SECOND YEAR
FIRST WEEK
Monday
To be committed to memory:
THE WIND
I saw you toss the kites on high,
And blow the birds about the sky,
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies’ skirts across the grass—
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all—
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
O you that are so strong and cold;
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind, a-blowing all day long?
O wind, that sings so loud a song?
—Robert Louis Stevenson
Children copy the first stanza of the poem, and commit it to memory.
Tuesday
Copy and learn the second stanza of the poem.
Wednesday
Copy and learn the third stanza of the poem.
Thursday
Recite the entire poem.
Friday
Write a list of the naming words (nouns) in the poem.
SECOND WEEK
Monday
For dictation:
Galloping, galloping, galloping in,
Into the world with a stir, and a din.
The north wind, the east wind, the west wind together,
In-bringing, in-bringing, the March’s wild weather.
Tuesday
Write five sentences, telling what the wind does.
Wednesday
Story for reproduction:
SPRING
It was spring.
The sun had melted the snow from the hill-tops; the grass blades were pushing their way through the brown earth, and the buds on the trees were beginning to break open and let the tiny green leaves peep out.
A bee, waked from the sleep in which he had lain all through the winter, rubbed his eyes, then opened the door, and looked out to see if the ice and snow and the north wind had gone away. Yes; there was warm, clear sunshine.
He slipped out of the hive, stretched his wings and flew away.
He went to the apple tree and asked, “Have you anything for a hungry bee, who has eaten nothing the whole winter long?”
The apple tree answered:
“No; you have come too early. My blossoms are still buds and so I have nothing for you. Go to the cherry tree.”
He flew to the cherry tree and said, “Dear cherry tree, have you any honey for a hungry bee?”
The cherry tree answered:
“Come again to-morrow; to-day my blossoms are shut up, but when they are open you are welcome to them.”
Then he flew to a bed of tulips nearby. They had large, beautiful flowers, but there was neither sweetness nor perfume in them and he could not find any honey.
Tired and hungry, the poor bee turned to seek his home, when a tiny dark blue flower, beside a hedge, caught his eye.
It was a violet that was all ready for the bee’s coming. The violet opened its cup of sweetness. The bee drank his fill, and carried some honey to the hive.
—Selected and Adapted
Thursday
Children retell, in their own words, the story of “Spring.”
Friday
Write five sentences about spring.
THIRD WEEK
Monday
For dictation:
If a task is once begun,
Never leave it till it’s done;
Be the labor great or small
Do it well, or not at all.
Tuesday
Talk about signs of spring! Sky, bright sun, warmer days, return of birds, pussy willows, swelling buds.
Wednesday
Write five sentences about pussy willows.
Thursday
Write a letter to your sister or brother, telling about pussy willow.
Friday
Write a sentence containing the word blue; one with the word green; pink; yellow; red; white.
FOURTH WEEK
Monday
Tell the children about St. Patrick.
Tuesday
Write three sentences about St. Patrick.
Wednesday
Write the names of all the members of the family, and your address.
Thursday
For dictation:
Under the snowdrifts the blossoms are sleeping,
Dreaming their dreams of sunshine and June.
Friday
Talk about the wind, and what it does.