THIRD YEAR
FIRST WEEK
Monday
To be committed to memory:
OUR FLAG
There are many flags in many lands,
There are flags of every hue,
But there is no flag in any land,
Like our own Red, White, and Blue.
I know where the prettiest colors are,
I’m sure if I only knew
How to get them here, I could make a flag,
Of glorious Red, White, and Blue.
I could cut a piece from the evening sky,
Where the stars were shining through,
And use it just as it was on high,
For my Stars and field of Blue.
Then I’d want a piece of fleecy cloud,
And some from a rainbow bright,
And I’d put them together, side by side,
For my Stripes of Red and White.
Then “Hurrah for the Flag!” our country’s flag,
Its stripes, and white stars, too;
There is no flag in any land,
Like our own Red, White and Blue.—Selected
Have the poem copied.
Tuesday
Learn the first two stanzas of the poem.
Wednesday
Learn the rest of the poem.
Thursday
Recite the entire poem.
Friday
Write a list of the nouns, and another of the verbs, in the poem.
SECOND WEEK
Monday
Write a four-line verse suitable for a valentine.
Tuesday
Write the story of St. Valentine.
Wednesday
Talk about Lincoln.
Thursday
Write what you know about Lincoln.
Friday
For dictation:
Twilight and firelight,
Shadows come and go;
Merry chimes of sleighbells
Tinkling through the snow;
Mother knitting stockings
(Pussy’s got the ball)—
Don’t you think that winter’s
Pleasanter than all?—Selected
THIRD WEEK
Monday
Write the story of Washington and the hatchet.
Tuesday
Write three sentences, telling why we should admire Washington.
Wednesday
Tell the story of Lafayette’s part in aiding our fight for freedom.
Thursday
Write what you know of Lafayette.
For dictation:
God make my life a little song,
That comforteth the sad;
That helpeth others to be strong,
And makes the singer glad.
—Selected
FOURTH WEEK
Monday
Story for reproduction:
THE ROBIN’S RED BREAST
Long ago, in the far north, where it is very cold, there was only one fire.
An old man and his little son took care of this fire and kept it burning day and night.
They knew that if the fire went out all the people would freeze and that the white bear would have the northland all to himself.
But one day the old man became very sick so that his son had everything to do.
For many days and nights he bravely took care of his father and kept the fire burning.
But at last he got so tired and sleepy that he could no longer work.
Now the white bear was always watching the fire.
He longed for the time when he would have the northland all to himself.
And when he saw how tired and sleepy the little boy was, he stayed close to the fire and laughed to himself.
One night the poor little boy could endure no longer and fell fast asleep.
Then the white bear ran as fast as he could and jumped upon the fire with his wet feet and rolled upon it.
At last he thought it was all out and went happily away to his cave.
But a gray robin was flying near and saw what the white bear was doing.
She waited until the bear went away.
Then she flew down and searched with her sharp little eyes until she found a tiny live spark.
This she fanned patiently for a long time with her wings.
Her little breast was scorched red, but she did not give up.
After awhile a fine red blaze sprang up again.
Then she flew away to every hut in the northland.
And everywhere that she touched the ground a fire began to burn.
So that soon instead of one little fire the whole northland was lighted up.
And now all that the white bear could do was to go farther back into his cave and growl.
For now, indeed, he knew that the northland was not all for him.
And this is the reason why the people in the north country love the robin. And they are never tired of telling their children how it got its red breast.
Tuesday
Write the story of the Robin’s Red Breast.
Wednesday
Play, as a game, the story of Robin.
Thursday
Write five sentences about birds.
Friday
For dictation:
Two hands and only one mouth have you,
And it is worth while repeating,
That two are for the work you will have to do;
The one is enough for eating.—Selected