pitter-patter, pitter-patter. Some bits of mortar fell from the wall above. The cat looked up and saw old Mr. Benjamin Bunny. He was prancing along the top of the wall of the upper terrace. He was smoking a pipe of rabbit-tobacco, and he had a little switch in his hand. He was looking for his son.
Old Mr. Bunny wasn’t scared of cats at all. He took a tremendous jump off the top of the wall and landed on top of the cat. He knocked it off the basket, and he kicked it into the greenhouse, scratching off a handful of fur.
The cat was much too surprised to scratch back. When old Mr. Bunny had driven the cat into the greenhouse, he locked the door. Then he came back to the basket and took out his son Benjamin by the ears. Then, he spanked him with the little switch.
Then, he took out his nephew Peter. He finally took out the handkerchief of onions, and he marched out of the garden. When Mr. Gregg returned about a half hour later, he observed several things which perplexed him. It looked as though some person had been walking all over the garden in a pair of clogs. But the foot-marks were too ridiculously little! Also, he couldn’t understand how the cat could have managed to shut herself up INSIDE the greenhouse. After all, the door was locked on the OUTSIDE.
When Peter got home, his mother forgave him. She was just glad to see that he had found his shoes and coat. Cotton-tail and Peter folded up the pocket-handkerchief. Then old Mrs. Rabbit strung up the onions and hung them from the kitchen ceiling, with the bunches of herbs and the rabbit-tobacco.
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Lesson 75 – 4-Letter Vocab-Builder
NEW WORDS: Czar, Deb’s, Demi, Goldie, Hawaii, Lang’s, Maori, Milo, Milt, Nana, Nazi, PACS, Parr, Paty, Rand, Russian, Senator, Shrek, Tate, Ted’s, Tibetan, Toby, abominable, amulet, antelopes, arrest, blizzard, breakthrough, buffoon, campaigns, campus, cams, cant, canvas, carb, cark, casa, cavy, cays, cede, cite, cukes, curd, curs, curt, cusp, cyan, cyst, dabs, daft, dais, dale, dank, data, daub, dealers, deco, deem, deft, demo, diaper, filter, fives, flatbread, flavored, flunked, fund, gals, gamy, gang, garb, garlic, gars, gawk, gazelles, gear, gels, gems, gene, gent, ghee, gibe, gibs, gigs, gild, gill, gins, gird, gits, glib, glim, glob, gloom, glug, glut, gnus, goas, gobo, goby, gogo, gong, herb, highs, insincere, intermittent, leaky, lemon, liar, loot, lops, lore, lows, luau, lube, madman, margarine, martial, menu, mere, mesa, mesh, meth, mica, mild, naan, nabs, nada, nags, narc, nary, nave, neon, nerd, novel, oafs, oaks, oath, obit, oboe, odes, ogre, oily, okra, oldy, oleo, olive, omen, omit, pact, pads, pall, pant, pars, pave, pawn, peak, peal, pecs, peed, peen, podium, political, quad, quay, quid, quip, quiz, raga, raid, raja, rant, raps, rapt, rash, rave, raze, ream, rear, recital, redo, reds, reek, reel, refs, rein, rely, rend, repo, reps, scored, shack, shields, song’s, studies, suffers, suggest, surgery, tabs, taco, tact, tads, talc, tamp, tans, tapa, tarp, tats, taut, teak, teal, teas, teed, teem, tees, temp, tens, term, tern, thaw, thru, thud, thug, tics, tidy, tier, tiff, tike, tiki, tine, tins, tits, whiskeys, wilt, witchcraft, wizard, yaws, yeti, yews, yoga, yoke, zilch, zits, zonk
Mom’s at a yoga class.
They have a tarp on their leaky roof.
The gals are at their book club.
The cant in his speech was insincere.
Raid the castle!
I deem that to be a good idea.
You’ll need 20 tabs for your notebook.
He made a pact with the devil.
Those oafs trip on their own feet.
The cams in the machine are worn out.
That’s gamy tasting meat.
Tack this to the corkboard.
We’ve been through highs and lows.
He’s a deft magician.
Mend this torn shirt.
Rams have huge, curly horns.
Let’s eat at Taco Bell.
Let’s have the gang over to eat.
PACS fund political campaigns.
Acorns come from oaks.
Show me your product demo.
I’m on a low-carb diet.
That buffoon has no tact.
Naan is a flatbread in Indian cooking.
Rand Paul was a U.S. Senator.
Gars are fish with sharp teeth.
Hook the yoke to the ox.
There are tads of cat fur on your pants.
Demi Moore did one-armed push-ups!
Where’s the quad at your college campus?
Here’s the kids’ menu.
She doesn’t have a cark in the world!
What garb will you wear to the party?
This talc is good for diaper rash.
I took an oath to my King.
That soldier has the rank of “Major.”
Bring four note-pads.
I hope the cop nabs that purse thief.
We need to tamp down the panic in the room.
Sis has zits on her face.
It’s rude to gawk at her!
They have a casa in Mexico.
He’s a lazy lout.
They have deep sun-tans.
He’ll rant and rave like a madman.
Get your camping gear.
Sail the boat up to the quay.
A pall of gloom fell over them.
I love Taos, New Mexico.
Guinea pigs are from the “cavy” family.
I have no money, zip, zilch, nada!
These gels have nice scents.
Here’s Mr. Lang’s obit in the paper.
This is a tapa restaurant.
It’s just a mere scrape.
Hide if he raps on the window.
Cays were flooded in the storm.
These gems are on sale.
Dr. Tate is a dentist.
A quid is a British pound.
Pam’s not home.
This pill will zonk me out.
She’s rapt in that spy novel.
Their feud turned into tits for tats.
Can Gene come over?
I have to play in an oboe recital.
We had to cede victory to the other team.
My aunt nags my uncle.
Tie the rope taut.
Listen to that dog pant.
He’s a handsome gent.
That’s an eagle gliding over the mesa.
Hail a taxi.
That’s an ugly red rash!
She studies the lore of witchcraft.
I’ll cite four experts to make my case.
I must have ghee for this Indian recipe.
This is pretty teak furniture.
His quip didn’t go over well.
His poems are odes to nature.
Pare off that onion skin.
They’ll raze that old shack soon.
Teal is a shade of blue-green.
His gibe at his mom got him a time-out!
We call our gran “Nana.”
This heat will wilt the lawn.
I love to eat lemon curd.
They sell black, green, and herb teas.
Your story doesn’t mesh with what I heard.
What’s that horrid odor?
These gibs will hold the parts in place.
Ted’s at the game.
A “ream” is 500 sheets of paper.
I flunked the quiz.
Those curs should have put up a fight.
Coach Parr is nice.
A “narc” works to arrest drug dealers.
You really teed me off!
Their band had ten gigs last year.
A raga is a form of East Indian music.
You reap what you sow!
Watch as he lops off that dead branch.
He threw a curt insult at me.
Shrek is a green ogre.
These rich waters teem with fish.
Add some whipping cream to gild the lily.
I scored three pars in my golf round.
These trees are yews.
There’s a dent on the rear of the car.
Can I borrow some golf tees?
We’re on the cusp of a breakthrough.
We could hear nary a sound.
A fish needs a gill to breathe with.
She sells flavored olive oils.
What’s the temp outside?
Meth is a deadly drug.
Paty is from Spain.
Can I redo my book report?
They sell gins and whiskeys.
Can I get change for fives and tens?
Cyan is a shade of blue.
The nets are full of fish
The Abominable Snowman is a yeti.
My skin is dry, not oily.
Gird yourselves for the blizzard.
She’s in her second term as President.
Line the church nave with flowers.
I need surgery to remove a cyst.
The picture has lots of shades of reds.
They should pave that dirt road.
A tern is more slender than a gull.
Those silly gits are foolish.
The robbers took off with their loot.
Mica flakes are quite thin.
Don’t let the ice thaw out.
You called a Russian King a “Czar.”
Over-cooked okra gets slimy.
You reek of garlic!
She’s quite a glib speaker.
How long will it take to get thru the line?
A pawn is one of the pieces in chess.
She’s a sailor in the navy.
Get me if the ship yaws off course.
It landed with a “thud!”
Liar, liar, pants on fire!
Toss a glim of meat to the dog.
Put two dabs of butter on my toast.
Reel in that fish!
They put that thug in jail.
The sun’s behind the mountain peak.
That song’s a goldie–oldy.
I hope that pepper sauce is mild.
He suffers from intermittent face tics.
Put a glob of ice cream on my pie.
Use this ball-peen hammer.
That daft idea would kill us!
The crowd booed at the refs.
The tide goes in and out.
We ate at a luau in Hawaii.
It poured out with a loud “glug!”
I love hearing church bells peal.
I’m a video game nerd.
She’s a tidy maid.
This podium goes up on the dais.
Oleo is a nickname for margarine.
The farms have a glut of cukes.
Rein in that wild horse.
That’s a four-tier wedding cake.
Milo likes martial arts.
This exercise works your pecs.
Nazi Germany lost in World War 2.
Their house has an art deco look.
They made up after their tiff.
Gnus are ox-like antelopes.
We hired nine new sales reps.
They came down from the hills into the dale.
I rely on you for help.
What a cute little tike!
Deb’s in the den.
Goas are Tibetan gazelles.
My car needs an oil, lube, and filter.
A tiki is a Maori amulet.
The cat peed on my bed!
The wizard dreamed of a bad omen.
Our basement is dank.
A gobo shields light from a camera lens.
One tine on my fork broke off.
Milt, pass the peas, please.
The storm will rend the ship to pieces.
The neon light is blinking.
These snuff tins are all empty.
Omit this ingredient from the recipe.
A goby is a small fish.
What does the data suggest?
I can cut you a deal on this repo.
I wish our car window had more tint.
Peel this banana.
There was food and drink a’ gogo at the party.
A raja was a king in India.
Now I’ll daub paint on the canvas.
The Indian built a fire in his tipi.
The drummer banged the gong.
They named their cat Toby.
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Lesson 76 – Poems And Rhymes
NEW WORDS: Betsy, Elspeth, Flinders, Hector, Mattie, Minnie, Texas, bridle, bronco, chattered, cinders, comical, dollies, everybody’s, frisks, jolt, knickers, lasso, pinky, pretzel, protector, reins, saddles, shakety, sleek, woodchuck
Little Polly Flinders
Little Polly Flinders sat among the cinders,
Warming her pretty little toes.
Her mother came and caught her, scolded her wee daughter,
For spoiling her nice new clothes.
The Snail
Snail, snail, shakety shake.
Put out your horns, and I’ll give you some cake!
Woodchuck Chuck
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck could chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
A Good Play
We built a ship upon the stairs, all made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows, to go a-sailing on the billows.
We took a saw and several nails, and water in the nursery pails.
And Tom said, “Let us also take, an apple and a slice of cake,”
Which was enough for Tom and me, to go a-sailing on, till tea.
We sailed along for days and days, and had the very best of plays.
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee, so there was no one left but me.
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
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 leaves bow down their heads, the wind is passing by.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
The Cart
The squirrel went out to cut the hay, did you hear how he chattered, and chattered away?
The blackbird raked, the crow pulled the load, and kitty-cat drove the cart, way down the road.
The Balloon
“What is the news of the day, good neighbor, I pray?”
“They say the balloon, has gone up to the moon!”
The Shoemaker
Joe, the shoemaker, makes my shoes, he pounds them, Rap! Rap! Rap!
He makes them small, he makes them big, and away he pounds, TAP! TAP!
As I Was Going Along
As I was going along, along,
A-singing a comical song, song, song,
The lane that I went was so long, long, long,
And the song that I sang was so long, long, long,
And so I went, singing along.
Belly And Tubs Went Out In A Boat
Belly and Tubs, went out in a boat.
Tubs wore knickers, and Belly a coat.
They got in a quarrel, and started to shout,
And the boat tipped over, and they tumbled out.
Poem By Clyde Watson
Meadow Land
I took a walk one evening, all in a meadow sweet,
And there I chanced that evening, a little girl to meet.
She said, “Good evening” to me, she gave to me her hand.
We sang and played together, in the fresh green meadow land.
Don’t Run Away
Don’t run away, my kitty, in the carriage you must sit.
So stay there with my dollies, and ride around a bit!
The little girl begged nicely, but Kitty ran away.
He said, “I’m very hungry, I’ll chase the mice today!”
“I’m going in to dinner,” he jumped off and he ran.
“And after I have eaten, then catch me if you can!”
Ride A Horsey
Ride, ride a horsey, everybody’s gone away.
Bring Daddy home a pretzel, when you come home today!
Trot, trot, jolt, the farmer has a colt.
The colt he runs away, the farmer falls, hooray! Bump! goes the farmer!
So ride, so ride the children, when they still are wee,
When they’re older then, of course, they will ride upon a horse,
Ride to lands beyond the seas, where pretty maidens grow on trees!
If I had thought of that before, I’d have brought one to your door!
Little Toys
Rosy girls, smiling boys, come and buy my little toys,
Monkeys made of ginger bread, and sugar horses painted red.
Hector Protector
Hector Protector was all dressed in green,
Hector Protector was sent to the Queen.
The Queen did not like him, no more did the King,
So, Hector Protector was sent back again.
Texas Cowboy Song
Oh, I’m a jolly old cowboy, just off the Texas Plains.
My trade is making saddles, and pulling bridle reins.
I’ve learned to throw the lasso, with the greatest ease,
And mount my bronco pony, and ride him when I please!
Pussy Willows
Close your eyes, and do not peek,
And I’ll rub Spring across your cheek.
Smooth as satin, soft and sleek,
Close your eyes, and do not peek.
Poem By Aileen Fisher
Robert, Who Is Often A Stranger To Himself
Do you ever look, in the looking-glass, and see a stranger there?
A child you know, and do not know, wearing what you wear?
Poem By Gwendolyn Brooks
Minnie, Mattie, May
Minnie and Mattie, and fat little May, out in the country, spending a day.
Pinky white piglet, squeals through his snout, woolly white lambkin, frisks all about.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy, and Bess, they all went together to seek a bird’s nest.
They found a bird’s nest with five eggs in, they all took one, and left four in?
(What??? All four names come from the root “Elizabeth,” so just one girl, not four.)
Busy Bee
How does the little busy bee, improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day, from every opening flower!
Poem By Isaac Watts
Rock-A-Bye, Baby
Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green,
Father’s a nobleman, Mother’s a queen,
And Betty’s a lady, and wears a gold ring,
And Johnny’s a drummer, and drums for the king.
Pretty Sally
Of all the girls who are so smart, there’s none like pretty Sally.
She is the darling of my heart, and she lives right in our alley.
Poem By H. Carey
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WEEK THIRTY-ONE PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 57) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-I” SOUND … continued:
Letter “I” — “just by itself” … continued:
There are many dangers lurking for a human in the wilds of the jungle!
When our movie shoot winds up here in Death Valley, we’ll head back to Los Angeles.
When I walked out of the dark theater, I was momentarily blind, due to the bright sun.
Let’s climb these stairs to see the city from the top of the church tower.
When I’m nervous, I tend to grind my teeth.
Letter “I” just by itself where the Long-I sound “rolls into” the “ER” sound:
I need to iron three of your dress shirts.
She’s always busy because she has so many irons in the fire.
Letters “IRE” & “YRE,” where the Long-I sound “rolls into” the “ER” sound:
You want to stay on his good side, because nothing’s worse than being the victim of his ire.
There’s a man overboard in dire straights; we’ve got to pull him back into the boat quickly.
That fire is so warm and cozy!
We’re going to hire a new office assistant tomorrow.
When you go walking on the moor, make sure that you don’t find yourself in a mire.
Yes, Sire, I’ll go fetch your sword at once.
I had a bad day today, and part of the reason is that I had a flat tire.
We need to repair the wire around this hole in the chicken coop.
The boss finally fired that lazy bum at work today.
The forest fires out west this year were brutal.
Hooray, I got hired for the job that I just interviewed for.
Your mom is doing a training session tomorrow for the new hires at her company.
Your aunt is mired in depression over the death of your uncle.
She mires herself in details, and she never sees the forest for the trees.
Did you know that this old horse sired an eventual Kentucky Derby winner?
As part of his cattle business, he sires well-bred dairy cattle.
Bill whispered to his colleague, “Aren’t you tired of hearing him prattle on and on?”
I’ve noticed that Grandpa tires more quickly than he used to.
I’m totally wired from drinking too much coffee.
All of those telephone wires certainly ruin the view of that landscape.
That is an unusually tall church spire, isn’t it?
+++
The British farmer said to his son, “Make sure that all the cows are in the byre before nightfall.”
Today we studied the world’s circular ocean currents that are called a “gyre.”
The ancient Greek stringed instrument called the “lyre” is in the “zither” family of instruments.
They placed the dead body on the pyre, readying for the funeral ceremony.
The city of Tyre is the 4th largest city in Lebanon.
The cows were all sound asleep in the byres across the county.
The orbit of moons around planets, and planets around a star, are types of gyres.
Lyres were being played throughout the ancient Greek festival.
Funeral pyres were dotting the hillside after the battle was over, as the army honored its dead.
Letters “IGH”:
My sister just started high school.
The time draws nigh when you’ll be a college grad and will enter the workforce.
She let out a big sigh and said, “All right, if you insist.”
The King asked his knight, “Will you fight to the death to protect our kingdom?”
Face it son, you’re going to find that life has many highs and many lows.
Is there any way to dim that bright light?
I’ve been on a diet, but I might splurge and have some dessert tonight.
Count Dracula said, “I love the creatures of the night!”
Turn right at the next street corner.
All the students in the class let out big sighs when the teacher said that it was time for a pop quiz.
Santa Claus left our roof and quickly flew out of sight.
Mom’s administrative assistant said to her, “You have a very tight schedule today.”
The Isle of Wight is a popular vacation spot for the British, and it’s located off of the south coast of England.
Letters “EI”:
The robbers were planning a heist of a million dollars of jewels.
My violin teacher is named Mrs. Klein.
SHEIN is an online fashion retailer headquartered in China.
I’m going to order another stein of beer.
Professor Stein is a demanding educator.
Letters “AI”:
Kai Ryssdal is a radio journalist who hosts a show called “Marketplace.”
How about we try out that new Thai restaurant that’s a few blocks from here.
The flight attendant asked me to get my camera bag out of the aisle.
Letters “UI”:
We had an excellent tourist guide on the bus today that took us around Rome.
The guile of that criminal mastermind was unequalled.
In the guise of a footman, Sherlock Holmes infiltrated the mansion to survey the party.
Letters “IGN”:
Make sure that you slow down and look both ways when you come to that yield sign.
One of the signs of global warming is chunks of glaciers breaking off and free-floating in the ocean.
*********
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WEEK THIRTY-TWO
WEEK THIRTY-TWO READING PASSAGES
Lesson 77 – Pattern-Builder Poems
NEW WORDS: Cypriot, Egyptian, Mott, apricot, atypical, bigshot, blob, bobble, bog, boycott, bulldog, bullfrog, calypso, catnip, chilidogs, cig, clobbered, cobbler, cobs, corncobs, cot, dripped, eggnog, foxtrot, fusspot, gig, globs, gobbling, gossip, groundhog, gypped, hieroglyphs, hippogriff, hotdog, hotshot, hypnotists, jackpot, kabobs, kinship, knobs, ladyship, leash, lob, lordship, midship, mobbed, nipper, nips, parsnip, petroglyphs, pigged, piggly, potter, pygmy, respectful, rig, robot, sandlot, sheepdog, shindig, shish, slobber, slot, snob, sunspot, throbs, tulip, typical, unclog, underdog, warthog, watchdog, waterlogged, whip, whirligig, wobble, yips
Piggly Wiggly
Have you ever seen a pig,
NOT love to dig?
NOT grow to be big?
Wear a wig?
Dance a jig?
Eat a fig?
Smoke a cig?
Zag and zig?
Play a music gig?
Swim to an oil rig?
Chew on a twig?
Go to a shindig?
Play with a whirligig?
But I bet you HAVE seen them,
Wiggle, wriggle, jiggle, squiggle, and giggle!
Too Many Corncobs
Hi.
I’m Bob.
I’m not a snob.
Nor do I ever rob.
But my job makes me sob.
I’m mobbed and clobbered,
With gobs of corn cobs.
I have to lob them over piles of door knobs,
Where they land in globs of slobber.
It’s so gross.
At the end of each day,
I feel like such a blob.
Towards home, I bobble and wobble.
My head throbs.
The only thing that makes me happy,
Is gobbling shish–kabobs,
And eating apple cobbler.
No Thanks To The Fog
I went for a jog.
There was very thick fog.
I tripped on a log.
I fell into a bog.
I heard laughter from a groundhog.
I yelled for my dog.
Into my mouth jumped a frog!
I think it was a bullfrog.
I had to unclog my throat,
So I spit him out.
Hmm, the taste he’d left in my mouth,
Was something like a hotdog.
I went home, all waterlogged.
I drank some eggnog.
I talked to my bulldog,
Who’s quite a good watchdog,
Who’d just fought off a warthog,
And had chased off a sheepdog,
Even though he was the underdog.
Then we pigged out on chilidogs,
And even shared them with our pet hedgehogs.
Hot As A Sunspot!
I saw a Scot at the Doc today.
He left his dog Spot outside.
Spot’s leash was tied in a knot …
To the fence of the next-door sandlot.
Spot was eating an apricot.
It looked like it had rot all over it.
Inside, bigshot, hotshot Scott the Scot was lying in a cot.
He can be such a fusspot!
He looked quite hot.
So, the Doc gave him a shot.
Nurse Dot helped him.
Doc gives a lot of shots.
Even to tots!
He’s almost like a robot, he gives so many.
I’ve got to get a shot soon.
I canNOT STAND that!
But I was there today because I burned my hand on a boiling pot.
I forgot how badly burns can feel.
I had to trot to the Doc fast.
I ran almost as fast as an ocelot!
I was really hurting!
Lucky for me, he had a time slot open.
I felt like I’d hit the jackpot!
But now I can’t go to the dance tonight.
I’ll have to boycott it.
I’ll surely miss doing the foxtrot with Mrs. Mott!
Atypical!
(Note: a “hippogriff” is an imaginary animal from the Harry Potter series.)
My father’s half Cypriot, half Egyptian.
He’s an expert on hieroglyphs and petroglyphs.
His favorite animal is a hippogriff.
My mother’s a gypsy.
She’s an expert on Calypso music and dance.
Her favorite animal is a pygmy hippo.
Oh, and did I say, they’re both hypnotists.
There’s nothing typical about either one of them.
Our parents were nuts about our names.
They named us Chip, Pip, Kip, Flip, Tip, and Skip.
But they’re tough.
We can’t give them any lip about that.
And in our family, there’s never any gossip!
We have quite a respectful kinship.
We call Dad, “his Lordship!”
And Mom, “her Ladyship!”
And lucky for us, we’ve never known hardship.
Our dog is named Nipper.
Nipper yips, yips, and yips.
I hate that.
And when a guest comes over,
He nips at them!
I once saw him rip someone’s pants!
Just as they were taking a sip of tea.
It dripped all over them.
Oh yeah, and our cat is Tulip.
Tulip and Nipper snip at each other.
And they chase each other.
They zip by — and whip by — all the time.
It’s worse when we give Tulip some catnip!
When we go on a trip,
We travel by ship.
At least there’s a pool,
So we can take a cool dip.
Once my Mom did slip,
She was right at midship,
She didn’t have a good grip,
And she broke her hip.
The only bad thing about our family is this:
Every night, we have to eat either a turnip or a parsnip.
I feel like I’ve been gypped!
*********
Lesson 78 – Short / Long (Vowel) Reflex-Builder
NEW WORDS: Benny, Chloe, Cooper, Cupid, Dottie, Dudley, Earl, Gail, Godfrey, Hoover, Jamaican, Jonas, Lear, Lee’s, Leslie, Luther, Macy’s, Miley, Nate, Nathan, Pope, Ridley, Sony, Terry, Toto, assume, brief, combine, cope, deliver, dote, fad, fade, fashions, gale, gallantly, gape, gauge, goad, grape, hone, lease, legume, lobe, lope, lug, luge, mace, mail, miner, mitt, moaning, mode, mon, mousse, node, poodle, pruning, punny, puny, pupa, sate, shipment, sole, sonar, sonic, sonnet, sonny, submarine, summers, tailor, vale, veil, wanting
I’ll give you a dime to dim the lights.
Sol is a solar scientist. He has a great recipe for Dover sole. Bless his soul!
Hey Nathan! I saw Nat and Nate. They were chasing a gnat.
Chloe! Close the closet door.
That fir tree caught on fire first.
That’s Vin. He’s there, pruning the grape vine.
I assume this Mr. Summers. You do know the sum of two plus two?
She has a totally cute tote bag. She carries things she needs for her tot. And for her dog, Toto.
Ridley Rider! You must get rid of this cold before you can go on a horseback ride.
Tony weighs a ton. And he has no muscle tone.
He’s a picky eater. So, gauge what you feed him. That’s so that he doesn’t gag.
Dottie has on that polka-dotted dress. She likes to dote on her new baby, Dot.
There’s a vale of tears surrounding Val. She’s the one wearing that red veil.
Terry! Don’t tarry! We need to deliver this shipment of tar.
Hey, mon! I’ll give you some money to stop moaning about the bright moon.
A bare bear named Barry walked into a bar. He asked for a root beer.
Min is a minor miner. He yelled! “That’s mine!”
I saw a crane. It was in a cranberry bog.
It was last Saturday. She sat down to sate herself on a feast.
A pupil in class brought in his poodle pup and a butterfly pupa for show-and-tell.
See that old gal, Gail? She gallantly made it through that stormy gale.
Benny! Combine these. Then throw them in that bin.
I know a mouse that likes chocolate mousse.
Why is there a safety pin stuck in the pine tree?
This brief fad will fade away.
I had to gape. He had a HUGE gap between his two front teeth.
That’s Mr. McCabe. He drives a cab.
Ned! What do you need to knead the bread flour?
Mal is the male who brings us our mail.
The Doc said this. “Nod if it hurts when I touch this node.”
Bree! Stay so quiet that you don’t breathe a breath.
Tap this button to play the tape.
She’s in a mode of wanting to buy very mod fashions.
Sorry man! That was a puny pun. And not punny-funny.
Godfrey! You don’t have to goad me to say, “God is good.”
Hey Dudley! That movie was a dud, dude.
Miley Miller said this. “It’s just another mile to the mill.”
They gave it to us. We can use it as we see fit.
Hey Jonas! Isn’t that Jon Jones?
Sonny is my son on the submarine. He wrote a sonnet while keeping watch on the sonar.
Earl Lear hurt his ear early this morning. Now he can barely hear.
Dame Smith took a trip. She went to Hoover Dam.
Len! Lean over here.
I saw a bear cub with a Rubik’s Cube.
I love Mrs. Macy’s recipe. She adds some mace to her mac and cheese.
Molly yelled to us. “I saw a mole!”
Liv is a nurse. She likes to live by saving lives.
Let me spit out my gum before I eat that legume.
She went into a rage. Then she threw a wet rag at me.
Why is there a metal tube in the bath tub?
Hal looks hale and hearty after making it through the Halloween hail storm.
Mitt! Might you like some dessert?
Do this when you lob the ball. Brush your arm by your ear lobe.
James loves Jamaican jam.
He saw the fly in his soup. Then Ike yelled “ick!”
Cupid needs another cup of tea.
Les signed the lease. Now he can live in Leslie Lee’s house.
I wonder! Does the Pope drink soda pop and eat popcorn.
Hey Harry! The hare laughed, “Hardy, har, har!”
If you continue to lope, I will lop off your pony tail.
Hey Cooper! How does a cop cope with the stress?
Sonny likes products from SONY. And he likes to eat at Sonic.
Luther! Is your luge too heavy to lug around?
It was at the tail end of lunch. Tal told us a tall tale about a tailor named Talbot.
Listen, Hon! I’ll be honest. You need to hone your skills more on this.
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WEEK THIRTY-TWO PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 58) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-O” SOUND:
Letters “OA”:
That poor oaf is always tripping over his own feet.
Is that an oak or an elm tree?
I ate every last oat of my oatmeal.
Clowns in a circus can really act like complete oafs.
If it weren’t for oaks and their acorns, I don’t know what squirrels would eat.
Grab a new bag of oats for us to feed the horses with.
That’s the boat that will take us on a cruise around the harbor.
The coal industry, as a source of fuel, has fallen on hard times.
Coat the chicken breast with this egg mixture, then dip it into the panko crumbs.
Could I coax you into having another piece of lemon chess pie?
I love watching that foal as he romps in the pasture.
Take a look at that bubbly sea foam.
I will not let you goad me into a fight; I’m just walking away.
My biggest goal for the coming year is to start to learn to speak Spanish.
Goat cheese has a strong flavor, but I really like it.
The news reporter discovered that their claim was just a hoax.
Load the washing machine and set it to “heavy wash.”
Can you pick up a loaf of pumpernickel bread on your way home?
Let’s use this loam to create a plaster-like mix.
Can you loan me your toolbox for the weekend?
All he does is moan and groan if you ask him to help you with anything.
The Queen’s castle had a large moat around it for protection.
Gross, there’s a dead skunk in the middle of the road.
Roam around the fairway next to the woods and see if you can find any lost golf balls.
Principal Roan is our school’s sports teams’ biggest cheerleader.
That horse has a beautiful roan coloring to it.
A soak in a hot tub will help make my sore muscles feel better.
I’ve always thought that soap-on-a-rope was a rather odd invention.
Class, can anyone remember what the difference between a frog and a toad is?
The cowboy yelled to his horse, “Whoa, boy, calm down!”
Here he goes again; he’s going to boast about getting an A-plus on the test.
Most of the fishing boats will have headed out to sea by 5:00 AM.
The West Coast of the U.S. is under a tsunami watch because of a huge earthquake in the Pacific.
Okay kids, put on all of your coats so that we can go outside for recess.
This spring, we were blessed with three new foals on our farm.
If an animal foams at the mouth, it might be a sign that it has rabies.
My uncle goads me into an argument about politics every time that I see him.
If it wasn’t for our three field goals in the football game, we wouldn’t have won.
Farmer Brown raises goats and hogs.
Poor Mom had to do four loads of laundry today.
That boy just loafs around and doesn’t accomplish anything.
Our bank’s Branch Manager has a good sense for making successful loans to customers.
My little brother moans when it’s his bedtime.
Because of a severe drought, the moats around castles in this region have mostly dried up.
Where we plan to hike, we’ll be driving on lots of dirt roads to get to the trails.
There’s a new cat in the neighborhood who roams around our yard most days.
I think I’ll roast a chicken for dinner tonight.
This recipe says that the pork soaks in the marinade in the fridge overnight.
Mom always puts out fancy soaps in the guest bathroom.
My son is constantly bringing home frogs and toads from the pond out back.
We’ll have a special breakfast today, and I’ll make French toast from scratch.
Eating all of that fatty, spicy food is going to bloat your stomach.
My Dad works for Broan, and they make range hoods, bathroom exhaust fans, and other products.
Nothing’s more entertaining than a good cloak and dagger spy movie.
I hear the croak of what must be a giant bullfrog.
Son, your float is bobbing, so a fish might bite the worm on your hook!
As the gloam came upon us, we could hear the sounds of night critters stirring.
I have to gloat a bit; I just won a chess game with Dad for the first time.
With a loud groan, she turned over and shut off her alarm clock.
The two friends clicked their glasses together and shouted, “Skoal!”
Letter O has the Long-O sound “roll into” the “ER” sound, i.e. the “OR” sound spelled “OAR”:
Use your oar to keep that water moccasin away from the boat!
Learn to use your oars to shift the boat to the right or the left.
We saw a wild boar in the woods, but we didn’t get near it.
A brittle looking hoar covered the windows on the icy morning.
The animals cowered when they heard the roar of the lion.
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WEEK THIRTY-THREE
WEEK THIRTY-THREE READING PASSAGES
Lesson 79 – Stories Misc
Myrtle And Erma’s Gully-Washer
NEW WORDS: Erma, Erma’s, Murray’s, buttered, chimed, cleansing, coughed, cramped, degrees, derned, downpour, engulfed, flames, furball, furnace, gagged, galoshes, grating, gully, horrors, icicles, implored, jiffy, marmalade, messing, myrtle, outfits, overflows, prepped, preserves, raincoat, savory, simmer, skirt, sleet, slippers, snarled, superstar, sweeties, terse, tightwad, toasty, treasures, waned, waterworks
“No! Too early! Not yet! Not now!” I shrieked. “It can’t be time to get up!” Tears were nearly coming to my eyes. The derned alarm had just gone off. My ears were in flames. So much for my placid slumber. No more dreams of sugarplums.
Mom called us. Her voice was grating. “Myrtle! Get up! Erma! Out of bed! Come on, girls! The world’s gonna leave you behind. Rise and shine, my sweeties!”
I squawked, “But we need more hours of sleep!”
Tiger Mom’s response was terse. “Tough luck! You could have gone to bed sooner. The early bird gets the worm. Chop-chop! It’s time to show your grit!” Under my breath, I snarled.
What a bummer. I had learned my lesson. No more late-night T.V. for me. I called out, “Mom! It’s frigid. My fingers are icicles. My toes are ice cubes.” Mom keeps the furnace at 62 degrees overnight. She’s a tightwad. She’s always saving money. “Can you please turn up the furnace?” I implored.
Mom replied, “Simmer down! I’ve got it. You’ll be toasty warm in a jiffy.”
Then I heard a massive clap of thunder. I just about leapt out of my slippers. I wailed to my sister. “Erma, barrels of rain coming today. We might get a gully-washer.”
She inquired, “What the heck is a gully-washer?”
I explained, “That’s when a smaller ditch or stream overflows. It’s because a hard rain comes too fast. The water can’t flow fast enough. So, the gully overflows. Think of it this way. It’s like a flash flood. Remember when the creek out front did that. Wasn’t that two years ago?”
Erma said, “Yep.” We were quiet for a minute. Then she piped up, “I hate rain. It’s worse than snow. I hate going out in it. I hate wearing galoshes. I hate wearing a raincoat. I hate messing with an umbrella! And a windy rain is the worst of all!”
I felt the same way. I said to her, “Yeah. But it’s better than an ice storm.”
Erma quipped, “True. I always slip and fall down a lot. And sleet is just as bad.” We were silent for a bit. Then she called from her room, “So. Who showers first?” We had only one bathroom. Our house was tiny and cramped.
I felt like being nice. I said, “Your turn.”
Erma asked, “Are you sure, Myrtle?”
I said, “Go for it!”
She replied, “Thanks, Sis. I owe you one.”
Erma took a brief shower, for once. She even left hot water for me! I soon finished my own morning cleansing. After a few minutes, I had dried off. I had put on my skirt. I’d gotten my rings off of the dresser. But then, the mirror. Great horrors! I looked at myself and gagged. Major make-up was needed this morning! I was the picture of an ogre.
In a bit, we were both prepped for the day. We scurried down the stairs. I saw something uber-gross on the rug. I cried out, “Mom! Murray’s coughed up a furball.” Then I thought, “Stupid cat.” Once, he had slept by my pillow. He puked on my hair! Our friendship waned quickly after that event!
Mom said, “I’ll worry about that later. It’s time to eat.”
We entered the kitchen. We were welcomed with savory odors! And the table was a sight for sore eyes. I exclaimed, “Look Erma! Our favorites. Buttered toast. Over-easy fried eggs. Cherry preserves. Orange marmalade. Turkey sausage. Fresh orange juice. Mom! You’re a superstar!”
Mom smiled. “Thanks, honey. Anything for my two young treasures.”
We were soon finished with breakfast. We were getting our final ducks in a row. Mom asked, “Are you guys ready for school?”
I thought for a moment. “Mom, I need five dollars for lunch.”
Erma chimed in, “So do I.”
Mom got her purse. “Okay. Here you are, dears. Hang on. Let me straighten your collar, Erma. Your outfits for today look great. Are you ready to wait for the bus out front?”
“Yep,” we both said.
Mom said, “Out you go, then. Have a great day.”
Erma opened the door. Two seconds passed. Then came, “AHH!”
“What is it, Erma?” I queried.
She giggled, “The sewer backed up again. Time to call City Waterworks. NO SCHOOL, MOM!”
This had happened one other time. Erma was looking at a flood. The front yard and driveway were engulfed in water. Our creek had backed up. That earlier thunder clap had meant that a downpour was upon us. We had gotten our gully-washer, all right! Four feet of standing water! There was no way to get to the bus! We couldn’t walk to the street. Our house was fine, since it was up on a small hill. But the car couldn’t get to the end of the driveway, either.
I cried out, with glee, “Here come those sugarplums!”
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Lesson 80 – 4-Letter Vocab-Builder
NEW WORDS: AWOL, Alma, Bach, Bora, Brit, Celts, Cobb, Coco, Cory, Cris, Faye, Ferd, Fitz, Flor, Fonz, Gael, Gaye, Kyle, Lech, Lief, Liev, Louie, Loyd, Luke, Lyle, Reid, Roan, Robb, Rolf, Ross, Rowe, Rudd, Ruth, Shaq, Skye, Winkler, achy, acne, ahem, ajar, ally, alms, alto, alum, ammo, amok, amps, anti, aqua, aria, arid, asps, auld, avow, awed, bads, bale, balk, balm, bams, bane, banished, bans, bash, beck, bevy, bile, bilk, blah, bleeding, blip, bloc, blot, blur, bode, bogs, bolt, bond, boob, boon, boxy, bozo, bray, bred, brew, brig, brim, brow, brrr, buff, bulk, bums, bunt, buoy, cagy, campaign, capo, carp, cask, cawing, cepe, char, chez, chia, chic, chit, chub, cigs, clad, clan, clef, clod, clog, clot, cloy, coda, coed, coho, coif, coma, cons, coos, coot, cots, coup, cowl, crag, cranberries, craw, crewcut, croc, crud, crux, cued, cues, cuff, cull, cult, desert’s, dice, digest, domino, doves, duct, eons, fang, fats, fess, fibs, flossing, gaming, geek, gist, gory, gourmet, gums, haze, hoax, hoed, hymn, invade, isle, jams, kegs, kist, lightly, lotion, mater, mayor, monk, nun, opera, profits, pros, ranger, rated, retired, reunion, rotted, rube, skillet, snake’s, sonata, speaker’s, syne, teaches, throat’s, treble, tuba, tuna, uglies
Does your foot ache?
He’s aged five years.
The door is ajar.
The cow’s by that bale of hay.
Bash down the door!
I’ll bide my time here.
Blah, that tastes bad.
Brrr, it’s cold!
The cat’s claw is sharp!
Clean out the chicken coop.
That croc ate a rat.
This cord is too short.
The doc will cure me.
Gramps is now deaf.
Roll the dice!
The air duct is dusty.
Their dog’s named “Duke.”
Shaq rocks!
The Stone Age was eons past.
Slow down, Kyle!
I passed the exam!
That snake’s fang is sharp!
Fats Domino was a blues man.
That’s my Aunt Flor.
He fibs all the time.
There’s no flaw in our plan.
He’s a gaming geek.
I get the gist of it.
That film was gory.
Flossing helps your gums.
A haze hung over the town.
That story was a hoax.
The farmer hoed his field.
Mom hums while she cooks.
We sang a hymn in church.
He’s always getting into jams.
That shock gave me a jolt.
Hawks have keen eyes.
Take back these kegs of beer.
I like Star Kist tuna.
There’s a leak in the sink.
Let’s laze around at home.
My throat’s achy.
My brother has acne.
That happened ages ago.
Ahem, are you awake?
Mom aims to please.
France was our ally in the war.
Ross got a crewcut.
That college is dad’s alma mater.
Henry Winkler played “the Fonz.”
There’s aloe in that lotion.
That singer is an alto.
She’s an alum of Yale.
He’s there amid the crowd.
Load the guns with ammo.
The crowd ran amok.
This speaker’s rated at 50 amps.
Mrs. Skye teaches art.
With spring, flowers bloom anew.
Is Faye home?
She runs an anti-bully campaign.
The bay is an aqua color.
The opera star sang an aria.
The desert’s arid.
Asps are deadly snakes.
We gave alms to the poor.
My watch is atop that chest.
We sang Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s.
I avow to fight their King!
We were awed by the magic.
The soldier went AWOL.
They axed four people at work.
Go to bed, Gabe.
We heard baas from the sheep.
I love the music of Bach!
List the goods, the bads, and the uglies.
Lief is Dutch.
Don’t let that mule balk on you.
Lyle can’t eat nuts.
Put this balm on your cut.
He bams his fists on his food tray.
You’re the bane of my life.
I bet the mayor bans the parade.
This is my son, Ferd.
Let’s bask in the sun.
What’s that beam of light from?
Her beau asked her to the prom.
Sean Penn is an actor.
Get me a Baby Ruth candy bar.
I’ll be at your beck and call.
That bevy of crows is cawing.
Let’s name her Gael.
Bring home some Bibb lettuce.
Bile helps to digest fats.
He’ll try to bilk you out of your cash.
Mr. Rudd retired.
Bind up these packages.
What’s that blip on the radar?
Those countries formed a trade bloc.
Blot up this ink.
All I see is a blur.
It doesn’t bode well for us.
Cranberries grow in bogs.
Fess up that you took it.
Boll weevils invade cotton fields.
I saw a lightning bolt!
Their friendship has a strong bond.
Rolf is German.
That boor has no manners.
Don’t act like such a boob.
The rain was a boon for the dry fields.
That’s my dog, Fitz.
Bora Bora is an isle in the South Pacific.
She has a boxy figure.
You act like Bozo the Clown.
We heard the bray of a donkey.
They buy well-bred horses.
Let’s brew some tea.
They locked the prisoner in the brig.
Fill my cup to the brim.
I met a Brit from London.
She wrinkled her brow.
You should buff your shoes more.
Gaye is on the phone.
We buy things in bulk at Sam’s.
None of those bums has a job.
Bunt the baseball this time.
It’s shallow where that buoy is.
Don’t cut your hand on that burr.
She’s a cagy chess player.
Put the capo at the 3rd fret of your guitar.
Coach will carp at every little thing you do wrong.
The pirates drank a cask of ale.
My ancestors were Celts.
A cepe is a gourmet mushroom.
Lightly char the steak.
The place we ate at is called Chez Louie.
Chia seeds are good for you.
Her dress is very chic!
Here’s a signed chit, and I’ll pay you later.
You’ll find chub fish in the Great Lakes.
Buy me a pack of cigs.
This skillet is clad with a new metal.
Our clan is having a family reunion.
Learn the notes on the treble clef first.
Pull up that clod of weeds.
That will clog the drain!
Your blood will clot to stop the bleeding.
Your diet of nothing but sweets will soon cloy.
Order me a Cobb Salad.
I met a lady named Coco.
Don’t miss the coda in this sonata.
That high school boy dates a college coed.
This coho salmon is tasty.
The nun put on her coif.
He came out of his coma!
Look at both the pros and cons.
We heard the coos of doves.
That old coot is so grumpy.
Work on your core at the gym.
Mr. Robb got a new job.
Pull the cots out for the extra guests.
Lech is from Poland.
They banished the ruler in a military coup.
The monk put on his cowl.
Cory showed us his dance moves.
Luke wet his pants.
See the mountain goat on that crag?
His insult stuck in my craw.
Cris has gone to bed.
I make more profits from this crop.
Loyd plays the tuba.
I’ve got a bunch of crud in my lungs.
Tell me the crux of the matter.
The Director cued her to faint.
Choose any of these pool cues.
My left pant cuff is torn.
Cull out the rotted fruit in this bowl.
Hi, Mr. Roan.
He got smart and left that dangerous cult.
Liev can act well.
Coach Reid taught us well.
Mrs. Rowe was our nanny.
I love Ranger Rick books.
That rube won’t do well in the big city.
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WEEK THIRTY-THREE PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 58) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-O” SOUND … continued:
Letter O has the Long-O sound “roll into” the “ER” sound, i.e. the “OR” sound spelled “OAR” … continued:
I wish that I could soar in the sky like an eagle.
They stealthily oared their canoe very quietly through the river’s waters.
I think they’re finally about to let us board the airplane.
Did you know that wild boars are pretty vicious animals?
All Ebenezer Scrooge did was hoard his money.
We could hear the roars of all the people screaming on the roller coaster.
After my test-ride of this new glider, I can tell you that I love the way that it soars so smoothly.
Letter “O” “just by itself”:
Oh, by the way, did I tell you that they cancelled this afternoon’s meeting?
In certain meditation practices, you might chant a tone like, “Om.”
Our Uncle Bo was an Air Force pilot when he was younger.
The giant yelled, “Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman!
Go on up to the stage to accept your award.
Santa shouted, “Ho, Ho, Ho!”
My friend Jo is going to be an exchange student in France.
Well, lo and behold, for once you actually got here on time.
Donald Trump withdrew his support for Mo Brooks’ reelection attempt.
There is no way that I’m jumping off of that high dive!
I’m so hungry that I could eat an entire buffet table by myself.
Yo, how are you doing, good buddy?
When you’re older, you’ll learn that an “ohm” is a measure of electrical resistance.
Why Betsy, you’re behind the times; that’s old gossip about Sandra!
You may hear the saying, “He has the patience of Job,” who is a character in the Bible who is tested severely while maintaining his good character.
Noh is a form of classical dance-drama that comes from Japan.
Hey, bro; how are things going with you and your family?
The bunny scurried to and fro at great speeds, trying to escape a fox.
That golf pro can hit his drives over 300 yards!
The President made a bold statement about human rights in a speech today.
Boll weevils can do massive damage to cotton crops.
A huge bolt of lightning flashed in the sky, with thunder following it in a split second.
I’d love an ice cold glass of water to wet my parched throat.
Many folks were eyeing the frolicking colt as a future potential racehorse.
I need to comb my hair before entering the room.
I felt like such a dolt when I realized that I had on two different colored socks.
Can you please fold the towels that are in the clothes dryer?
That folk song is an old favorite of mine.
Vincent Van Gogh is a famous painter who, unfortunately, had severe mental problems.
My favorite skater won the Olympic gold medal.
Hold the golf club like this, and I think you’ll do better.
Mrs. Holt, our science teacher, lets us do lots of experiments in the classroom.
If only three other couples are involved, we can host the dinner at our house.
He gave a sudden jolt when he touched the frayed lamp cord and it shocked him.
These leftovers have mold on them, so throw them out!
A lobster will molt its shell up to twenty-five times in its first five to seven years of life.
I do some kind of exercise on most days of each week.
The latest poll shows the President with a five point lead.
I’m going to drop by the post office to mail this package.
I think I’ll have another dinner roll, please.
Guess what, there’s finally a “sold” sign up in the yard of the house down the street.
If I’m right on this, I’ll rub it in and keep telling you that “I told you so!”
If we take this route, we’ll be on a toll road for about two hours.
A “volt” is another measure of electricity that you’ll learn when you are older.
The hikers ascended to a wold, and they’d have a long stretch before reaching the base of the mountains.
Mom, when you cook my fried egg, I don’t want the yolk to be runny.
All of our teammates are close friends, and we call ourselves “the bros.”
The bolds in this painting are what make it stand out against the rest.
I’ve got a random collection of nuts and bolts in my toolbox.
This is one of the worst colds that I’ve ever had.
The colts out in the pasture are all being quite frisky today.
I don’t know why that kid combs his hair that way!
Okay guys, let’s outsmart those dolts on the other team.
I’ll show you how this card table folds up.
The folks in the car next to us seem to be laughing a lot.
Tom now holds it against me that I got the promotion and he didn’t.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith were wonderful hosts for the neighborhood Christmas party.
The kayakers received countless jolts back and forth as they went through the dangerous rapids.
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WEEK THIRTY-FOUR
WEEK THIRTY-FOUR READING PASSAGES
Core Knowledge (R) Independent Reading
(Review guidelines for publishing Core Knowledge (R) materials at the bottom of this page-view. This lesson is a “READ-ALOUD” Core Knowledge (R) passage that has been rewritten to be at a lower-grade independent reading level complexity than the original, largely by shortening and simplifying sentence structures while maintaining the richness of the text content.)
Lesson 81 – Native Americans
NEW WORDS: Chaco, Hilki, Hilki’s, Kokopelli, Kokopelli’s, Mahwa, Una, ancestral, canyons, community, eagle’s, evenings, flickering, gathering, hatchets, headfirst, kivas, ladders, longhouse, mixture, nature’s, northwest, paddles, paddling, potlatch, ravens, southwest, spearfishing, spearheads, specially, starry, storerooms, storytelling, tailed, upriver, wintertime
Chapter One: Little Rabbit of the Eastern Woodlands
The sun was out. It was a clear day. Little Rabbit was chopping wood. He was outside his family’s longhouse. His father, uncle, and brother had gone to hunt. He was not old enough to go with them. He was sad when he was left behind. A longhouse was made of wood. Often, lots of families lived in one longhouse.
Some time passed. Little Rabbit heard the sound of voices. He looked deep into the woods. He saw his brother, father, and uncle. They were done with their hunt. His father and uncle carried a white-tailed deer. His brother held two turkeys.
Native Americans used the meat from the animals they hunted for food. They used furs for blankets. They used skins for clothes and shoes.
Little Rabbit smiled. They walked up to him. His father patted his head. His brother showed him the turkeys. Little Rabbit knew that hunting was important to his family. “Can I go with you next time?” he asked.
“Brother,” said Little Rabbit’s older brother. “Your arrow does not hit its target!”
Little Rabbit’s father touched him. It was a gentle touch. He talked softly. “Soon you’ll be ready to hunt! And then, we’ll have a feast! It will be like when we give thanks for nature’s gifts. We will celebrate you.”
Chapter Two: Little Rabbit Goes Fishing
It was early the next day. Little Rabbit went to the river. He was with his mother. He was not allowed to hunt yet. But he knew how to fish. He fished with a line and a hook. The hook was made from deer bone. The river water was cold. His mother began to fill a large basket with water. It was for drinking and cooking.
Native Americans fished a lot with a line and hook. Something tasty for the fish to eat was attached to the hook.
Little Rabbit began to fish. On the river’s edge, there was a canoe. The family used it for going up and down the river. Two paddles lay inside the canoe. Little Rabbit’s father and uncle had made the canoe. He loved paddling with his brother. They would go upriver. They would fish with nets.
Little Rabbit’s mom was ready to leave. She turned to him. She called his name. “Little Rabbit,” she said. “It’s time to go back.”
Right then, he hooked a large trout. He smiled to himself. “I’m coming!” he yelled.
Brook trout live in fresh water in the eastern U.S. They can grow to be close to three feet long.
Little Rabbit walked happily beside his mother. It was a nice walk in the woods. On the way, he picked nuts and berries. He placed them in a basket. His mother had made the basket from leaves and twigs. Little Rabbit couldn’t wait to see his brother. He’d show him the large fish that he’d caught.
Chapter Three: Una and Len of the American Southwest
It was long, long ago in a place now called New Mexico. There lived Native American people who were part of a group called the Ancestral Pueblo. The Ancestral Pueblo built homes there that were a little like apartment buildings. There were many different rooms for different families. This included community rooms called “kivas.” Most of the rooms were part of the same building. In one of these buildings, lived a girl named Una.
For hundreds of years, the Ancestral Pueblo lived in Chaco Canyon, in northern New Mexico. Today, you can visit what was once their home.
Una loved to go from floor to floor visiting her friends. She would climb up and down the wooden ladders as fast as she could.
In the wintertime, Una and her cousin Len would sit and lean against the stone walls that were warmed by the sun. There they would tell each other stories.
On many winter nights, it was very cold. Una and Len would sit near the great fires that were built in their homes. During the day, they spent many hours gathering firewood. The firewood was only used on the coldest nights.
Finally, winter was over and spring began. Una and Len would race each other across the land that was beginning to turn green. This was a sign that it would soon be time to plant corn. Corn was the most important crop for the Ancestral Pueblo. They ate corn every day. They stored it for the winter months, and for the times when the rain did not come and nothing grew in the dry earth.
Chapter Four: Una and Len Celebrate Spring
In early spring, Una had less time to play with Len. She had to work with her mother and sisters. They worked to get the soil ready to plant the corn seeds. Una helped dig up the soil and make long rows for the corn. Near the rows filled with corn seeds, they also planted squash and bean seeds.
After planting, the Ancestral Pueblo celebrated. They thanked Kokopelli, the rain god, for his help. The Ancestral Pueblo believed that Kokopelli played a magic flute. The music was thought to bring rain to the fields.
Len had once told Una a well-known story. When the wind blew through the canyons in springtime, it was really the sound of Kokopelli’s flute. Now, each spring, Una listened for the sound of the flute.
While the crops grew, Una and the other girls watched the fields. They also chased birds and small animals from the fields. Len went off to hunt with the other boys. But in the evenings, Una and Len sat beneath the clear, starry sky. They would tell each other about their day.
The crops were finally ready to be harvested. Everyone would help in the fields. The crops were gathered and stored. Some of the crops were stored in beautiful baskets made from plants, such as yucca, that the women and girls made. The rest were placed in large storerooms. After the harvest, there was a big feast. Then Una and Len ate until their tummies ached.
Corn, squash, and beans were important foods for the Ancestral Pueblo. These crops are sometimes called, “the three sisters.”
Chapter Five: Hilki of the Pacific Northwest
Hilki ran to the beach. His father, uncle, and brothers were pushing their new canoe into the ocean water. Hilki waded into the water and grabbed onto the side of the canoe. The men had spent many days working hard with their hatchets. They had turned the tall trunk of a cedar tree into a beautiful canoe. Now it was ready. Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest often made canoes from red cedar trees.
Hilki pushed and pulled the canoe as hard as he could. The cold water splashed around his waist. Before long, the water was up to his chest. “Jump into the canoe, Hilki!” said his father loudly. “Or soon you will be under the water!”
Hilki rolled into the canoe headfirst. Moments later, his brothers jumped in beside him. Hilki loved this canoe because his father had carved the head of a raven on the front. Ravens were a sign of good luck. He hoped the raven would help his family catch a lot of fish. Ravens are smart birds. They can copy the sounds humans make.
“Who’s ready to fish?” asked Hilki’s father as he, too, jumped into the canoe. Hilki’s uncle had stayed behind to hunt.
“I am!” replied Hilki loudly. “May I use a spear?” he asked hopefully.
Hilki’s father nodded his reply. Hilki smiled and reached for a spear. This would be his first time spearfishing. Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest used different kinds of stone spearheads.
Chapter Six: Hilki Goes Fishing
Hilki’s brothers paddled hard. They moved the canoe farther out into the ocean. Then they changed direction. The fishermen headed north.
Sometime later, they stopped to fish. Hilki slowly raised his spear. “Keep still and be patient!” Hilki’s father said. Hilki did as his father asked. He stood up and stared at the calm, blue water. A large king salmon came into view.
Hilki gulped and moved his spear quickly. But the salmon was faster than Hilki. Hilki fell forward toward the water. Just in time, his father saved him.
“It takes time to learn how to spear a fish,” said Hilki’s father. “Be patient.” Hilki nodded his head. But he felt sad.
“Come, Hilki. Let’s use the net!” said Hilki’s father. Hilki helped his father throw the net into the water. Before long, they had caught many large king salmon. Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest stored king salmon to eat in the wintertime.
Just before sunset, the fishermen returned to their village. Hilki’s mother came to help with the fish. They would prepare a tasty meal of fresh salmon that night. Then they would all sit and talk about their day. The rest of the salmon would be smoked and stored. Hilki hoped his brothers would not tell that he had almost gone swimming with the fish.
Chapter Seven: Hilki and the New Totem Pole
Several days later, the sun was rising in the morning sky. Hilki rolled up his sleeping mat and stepped outside. He walked through his village. He passed by many totem poles. Totem poles tell stories about Native American history in the Pacific Northwest.
That day, the village was planning a gathering called a potlatch. This potlatch was being held to show the new totem pole that Hilki’s Uncle Mahwa had made. The women of the village would cook a wonderful feast. Many gifts, such as blankets and food, would be given by the chief to the people who gathered.
Hilki found his uncle looking at the new totem pole. “Is it almost finished?” Hilki asked.
“We need to paint it,” said Mahwa. “Would you like to help me?”
Hilki’s uncle did not wait for a reply. He simply gave Hilki two wooden bowls. Each was filled with a paint mixture of oil, berries, and plants.
Animal shapes had been carved into the totem pole. There were birds, frogs, and a bear. An eagle’s head was at the very top.
For the rest of the day, everyone in the village got ready for the potlatch. Hilki knew there would be lots of food, dancing, gift giving, and storytelling. Some people would wear specially carved face masks as they danced. Hilki was excited.
This is a carved and painted wooden mask of the moon. To some Native Americans, the moon is the protector of Earth.
Finally, the sun began to set. The people of the village gathered around the great fire. Suddenly, the sound of music could be heard in the still evening air.
Hilki sat next to his mother. Together they watched the raising of the totem pole, as the flickering flames burned brightly.
*********
Lesson 82 – Poems And Rhymes
NEW WORDS: Chicago, Daw, Gotham, Margery, Willy, backbone, boggin, brownies, decked, droop, duly, explanation, fountain’s, gaily, hayseed, housie, infant, meek, mellow, mimic, motion, mousie, mowing, palaces, pastry, poppy’s, popsicles, prized, puddings, racehorse, readers, saucer, seeking, skid, skim, spandy, steppes, stilts, trickle, twilight
Jack-A-Dandy
Handy-spandy, Jack-a-dandy,
Loves plum cake and sugar candy.
He bought some at a baker’s shop,
Pleased he was, and ran, HOP! HOP! HOP!
The Crooked Sixpence
There was a crooked man, he went on a crooked walk,
He found a crooked sixpence, by a crooked corn stalk.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together, in a little crooked house.
Christmas
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat,
Please to put a penny, in an old man’s hat.
If you haven’t got a penny, a half-penny will do,
If you haven’t got a half-penny, God bless you.
A Riddle
There is one that has a head without an eye,
And there’s one that has an eye without a head.
You may find the answer if you try.
And when all is said, half the answer hangs upon a thread.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
An Explanation Of The Grasshopper
The Grasshopper, the Grasshopper, I will explain to you.
He is the Brownies‘ racehorse, the Fairies’ Kangaroo.
Poem By Vachel Lindsaycor
Flowers Of The Steppes
Little bells, pretty flowers of the steppes, turning your faces my way.
Why do you droop your heads, on such a bright May day?
As you shake your heads in the grasses, what do you whisper and say?
Buttons
Buttons, a dollar a pair, come, who will buy them from me?
They’re round and sound and pretty, and fit for girls of the city.
Come, who will buy them from me? Buttons, a dollar a pair!
The Clucking Hen
“Will you take a walk with me, my little wife, today?
There’s barley in the barley field, and hayseed in the hay.”
“Thank you,” said the clucking hen, “I’ve something else to do;
I’m busy sitting on my eggs, I cannot walk with you.”
The clucking hen sat on her nest, she made it on the hay;
And warm and snug beneath her breast, a dozen white eggs lay.
“Crack, crack,” went all the eggs, out dropped the chickens small;
“Cluck,” said the clucking hen, “Now I have you all.”
“Come along, my little chicks, I’ll take a walk with you.”
“Hello!” said the barn-door cock, “Cock-a-doodle-do!”
Poem By Aunt Effie’s Rhymes
Coral
Oh, sailor, come ashore, what have you brought for me?
Red coral, white coral, coral from the sea.
Poem By Christina Rossetti
See Saw, Margery Daw
See Saw, Margery Daw, Jenny shall have a new master.
She shall have but a penny a day, because she can’t work any faster.
The Donkey
Donkey, donkey, old and gray, open your mouth, and gently bray.
Lift your ears, and blow your horn, to wake the world, this sleepy morn.
World Songs
Of speckled eggs the birdie sings, and nests upon the trees.
The sailor sings of ropes and things, in ships upon the seas.
The children sing in far Japan, the children sing in Spain.
The organ with the organ man, is singing in the rain.
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
Good Morning
One day I saw a downy duck, with feathers on his back.
I said, “Good morning, downy duck,” and he said, “Quack, quack, quack.”
One day I saw a timid mouse, he was so shy and meek.
I said, “Good morning, timid mouse,” and he said, “Squeak, squeak, squeak.”
One day I saw a curly dog, I met him with a bow.
I said, “Good morning, curly dog,” and he said, “Bow-wow-wow.”
One day I saw a scarlet bird, he woke me from my sleep.
I said, “Good morning, scarlet bird,” and he said, “Cheep, cheep, cheep.”
Poem By Muriel Sipe
Conversation
“Mousie, mousie, where is your little wee housie?”
“Here is the door, under the floor,” said mousie, mousie.
“Mousie, mousie, may I come into your housie?”
“You can’t come in. You have to be thin,” said mousie, mousie.
“Mousie, mousie, won’t you come out of your housie?”
“I’m sorry to say, I’m busy all day,” said mousie, mousie.
Poem By Rose Fyleman
Three Wise Men Of Gotham
Three wise men of Gotham, went to sea in a bowl.
If the bowl had been stronger, my song had been longer.
Little Girl And Queen
“Little girl, little girl, where have you been?”
“Gathering roses, to give to the Queen.”
“Little girl, little girl, what gave she you?”
“She gave me a diamond, as big as my shoe.”
What is Pink?
What is pink? A rose is pink, by the fountain’s brink.
What is red? A poppy’s red, in its barley bed.
What is blue? The sky is blue, where the clouds float through.
What is white? A swan is white, sailing in the light.
What is yellow? Pears are yellow, rich and ripe and mellow.
What is green? The grass is green, with small flowers between.
What is violet? Clouds are violet, in the summer twilight.
What is orange? Why, an orange, just an orange!
Poem By Christina Rossetti
Blocks
What are you able to build with your blocks? Castles and palaces, temples and docks.
Rain may keep raining, and others go roam, but I can be happy and building at home.
Poem By Robert Louis Stevenson
Little Sally Walker
Little Sally Walker, sitting in the saucer,
Rise, Sally, rise, wipe your weepy eyes.
Put your hand on your hips, and make your backbone slip.
Oh, shake it to the east, oh, shake it to the west.
Oh, shake it to the one, that you love best.
Crunch And Luck
Popcorn crunches, peanuts do,
The cone part of an ice cream cone, is wonderful for crunching, too.
Things to lick are candy sticks, rainbow-colored popsicles.
Chocolate sauce when it begins, to leak and trickle, down our chins.
Poem By Dorothy Aldis
Crazy-Town
Would you like to see goats dance on stilts? Then to Crazy-Town you must go.
The cow wears slippers on her feet, and everyone laughs, Ho-ho!
The ducks laugh, quack, quack, quack; the farm-boy laughs till he cries,
And over there, the dog, the dog; the dog makes Big Round Eyes!
King Boggin
Little King Boggin, built a fine hall, pie crust and pastry crust, that was the wall.
The windows were made of black puddings and white, and covered with pancakes, you never saw the like!
The Canary
Mary had a little bird, with feathers bright and yellow.
Slender legs, upon my word, he was a pretty fellow!
Sweetest notes he always sung, which much delighted Mary.
Often where his cage was hung, she sat to hear Canary.
Crumbs of bread and dainty seeds, she carried to him daily.
Seeking for the early weeds, she decked his palace gaily.
This, my little readers, learn, and ever practice duly.
Songs and smiles of love return, to friends who love you truly.
Poem By Elizabeth Turner
Engine Number Nine
Engine, engine, number nine, running along the Chicago Line,
Engine, engine, number nine, when she’s polished, she will shine.
The King Of France
The King of France went up the hill, with twenty-thousand men.
The King of France came down the hill, and never went up again.
Icy
I slip and I slide, on the slippery ice.
I skid and I glide, oh, isn’t it nice,
To lie on your tummy, and slither and skim,
On the slick crust of snow, where you skid as you swim?
Poem By Rhoda W. Bacmeister
Willy Boy
“Willy Boy, Willy Boy, where are you going?
I will go with you, if that I may.”
“I’m going to the meadow, to see them a-mowing,
I’m going to help them, to rake the hay.”
City Gate
Everyone’s glad in our city today.
There’s no one who’s not happy and gay.
When grandpa and grandma and grandchildren eight,
Come riding along through the wide city gate.
The First Tooth
Through the house what busy joy, just because the infant boy,
Has a tiny tooth to show! I have got a double row,
All as white, and all as small, yet no one cares for mine, at all.
He can say but half a word, yet that single sound’s preferred,
To all the words that I can say, in the longest summer day.
He cannot walk, yet if he put, with mimic motion out his foot,
As if he thought he were advancing, it’s prized more than my best dancing.
Poem By Charles and Mary Lamb
*********
WEEK THIRTY-FOUR PHONICS READ-ALONGS
FROM AOCR PHONICS ACTIVITY #2, “SCOPE AND SEQUENCE”
ACTIVITY 58) MORE WAYS TO SPELL THE “LONG-O” SOUND … continued:
Letter “O” “just by itself” … continued:
I’m going to Kohl’s to shop for a new pair of tennis shoes.
Which of these molds should I use to make our Jell-O fruit salad in?
When a snake molts, it’s the only animal that sheds 100% of its skin.
David Pogue is an Emmy-winning correspondent for CBS.
The polls did a poor job of predicting election results this year.
Mom posts something new on her blog at least once a week.
That young rogue is always getting into some kind of trouble.
Mom rolls her eyes at lots of things that I say in our dinner table conversations.
This month’s bill for all the tolls that I’ve had to pay adds to forty dollars.
This new fashion statement is quite in vogue these days.
The kind of battery that you’ll need for this device is nine volts.
Whisk these egg yolks for about two minutes.
I hear that Santa Claus has a droll sense of humor.
Scooby-Doo was convinced that he’d just seen a ghost.
That’s gross the way you keep gnawing at your fingernails.
Do you see that ram perched at the top of that knoll?
Mom’s gonna scold you for eating those cookies before dinner!
A “smolt” is a young, silvery salmon in the stage of its first migration to the sea.
That nasty, hairy troll is going to demand payment before we cross this bridge.
Letters “OW”:
How much money do I owe you?
I own an antique Ford Edsel.
Dad is going to wear a bow tie to the theater tonight.
The weatherman said that a low pressure front is coming in.
Son, can you please mow the lawn in the next day or two?
Let’s row the canoe over to that shady area.
Have you heard the saying, “You shall reap what you sow?”
The car battery is dead, and we’re going to need a tow to the service shop.
I owed her $100, and I finally paid off that debt.
Dad owes me some one-on-one time for reading my favorite stories together.
My neighbor owns a popular bicycle store.
Could you give the cat a bowl of milk?
Life is a constant back and forth between personal highs and lows.
I just love the smell of freshly mown grass.
My uncle mows his lawn with an electric — not a gas — mower.
Let’s line these chairs up in neat rows.
The farmer’s freshly sown fields received a welcome gentle rain all day yesterday.
This dictator sows seeds of distrust with his speeches.
I know someone who tows cars for a living.
Our daughter just learned how to blow a bubble with bubblegum.
A crow on the back fence is cawing loudly.
The flow of water in our bathroom shower is now a frustrating trickle.
Tonight’s full moon has a hazy glow to it.
We want to try to grow tomato plants in our yard this summer.
I know exactly what you mean.
You’d better slow down, because I think I see a police car up ahead.
We’re supposed to get around three inches of snow overnight.
Let’s stow this box of Christmas ornaments in the basement.
This used car was owned by a little old lady who hardly ever drove it.
We’ll use these bowls for folks to have their cereal in.
I need to go to Lowe’s to buy some lawn and garden items.
I told Dad that I mowed the lawn this morning.
We rowed the boat out to our favorite fishing spot.
The farmer sowed all of his crops’ seeds last week.
I hate to tell you this, but my car got towed because I parked in an illegal space.
Tons of leaves from our next-door neighbor’s lot have blown into our yard.
The wind blows from different directions each day.
Crows have a high intelligence level that some scientists compare as being equal to a seven year old human child!
I’ve flown to see clients in other cities at least fifteen time so far this year.
Lava flows from volcanoes are very dangerous to any nearby human dwellings.
The handle on this flashlight glows in the dark, so you can find it easily at night.
My nephew has grown three inches taller since I last saw him!
This weed that grows in my garden drives me batty.
If I had known that you were in town, I would have had you over to dinner.
That snooty girl thinks that she knows it all.
Mom always slows WAY down at railroad crossings.
I live far enough south where it very rarely snows.
Dad stows all of his “hoardings” on shelves in the garage.
Click here to go to Module D BY WEEKS 1 to 17
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