Reading 4

EP Fourth Reader Days 1-90 This course is available in book form.

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Course Description: Students will improve their reading skills by reading challenging books for comprehension and vocabulary development. Reading materials include poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.

Reading list (included for free in the online assignments; no need to purchase separately):
McGuffey Third Reader, McGuffey; Swiss Family Robinson by Wyss, abridged  for EP by Giles; The Railway Children, Nesbit; The Peterkin Papers, Hale; A Little Princess, Burnett; The Storybook of Science, Fabre (nonfiction)

Lesson 1

Welcome to your first day of school! I wanted to give you one important reminder before you begin. Many of your lessons below have an internet link for you to click on. When you go to the different internet pages for your lessons, please DO NOT click on anything else on that page except what the directions tell you to. DO NOT click on any advertisements or games. DO NOT click on anything that takes you to a different website. Just stay focused on your lesson and then close that window and you should be right back here for the next lesson. Okay?

  1. If you didn’t get here through My EP Assignments, I suggest you go there and create an account. There is an offline version of this course if you are interested in a workbook. Scroll up for the link.
  2. Write quench (story 3), dismay (story 4) and retort (story 5) in your notebook, each on its own line. Pay attention to those words while you read.
  3. Guess what you think those words mean.
  4. Read stories 1-5. (This is from the book McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Reader, revised edition and you can find it in the EP Fourth Reader if you have that.) 
    • Story 1 Click on Lesson 2 at the bottom of the page and so on through 5.
  5. Look up each word to see if you are right. Type “define” and then the word into the search engine. Write the correct definition of the words in your notebook.
  6. This is the end of your work for this course for your first day. You are allowed to move at your own pace (this is homeschooling), but it’s intended you complete one lesson a day.

Lesson 2

  1. Write toil and strife in your notebook where you left off last lesson. Pay attention to those words while you read.
  2. Read this first paragraph..
    • Lend a hand to one another
      In the daily toil of life
      When we meet a weaker brother,
      Let us help him in the strife
      There is none so rich but may
      In his turn, be forced to borrow;
      And the poor man’s lot to-day
      May become our own to-morrow.
  3. Guess what you think those words mean.
  4. Look up each word to see if you are right. Type “define” and then the word into the search engine. Write the correct definition of the words in your notebook.
  5. Now tell or rewrite the paragraph in your own words. What is it saying? Example: For the first line you could write, “Help each other.”

Lesson 3

  1. Write malicious and adrift in your reading notebook where you left off last lesson. Pay attention to those words while you read.
  2. Read the second paragraph below.
    • Lend a hand to one another;
      When malicious tongues have thrown
      Dark suspicion on your brother,
      Be not prompt to cast a stone.
      There is none so good but may
      Run adrift in shame and sorrow,
      And the good man of to-day
      May become the bad to-morrow.
  3. Guess what you think those words mean.
  4. Look up each word to see if you are right. Type “define” and then the word into the search engine. Write the correct definitions in your notebook.
  5. Tell or rewrite what the paragraph means in your own words.

Lesson 4

  1. Write envy in your reading notebook.
  2. Other vocabulary to know before you read today:  The phrase “Honor’s crown” is in today’s reading. It means gaining some honor, getting recognition for something.
  3. Read the third paragraph.
    • Lend a hand to one another:
      In the race for Honor’s crown;
      Should it fall upon your brother,
      Let not envy tear it down.
      Lend a hand to all, we pray,
      In their sunshine or their sorrow;
      And the prize they’ve won today
      May become our own to-morrow.
  4. Guess what you think the word envy means.
  5. Look it up to see if you are right. Write the correct definition in your notebook.
  6. Tell or rewrite the paragraph in your own words.

Lesson 5

  1. Write ignorant, haste (story 7) and inquire (story 10) in your reading notebook. Pay attention to these words as you read.
  2. Read stories 7 through 10.
    • Lesson 7  Click on the continue button after the reading to go to “Lesson 8” and so on through story 10.
  3. Guess what you think those vocabulary words mean.
  4. Look up their definitions and see if you are correct. Write the correct definitions in your notebook.
  5. In story 9, there is the word “inhuman.” When “in-” is used in front of a word, it means not. So, inhuman means not human. Indescribable also has “in-” for a prefix (the part added onto the front of a word). Can you think of another word with the prefix “in-”? Write it in your notebook. Underline “in” and write the definition of the word you wrote. Not ____________

Lesson 6

  1. Read story 11.
  2. Write forge in your notebook on a new page. Write the date in the top corner. In this context, forge is a verb (an action), and means to form by heating and pounding into shape. This is how metal is molded into different shapes. Write this definition in your notebook.
  3. This type of poem is called a limerick. It is in the form: AABBA. In this type of poem, the B lines not only rhyme but they are shorter in length than the other lines.
  4. How many lines are in this form of poem? (answer: 5)
  5. Which lines rhyme in a limerick? (answer: The first, second and last lines rhyme. The third and fourth lines rhyme.)
  6. Read some other limericks. By the way, limericks are often humorous.

Vocabulary

  1. Do this vocabulary game with the words you wrote in your notebook last week.

Lesson 7

  1. Write assure (story 12), earnest (story 13), and grove (story 16) in your notebook. After you read, look them up and write the definitions into your notebook.
  2. Read stories 12 through 16 in your reader.
    • Story 12  Click on the continue button after each reading to move onto “Lesson 13” and so on through 16.

Lesson 8

  1. Read story 17.
  2. What is the lesson of this poem? (Answer)
  3. What form is this poem in? (For instance, the limerick was in the form: AABBA) (Answer)

Lesson 9

  1. Write distress and hesitation in your notebook. After you read, look them up and write the definitions into your notebook.
  2. Read story 18.
  3. How much does the woman ask for? (Answer)
  4. How much does the man give her at first? (Answer)
  5. Why does the man give her $500? (Answer)
  6. What is the moral of the story? (Answer)

Lesson 10

  1. Write adorn (story 21), dispute (story 22) in your reading notebook.
  2. Read stories 19 – 23.
    • Story 19  Keep clicking on the continue to next lesson link after each story until you’ve gone through 23.
  3. Look at the word “downy” in paragraph 1 of story 20. What does downy mean? It tells us by partnering it with what word? Soft. Often, when we don’t know a word, if we read the whole sentence or the next sentence, it will explain it to us.
  4. Guess what you think those words mean.
  5. Look them up and write the correct definition in your notebook.
  6. What is the moral, or lesson, of the poem in story 20? (Answer)
  7. What is the form of the poem in story 23? (Answer)

Lesson 11

  1. Write coarse (story 24), peevish (story 25), and perplexed (story 26) on a new page on your notebook. Write today’s date at the top. Pay attention to these words as you read.
  2. Read stories 24-27.
    • Story 24  Click on the continue to the next lesson link after each story until you’ve read story 27.
  3. Guess what you think those words mean.
  4. Look them up and write the correct definition in your notebook.

Vocabulary

  1. Do these vocabulary flashcards with your vocabulary words. Say the definition. Flip the card.
  2. Work on them until you know them.

Lesson 12

  1. Write reproach (story 30), stroke (story 31)
  2. Read stories 28-31.
    • Story 28  Click on the continue to the next lesson link after each story until you’ve read through story 31.
  3. Write definitions of both words.

Lesson 13

  1. Write clad, array (story 32), scarlet (story 34), revere (story 35), torment (story 36) in your notebook.
  2. Write definitions of the words in your notebook.
  3. Read stories 32 – 36.
    • deign means to stoop to a level lower than your station
    • hallow means to honor or respect greatly
    • transgressions are sins
    • plumage means feathers
    • Story 32  Click on the continue to the next lesson link after each story until you’ve read through story 36.

Vocabulary

  1. Fill in the crossword puzzle with the bold words from lessons 1 -10.

Lesson 14

  1. Write crevices, prowl (story 37) in your notebook.
  2. Here are some words you need to know.
    • chandelier
    • pendulum
    • lowing is the sound cows make, lance is the long spear thing a knight uses, sheaves are bundles of cut grain
  3. Read stories 37 – 40.
    • Story 37  Click on the continue to the next lesson link after each story until you’ve read through story 40.
  4. Guess what you think those words mean.
  5. Look up the definitions and write the correct definitions in your notebook.

Lesson 15

  1. Read stories 41 – 45.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 16

  1. Read stories 46 – 50.
  2. Choose a word you don’t know from your reading and copy it and its definition into your notebook.

Vocabulary

  1. Do this game with some of your words from last week.

Lesson 17

  1. Read stories 51 – 56.  Click on the link to continue onto the next lesson until you’ve read through story 56.
  2. Choose a word you don’t know from the definitions in your reading and copy it and its definition into your notebook.

Lesson 18

  1. Read stories 57 – 60. Click on the link to continue onto the next lesson until you’ve read through story 60.
  2. Write in your notebook the moral, or lesson, from two of your readings today. Label each one with the story number.

Vocabulary

  1. Play this game with last week’s words.

Lesson 19

  1. Read stories 61 – 64. Click on the link to continue onto the next lesson until you’ve read through story 64.
  2. Based on the character of “the insolent boy,” what do you think insolent means? (Answer)

Lesson 20

  1. Read stories 65 – 69. Click on the link to continue onto the next lesson until you’ve read through story 69.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 21

  1. Read this summary of Swiss Family Robinson.
    • The Swiss Family Robinson follows a close family who has found themselves stranded on an island after a shipwreck. The story is told from the point of view of the father. The religious family is made up of their intelligent and resourceful father, a kind and caring mother, and their four sons named Fritz, Ernest, Jack, and Franz. Fritz is the eldest son, 15-years-old when the family lands on the island, and he is often tough on his brothers despite his good intentions. Ernest is the second oldest, and he is intelligent and well-formed though indolent. Jack is the third oldest son. He is bold, but often thoughtless. Last is Franz, the youngest son, nearly 8-years-old when the family first is stranded. The story begins with the family’s good fortune when they survive a shipwreck in a terrible storm. They find themselves stuck on a ship, after being abandoned by their shipmates, but not too far from shore. Luckily, the family discovers many supplies on the ship including clothing, tools, fish hooks, guns and gun powder, and various useful animals. They find even more treasures on the endlessly fruitful island and continue to prosper and make new and exciting discoveries for years. The boys eventually grow into men and embark on adventures and learn from each other and the land, when one day the family finds a mysterious message tied to an albatrosse’s leg. The message gives them a way back to civilization from friendly strangers, and finally leads the family members to make the hardest decisions of their lives. Who will stay on the island they have made their home, and which of them will make the difficult decision to leave the island and their family forever? (from http://www.childrensnursery.org.uk/swiss-family-robinson/swiss-family-robinson.html)
  2. Look at this picture of the book. What do you think is happening?

Vocabulary

  1. Make a list of ten of your vocabulary words in alphabetical order. Use two words each that start with a, r, d, p and c. Remember that if the first letters are the same, then compare the second letter in each word and so on.
  2. Play a vocabulary game.

Lesson 22

  1. Read Swiss Family Robinson chapter 1. Here is the audio of chapter 1 if you want to listen while you read along. (The story starts with them on a boat in the middle of a big storm. The word he uses for storm is “tempest.” That’s a really bad storm. The book you will be reading is abridged; it’s been edited to be shortened a little. Sometimes the audio will go off your reading. If you keep listening and watching, it will pick up again where you are at in your reading.)
  2. As you read, if you get stuck, especially on a word you don’t know, read the next few sentences to see if you can figure out what’s going on. If a word you don’t know is keeping you from following the story, then stop. Ask for help. There’s no use reading the whole chapter and not knowing what happened at the end. Stop and think. The reading should make sense. It’s a story. Things are happening. Make a picture in your mind of what is going on. You don’t have to understand every word, but you should know what’s going on. Don’t get lost in the book. If you don’t know what’s happening, go back to what you last knew and start again from there.
  3. What is “she” referring to in this sentence? “As all hope from this direction was over, I examined the ship to see if she would hold together for a little while, and was reassured.”
  4. Who is narrating this story? (Who is I?)
  5. There are a few times in the book, where you will see a note from me in (parenthesis). I’m just trying to help you along with your reading.
  6. For discussion: At the beginning of Chapter 1, as the storm threatened the ship, the sailors “uttered frantic cries to God for mercy, mingled with strange and often ludicrous vows, to be performed should deliverance be granted.” Why do people try to bargain with God? Can God be bargained with? Read these verses about making vows. A vow is a strong promise. Read Deuteronomy 23:21–23. What are the dangers in making vows? Read Matthew 5:33–37. What does Jesus teach in these verses about making vows?

Lesson 23

  1. Read Swiss Family Robinson chapter 2. Audio for chapter 2
  2. List the four boys and write a word to describe each one.
  3. What’s the first thing they do when they get on the beach? (Answer)
  4. If a word you don’t know is keeping you from understanding what’s going on, look it up or ask someone what it means.
    • I’ll tell you what one weird word means right now. A hogshead is a cask used to store liquids.
  5. If you aren’t following the story, go back to where you last knew what was going on and start from there. Ask for help when you need it. Don’t get to the end of the chapter and not know what you read!
  6. Tell someone about the chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. As you read, if there are any words you don’t understand, write them in your notebook.
  2. Look up the words you want to know and write their definitions in your notebook.

Lesson 24

  1. Read Swiss Family Robinson chapter 3. Audio for chapter 3
  2. Copy a sentence (or part of a sentence) in your notebook that contains a word you don’t know. What do you think it means from the context?
  3. Look up the meaning of the word. Were you right? Write the word and definition in your notebook.
  4. What are some of the foods they find?
  5. How did they get the nuts from the tree? (Answer)

Lesson 25

  1. Read chapter 4 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 4
  2. “If the Lord will, He can save us even from this fearful peril; if not, let us calmly yield our lives into His hand, and think of the
    joy and blessedness of finding ourselves forever and ever united in that happy home above.” What does this quote by Father tell us about what their family believes?
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 26

  1. Read chapter 5 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 5
  2. Read chapter 6 as well. Audio of chapter 6
  3. While you are reading, if you are stuck, stop and go back to where you understood. Try again. Make a mental picture of what’s happening. Sound out unfamiliar words. Ask for help when you need it. Use these suggestions to make sure you are following the book.
  4. Tell someone about the chapters when you are done reading.

Lesson 27

  1. Read chapter 7 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 7
  2. Read chapter 8. Audio of chapter 8
  3. What are they going to have to build to get their things to their new home? (Answer)
  4. Tell someone about the chapters.

Lesson 28

  1. Read chapter 9 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 9
  2. Read chapter 10. Audio of chapter 10
  3. Tell someone about the chapters.

Vocabulary

  1. What does “convey” mean in this sentence?
    • Finally, we conveyed inside the tent all we could not carry away, closing the entrance, and barricading it with chests and casks, thus confiding all our possessions to the care of God. (from Swiss Family Robinson)
  2. Look up the word and write two definitions for this word in your notebook.
  3. Where are they building their new home? (Answer)

Lesson 29

  1. Read chapters 11 and 12 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapters 11 and 12
  2. He tells his children a parable, a story that has a meaning. The “Great King” in the story is Jesus. He’s teaching his children about the Bible.
  3. Tell someone about the chapters.

Lesson 30

  1. Read chapters 13 and 14 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapters 13 and 14
  2. Tell someone about the chapters.

Lesson 31

  1. Read chapters 15 and 16 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapters 15 and 16
  2. What kind of animal did Earnest kill? (Answer)
  3. Write a one sentence summary for one of these chapters. In one sentence, tell what happened in the chapter, the main idea/event of the chapter.

Lesson 32

  1. Read chapters 17 and 18 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 17 and 18
  2. What did they manage to harpoon? A harpoon is a spear-like weapon used for fishing. (Answer)
  3. Tell someone about the chapters.

Lesson 33

  1. Read chapter 19 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 19
  2. Write a one sentence summary of the chapter.

Lesson 34

  1. Read chapters 20 and 21 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 20 and 21
  2. Write a one sentence summary of the chapter.
  3. The pinnace is a small boat that is part of the equipment of a large ship. In the beginning of this chapter, they are getting it from the ship as a surprise for his wife.

Lesson 35

  1. Read chapters 22 and 23 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 22 and 23
  2. What is his plan for using the gum from the tree? (Answer)
  3. Tell someone about the chapters.

Lesson 36

  1. Read chapter 24 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 24
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. Play the vocabulary game.

Lesson 37

  1. Read chapter 25 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 25
  2. The pith of a tree is the soft, spongy center.
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 38

  1. Read chapters 26 and 27 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 26 and 27
  2. Tell someone about what is happening in the book.
  3. What do you think is going to happen next? in the end of the book?
  4. Their donkey returns with another animal. What is it? (Answer)

Lesson 39

  1. Read chapter 28 of Swiss Family Robinson.
  2. Read chapter 29 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 28 and 29 (stop after chapter 29)
  3. What did they find in the grotto (small cave)? (Answer)
  4. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 40

  1. Read chapters 30 and 31 Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapters 30 and 31 (start at 16:58 and stop after chapter 31)
  2. Tell someone about the chapters.

Lesson 41

  1. Read chapter 32 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 32 (start at 28:12)
  2. Do you think they will leave or stay on the island forever?
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. Review your vocabulary. Do both games. One     Two

Lesson 42

  1. Read chapter 33 of Swiss Family Robinson. (NOTE: Some time has past in the story since the end of Chapter 32.) Audio of chapter 33 (start at 44:04)
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 43

  1. Read chapter 34 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 34 (start at 56:16)
  2. His wife is sick and he says that she needs a “bleeding.” This was a mistaken medical idea of long ago. They cut patients to drain out the “bad blood” that was making them sick. What happened, though, was that they made people weaker by making them lose blood. It only harmed the patient, but he’s doing the best he knows how.
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 44

  1. Read chapters 35 and 36 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 35 and 36 (Start at 1:11:36)
  2. Tell someone about the chapters.

Lesson 45

  1. Read chapter 37 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 37 (start at 1:26:59)
  2. Tell someone about what is happening in the book.

Lesson 46

  1. Read chapter 38 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 38 (start at 1:41:02)
  2. Look for a word you don’t know in today’s reading. Look up its definition.

Lesson 47

  1. Read chapter 39 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 39
  2. Copy part of a descriptive sentence from your reading today. Put quotation marks around it. Label it with the book title and chapter number.
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 48

  1. Read chapter 40 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 40 (start at 12:59)
  2. Tell someone about what happened in this chapter.

Lesson 49

  1. Read chapter 41 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 41 (start at 26:34)
  2. Do you remember that a grotto is a small cave?
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 50

  1. Read chapter 42 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio of chapter 42 (start at 38:44)
  2. What does the poem show of his feelings about the island? (Answer)
  3. Tell someone about what happened in this chapter.

Lesson 51

  1. Read chapter 43 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 43 (start at 52:40)
  2. A mill is for grinding grain. Two large flat rocks turn against each other to grind the grain into flour. Who’s planning to build one? (Answer)
  3. Tell someone what happened in this chapter.

Lesson 52

  1. Read chapters 44 and 45 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 44 and 45 (start at 1:05:20)
  2. Chapter 45 is missing some pages, so the two chapters blend into one.
  3. Find a word in today’s reading that you don’t know. Guess its meaning based on the context.
  4. Look up the word’s definition.

Lesson 53

  1. Read chapter 46 of Swiss Family Robinson Audio for chapter 46 (start at 1:19:03)
  2. Tell someone what happens in the chapter.

Lesson 54

  1. Read chapter 47 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 47 (start at 1:30:55)
  2. Copy the beginning of a sentence that transitions. (Finally…The next day…)
  3. Who’s missing? (Answer)

Lesson 55

  1. Read chapter 48 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 48 (start at 1:44:06)
  2. Copy the beginning of a sentence that transitions. (Next…The following morning…)
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 56

  1. Read chapter 49 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 49
  2. Copy the beginning of a sentence that transitions. (Next…The following morning…)
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 57

  1. Read chapter 50 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 50 (start at 9:29)
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.
  3. This is a long chapter. What happened to Jack? (Answer)

Lesson 58

  1. Read chapter 51 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 51 (start at 25:48)
  2. Copy the beginning of a sentence that transitions (most likely the first sentence in a paragraph).
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 59

  1. Read the first part of chapter 52 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 52 (start at 37:01)
  2. Copy the beginning of a sentence that transitions.
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 60

  1. Read the second half of chapter 52 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 52 (start at 51:02)
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter today.
  3. Who was reunited with the father? (Answer)

Lesson 61

  1. Read chapter 53 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 53 (start at 1:05:37)
  2. Tell someone about what’s happening.

Lesson 62

  1. Read chapter 54 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 54 (start at 1:20:31)
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.
  3. Who is story teller now? Who is “I?” (Answer)

Vocabulary

  1. Play a vocabulary game.

Lesson 63

  1. Read chapter 55 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 55 (start at 1:40:06)
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 64

  1. Read chapter 56 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 56 (start at 1:57:47)
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. Play this game with some vocabulary words.

Lesson 65 (You might want to check ahead to look at the optional supply list for Lesson 67.)

  1. Read the first part chapter 57 of Swiss Family Robinson. Audio for chapter 57 (start at 2:12:41)
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 66

  1. Read the conclusion of Swiss Family Robinson.
  2. Finish chapter 57. Audio for chapter 57 (start at 2:31:24)
  3. Read chapter 58. Audio for chapter 58 (start at 2:38:08)

Lesson 67 

  1. Build a diorama of a scene from the island. Use paper mache in your shoe box to build the land. You may need to finish this on another day. OR
  2. Design an invention you could have made on the island (with what was available to them)–a tool or a game or something else. Draw a picture of it.

Lesson 68

  1. Finish up your diorama. Include a picture of it in your portfolio. If you made a drawing, put a title on it and a brief description of what it is. Include this in your portfolio.
  2. Read a chapter of The Peterkin Papers. (audio) You are jumping into a middle chapter because I wanted a shorter one for today since we’re finishing up our project from the lesson before. You will read all of the chapters, but each chapter is an individual story. The book is a collection of stories about an unusual family.
  3. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 69

  1. Read chapter 2 of The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 70

  1. Read chapter 3 of The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 71

  1. Read chapter 4 of The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 72

  1. Read the first part of chapter one of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Draw a picture of their home (inside or out or both).
  3. What does it mean that their home had “every modern convenience”? You can read here about what modern conveniences they had when this book was written (around 1905).
  4. Who is the book about? What do you know so far?

Lesson 73

  1. Read the rest of chapter one of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Draw a picture of their new home (inside or out or both).
  3. Just so you know: their father was arrested.
  4. Tell someone about chapter 1.

Lesson 74

  1. Read the first part of chapter two of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone what’s happening in the story.

Lesson 75

  1. Read the rest of chapter two of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here (starting at 12:33).
  2. What does mother say they are too poor to afford? (Answer)
  3. What does it mean to “nick” coal? (answer: steal it)
  4. Tell someone what happened in chapter 2.

Lesson 76

  1. Read the first part of chapter three of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Why does Peter feel better? (Answer)

Lesson 77

  1. Read the rest of chapter three of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Draw a picture of what you think the station looks like.
  3. Tell someone about chapter 3.

Lesson 78

  1. Read chapter four of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Some background information for this chapter:
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 79

  1. Read the rest of chapter four of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Some background information for this chapter:
    • Here is an image of the parts of a steam engine. The coal feeds the fire, which heats the water and turns it into steam, which pushes the piston, causing the wheels to turn.
  3. Tell someone about chapter 4.

Lesson 80

  1. Read the first part of chapter five of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Write a summary of what you read in one sentence.

Vocabulary

  1. Play Find the Synonym. A synonym is a word with similar meaning.

Lesson 81

  1. Read the second part of chapter five of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. “The Man Who Was” is a short story by a famous author, Kipling. The “man who was” had been a British officer, and then something happened and he became a “nobody” but still held onto his pride and loyalty.
  3. Tell someone about chapter 5.

Lesson 82

  1. Read the first part of chapter six of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone about what’s happening in the chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. Play Find the Synonym. A synonym is a word with similar meaning.

Lesson 83

  1. Read the second part of chapter six of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Why did they think Bobby was heartless? (Answer)
  3. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 84

  1. Read the first part of chapter seven of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Describe Roberta.
  3. Tell someone about what you read today.

Lesson 85

  1. Read the second part of chapter seven of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Write a one-sentence summary of the chapter.

Lesson 86

  1. Read the first part chapter eight of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone what’s happening in the story.

Vocabulary

  1. Play this game to match the antonyms.
  2. Antonyms are opposites.

Lesson 87

  1. Read the rest of chapter eight of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in this chapter.

Lesson 88

  1. Read the first part of chapter nine of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone about what’s happening in the story.

Vocabulary

  1. Play a level 3 vocabulary game.

Lesson 89

  1. Read the rest of chapter nine of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 90

  1. Read the first part of chapter ten of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone what’s happening in the story.

Lesson 91

  1. Read the rest of chapter ten of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 92

  1. Read the first part of chapter eleven of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. What was Father arrested for? What happened at his trial? (Answer)
  3. Do the children think he is innocent? Do you?

Lesson 93

  1. Read the rest of chapter eleven of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. Play this suffix game.
  2. The suffix is the part added onto the end of a word to change its meaning. Example: less added onto meaning makes meaningless.

Lesson 94

  1. Read the first part of chapter twelve of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone about what’s happening in the chapter.

Lesson 95

  1. Read the rest of chapter twelve of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Write a one-sentence summary of the chapter.

Lesson 96

  1. Read the first part of chapter thirteen of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone what’s happening in the story.

Lesson 97

  1. Read the rest of chapter thirteen of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 98

  1. Read the first part of chapter fourteen of The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone what’s happening in the story.

Vocabulary

  1. Play this prefix game.
  2. The prefix is the part added onto the front of a word to change its meaning. Example: un added onto decided makes undecided

Lesson 99

  1. Finish reading The Railway Children. You can listen to it here.
  2. Tell someone how the book ends.
  3. What were your favorite things about it? What didn’t you like about it?

Lesson 100* (Note that an asterisk * indicates that there is a worksheet on this lesson)

  1. *Print out and fill in this book report form.

Lesson 101

  1. Read chapter 1 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here. (To all you boys out there, I’m sorry, but you got to read about all the brothers on the island. Get over the title and enjoy the book.)
  2. What’s the setting of the story? What’s the setup for the plot?

Lesson 102

  1. Read chapter 2 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 103

  1. Read chapter 3 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 104

  1. Read chapter 4 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. The second paragraph of this chapter sets up the point of the book. Reread the second paragraph. The first paragraph starts the chapter. The first time there is a break and the words are indented (moved over), that is the second paragraph.
  3. What is Sara’s question? (Answers)
  4. What do you think? Do you think true character shows in trials?
  5. What does the Bible say about trials and testing? Look at these verses.
  6. Are trials good? Useful? Necessary? Explain your answer to a parent.

Vocabulary

  1. Play a suffix game.
  2. Suffixes are what are added onto the end of a word, like -est in greatest.

Lesson 105

  1. Read chapter 5 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone about the chapter.

Lesson 106

  1. Read chapter 6 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. Play synonym or antonym?
  2. A synonym is a word of similar meaning. An antonym is a word of opposite meaning.

Lesson 107

  1. Read Chapter 7 Part 1 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 108

  1. Read Chapter 7 Part 2 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 109

  1. Read Chapter 8 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 110

  1. Read Chapter 9 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 111

  1. Read Chapter 10 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 112

  1. Read Chapter 11 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in this chapter.

Lesson 113

  1. Read Chapter 12 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in this chapter.

Lesson 114

  1. Read Chapter 13 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 115

  1. Read Chapter 14 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in this chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. He stopped to listen with a palpitating heart.
  2. What do you think his heart was doing? What does that word mean?
  3. He only knew that the men were invading the silence and privacy of the attic; and as the one with the dark face let himself down through the aperture with such lightness and dexterity that he did not make the slightest sound, Melchisedec turned tail and fled precipitately back to his hole.
  4. This man is sneaking into the room. Read the sentence again and picture what is happening, and you can probably take a good guess at what the words mean.
  5. Melchisedec had, in fact, found it rather dull; and when the rain ceased to patter and perfect silence reigned, he decided to come out and reconnoiter, though experience taught him that Sara would not return for some time.
  6. What do you picture the rat doing? What does this word mean?
  7. After you have made your guesses, read their definitions. palpitating aperture dexterity precipitately reconnoiter

Lesson 116

  1. Read Chapter 15 Part 1 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 117

  1. Read Chapter 15 Part 2 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Lesson 118

  1. Read Chapter 16 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Reread this paragraph from the chapter (below). Earlier we noticed how Sara questions whether her true character showed. Was she nice only because she was blessed? Now that she has experienced life from the “other side,” how has her character been proven?
  • Miss Minchin had expected to see in Sara, when she appeared in the school-room, very much what Lavinia had expected to see. Sara had always been an annoying puzzle to her, because severity never made her cry or look frightened. When she was scolded she stood still and listened politely with a grave face; when she was punished she performed her extra tasks or went without her meals, making no complaint or outward sign of rebellion. The very fact that she never made an impudent answer seemed to Miss Minchin a kind of impudence in itself. But after yesterday’s deprivation of meals, the violent scene of last night, the prospect of hunger today, she must surely have broken down. It would be strange indeed if she did not come downstairs with pale cheeks and red eyes and an unhappy, humbled face.

Vocabulary

  1. Look at these sentences from your reading with vocabulary words in bold.
    • She had seen him that very afternoon, sitting disconsolately on a table before a window in the Indian gentleman’s house.
    • Miss Minchin was quite agitated. This was an incident which suggested strange things to her sordid mind.
    • It was, however, just like Sara’s singular obstinate way.
    • It is an impertinence.
    • The very fact that she never made an impudent answer seemed to Miss Minchin a kind of impudence in itself.
    • It cannot be denied that as they sat before the blazing fire, and ate the nourishing, comfortable food, they felt a kind of rapturous awe, and looked into each other’s eyes with something like doubt.
  2. Decide what you think each word means. Then read their definitions.

Lesson 119

  1. Read Chapter 17 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone what happened in the chapter.

Vocabulary

  1. All three of them incontinently fled from the room and tumbled into the hall. It was in this way they always welcomed their father.
  2. Think of a sentence about acting incontinently, uncontrolled. Incontinently is an adverb. It describes an action. Use it that way in your sentence. Write it out if you think you’ll forget it.

Lesson 120

  1. Read Chapter 18 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone a summary of this chapter.

Lesson 121

  1. Read Chapter 19 of A Little Princess. You can listen to the audio here.
  2. Tell someone a summary of the book. Can you tell them what it’s about without telling them everything?

Lesson 122*

  1. *Fill in this book report form.
  2. You could save this in your portfolio.

Lesson 123

Vocabulary

  1. If you need to, look at the definitions of the words again on Lessons 115, 118, 119.
  2. Fill in this PuzzleFast crossword puzzle.
  3. Take a screen shot of this and save it in your portfolio.

Lesson 124

Vocabulary

  1. Play this vocabulary game. Make your first guess and then the definition will show to help you.

Lesson 125

Vocabulary

  1. How about a vocabulary review?

Lesson 126

  1. How about some more fun stories from The Peterkin Papers?
  2. Read this chapter about salt in the coffee! (audio)

Lesson 127

  1. Read chapter 6 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)  A“dumb-waiter” is a sort of elevator for food. The food is placed on a shelf that can be lowered or lifted from the kitchen to the dining room with a pulley system.
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 128

  1. Read chapter 7 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 129

  1. Read chapter 8 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 130

  1. Read chapter 9 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 131

  1. Read chapter 10 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 132

  1. Read chapter 11 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 133

  1. Read chapter 12 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 134

  1. Read chapter 13 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 135

  1. Read chapter 14 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 136

  1. Read chapter 15 from The Peterkin Papers. (audio)
  2. Tell someone about the story.

Lesson 137

  1. Read Chapter 1 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. What’s different about this book? It is factual.
  3. Tell someone what this chapter was about.

Lesson 138

  1. Read Chapter 2 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. How is the author getting across the information? (answer: She’s telling stories.)
  3. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 139

  1. Read Chapter 3 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 140

  1. Read Chapter 4 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 141

  1. Read chapter 5 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 142

  1. Read Chapter 6 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 143

  1. Read Chapter 7 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.
  3. The author uses pictures sometimes to help her get across information. When you present non-fiction, charts and graphs can help convey your meaning.

Lesson 144

  1. Read Chapter 8 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 145

  1. Read Chapter 9 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 146

  1. Read Chapter 10 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 147

  1. Read Chapter 11 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 148

  1. Read Chapter 12 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 149

  1. Read Chapter 13 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 150

  1. Read Chapter 14 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Vocabulary

  1. Match the words to the definitions.

Lesson 151

  1. Read Chapter 15 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Vocabulary

  1. Play a crossword puzzle with the vocabulary words from Lesson 150.

Lesson 152

  1. Read Chapter 16 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 153

  1. Read Chapter 17 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 154

  1. Read Chapter 18 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 155

  1. Read Chapter 19 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 156

  1. Read Chapter 20 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 157

  1. Read Chapter 21 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 158

  1. Read Chapter 22 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 159

  1. Read Chapter 23 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 160

  1. Read Chapter 24 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 161

  1. Read Chapter 25 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Vocabulary

  1. Do you remember the words from Lesson 151?
  2. Write down your answers and then click on the key to check.

Lesson 162

  1. Read Chapter 26 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Vocabulary

  1. Play hangman with your vocabulary words. You need to play 10 times to get all the words.
  2. Once you click on a letter, it will give you the definition.

Lesson 163

  1. Read Chapter 27 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 164

  1. Read Chapter 28 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell the main idea of what you read about today.

Lesson 165

  1. Read Chapter 29 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell the main idea of what you read about today.

Lesson 166

  1. Read Chapter 30 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone what this story was about.

Lesson 167

  1. Read Chapter 31 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 168

  1. Read Chapter 32 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 169

  1. Read Chapter 33 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 170

  1. Read Chapter 34 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 171

  1. Read Chapter 35 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 172

  1. Read Chapter 36 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 173

  1. Read Chapter 37 of The Story Book of Science.
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 174

  1. Read chapter 41 of The Story Book of Science. (If you noticed, I did skip some chapters.)
  2. Tell someone about what you read.

Lesson 175

  1. Read chapter 42 of The Story Book of Science.

Lesson 176

  1. We are going to be reading, just for fun, for the end of the year. How about finishing The Peterkin Papers ? This is chapter 16. (audio)

Lesson 177

  1. The Peterkin Papers, chapter 17. (audio)

Lesson 178

  1. The Peterkin Papers, chapter 18. (audio)

Lesson 179

  1. The Peterkin Papers, chapter 19.  (audio)

Lesson 180

  1. The Peterkin Papers, chapter 20.  (audio)
  2. Congratulations! You are finished! Way to go!
Summer school:
Read and write every day, just for fun! Read books that are interesting, easy, fun.
Here are some reading options: