McGuffey 2nd Reader Unit 20:
Reservoirs of Compassion, Humility, and Gratitude
"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Colossians 3: 12-16
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
Romans 12:15
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Colossians 3: 12-16
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
Romans 12:15
Allow 3-4 weeks for this lesson - McGuffey Second Reader Lessons LXVI, LXVII, LXVIII, LXIX
This unit includes readings that help children consider their character development? Will they respond to others with kindness and compassion or will they give into contention and envy? The title for this unit is "Reservoirs of Compassion, Humility, and Gratitude". A reservoir is a supply or source of something. In scripture, the bowel is used as a metaphor for an internal reservoir. (see scripture above)
Did you know you can store up feelings of compassion, humility, and gratitude ahead of time so that during a time of emotional challenge, you can pause and dip into those reservoirs to help you cope with the current challenge? Emotional resiliency is an attribute that is needed more and more in today's divisive world. As children read the lessons in this unit, help them build internal reservoirs of compassion, humility, and gratitude. Ask them to practice drawing upon these reservoirs when they are feeling hurt, envious, unappreciated, or angry. They can do this by:
After completing this unit, choose one of the following Create and Share projects to demonstrate what you have learned.
Lesson LXVI
Before reading this lesson, discuss the meaning of the following underlined words. Allow the children an opportunity to determine the meaning of the word by the way it is used in the sentence.
An anecdote is a short story such as writers include within articles. talk about sharing the joy of friends when they win something. Is it harder to do when you wanted to win it yourself? The farmer's son went even farther than that; he helped his friend win the honor from him. Ask you students to each write a suggestion about an attitude that will make yours a happier classroom. Talk about these. Make posters of some of the favorites, or publish them in a class newspaper for all to read.
Lesson LXVII
Before reading this lesson, determine the meaning of the following words using the Webster's 1828 Dictionary. Look up the word and choose which definition matches the way the word is used in the sentence. The following sentences are taken from McGuffey Lesson LXVII.
Choose three students to read this lesson. One will be the narrator. The other two will read the parts of George and his father. Read this lesson orally as a play. Have a narrator read paragraphs 1-7 and paragraph 15, and two students read the rest in dialogue fashion.
Lesson LXVIII
Before reading this lesson, look up the following words in the Webster's 1828 Dictionary.
This story is a continuation of the previous lesson. What do you think it will be about? What conclusions do you think George and his father will come to?
Choose a narrator, George, and father, and read orally as a play. The participants should prepare by making sure they know all the words and by lightly marking parts like "said George" to omit.
Read the play and discuss the questions at the end.
The total play from both Lessons LXVII and LXVIII may be prepared to present to an audience of parents or of other classes. The "proof by design" or "intelligent design" idea taught in this play is a major idea in the history of world thinking. Spend sufficient time with this so your students understand it well.
Lesson LXIX
Read the poem first for its message. Discuss the questions at the end. The last word "age" is a figure of speech that stands for "me in my old age."
Study the poetry techniques of this poem. For instance, notice that lines 2 and 4 in each stanza rhyme. Notice, also, the similarities in stanzas 1,3,and 5 and in stanzas 2 and 4. Take time for the children to read aloud whole lines from these stanzas which are similar and to see how the "pattern" helps this poem.
After studying the poetry techniques of this poem, encourage children to write their own version. Or choose a nursery rhyme and write their own version using its rhyme and rhythm pattern. Writing imitations like this is a good way to learn about poetry.
After the children have studied this poem, they will profit from looking at another version. The author of the original poem in this pattern is unknown. Lewis Carroll wrote a parody of it in Alice in Wonderland, and still another version is sometimes included in anthologies.
This unit includes readings that help children consider their character development? Will they respond to others with kindness and compassion or will they give into contention and envy? The title for this unit is "Reservoirs of Compassion, Humility, and Gratitude". A reservoir is a supply or source of something. In scripture, the bowel is used as a metaphor for an internal reservoir. (see scripture above)
Did you know you can store up feelings of compassion, humility, and gratitude ahead of time so that during a time of emotional challenge, you can pause and dip into those reservoirs to help you cope with the current challenge? Emotional resiliency is an attribute that is needed more and more in today's divisive world. As children read the lessons in this unit, help them build internal reservoirs of compassion, humility, and gratitude. Ask them to practice drawing upon these reservoirs when they are feeling hurt, envious, unappreciated, or angry. They can do this by:
- Recognize feelings of anxiety, stress, envy, etc.
- Stop and practice rhythmic deep breathing for 2-5 minutes.(5 seconds breathe in, followed by 5 seconds breathing out, repeat)
- While breathing in and out, recall times you felt kindness or compassion, joy or gratitude.
- Try to sustain those good feelings as you move forward, responding in a constructive way to the situation that challenged you.
After completing this unit, choose one of the following Create and Share projects to demonstrate what you have learned.
- Create a gratitude journal by listing 10 things you are grateful each day.
- Write a short story about how the main character chose to respond to a difficult challenge with kindness
- Draw or paint a picture that illustrates something you are grateful for or a relationship that brings you joy.
- Write your own version of the poem "Father William" in Lesson LXIX. How can you make it similar? How do you want to make it different?
Lesson LXVI
Before reading this lesson, discuss the meaning of the following underlined words. Allow the children an opportunity to determine the meaning of the word by the way it is used in the sentence.
- When I inquired, they told me she was not here.
- He had scarcely enough money.
- I feel quite envious actually, you can escape for weekends whenever you want to.
- In the ensuing weeks after the hurricane, thousands of people went without power.
- Perhaps we should endeavor to approach our problem together.
- An amusing anecdote is related of him in his professional career.
- We have already wasted a considerable amount of time and money.
An anecdote is a short story such as writers include within articles. talk about sharing the joy of friends when they win something. Is it harder to do when you wanted to win it yourself? The farmer's son went even farther than that; he helped his friend win the honor from him. Ask you students to each write a suggestion about an attitude that will make yours a happier classroom. Talk about these. Make posters of some of the favorites, or publish them in a class newspaper for all to read.
Lesson LXVII
Before reading this lesson, determine the meaning of the following words using the Webster's 1828 Dictionary. Look up the word and choose which definition matches the way the word is used in the sentence. The following sentences are taken from McGuffey Lesson LXVII.
- Rods: "George led the way by some rods."
- Bound: "He didn't stay long but bounded away towards the house."
- Trundle: "either trundling his wagon or riding his prancing horse"
- Prancing: "either trundling his wagon or riding his prancing horse"
- Nevertheless: "There are many things we don't believe, George, which, nevertheless are true."
Choose three students to read this lesson. One will be the narrator. The other two will read the parts of George and his father. Read this lesson orally as a play. Have a narrator read paragraphs 1-7 and paragraph 15, and two students read the rest in dialogue fashion.
Lesson LXVIII
Before reading this lesson, look up the following words in the Webster's 1828 Dictionary.
- Sowed
- Design
- Almighty
- worshiped
- proprietor
This story is a continuation of the previous lesson. What do you think it will be about? What conclusions do you think George and his father will come to?
Choose a narrator, George, and father, and read orally as a play. The participants should prepare by making sure they know all the words and by lightly marking parts like "said George" to omit.
Read the play and discuss the questions at the end.
The total play from both Lessons LXVII and LXVIII may be prepared to present to an audience of parents or of other classes. The "proof by design" or "intelligent design" idea taught in this play is a major idea in the history of world thinking. Spend sufficient time with this so your students understand it well.
Lesson LXIX
Read the poem first for its message. Discuss the questions at the end. The last word "age" is a figure of speech that stands for "me in my old age."
Study the poetry techniques of this poem. For instance, notice that lines 2 and 4 in each stanza rhyme. Notice, also, the similarities in stanzas 1,3,and 5 and in stanzas 2 and 4. Take time for the children to read aloud whole lines from these stanzas which are similar and to see how the "pattern" helps this poem.
After studying the poetry techniques of this poem, encourage children to write their own version. Or choose a nursery rhyme and write their own version using its rhyme and rhythm pattern. Writing imitations like this is a good way to learn about poetry.
After the children have studied this poem, they will profit from looking at another version. The author of the original poem in this pattern is unknown. Lewis Carroll wrote a parody of it in Alice in Wonderland, and still another version is sometimes included in anthologies.