Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Literature Part 9

READING AND MEMORIZATION

Let two or three children read the stanza. In the first line, the voice should show how funny it all is; in the second, the demureness of the "proper" child and the slowness of the growth should be revealed in the reading; in the third and fourth lines, there should be an imitative response to the sudden up-growth of the shadow and to the childish surprise at his dwindling into nothing.

Memorization should be conducted as shown in Stanza I, above. There should be no evidence of task or effort in the recitation; it is very necessary that it be spontaneous and full of enjoyment for the pupils.

Stanza III

The shadow knows very little about one thing.

What is that? He has no "notion of how children ought to play".

How does he "make a fool of me"? "In every sort of way."

Well, give one way. He mimics me.

Where does he stay? He stays right "close beside me".

Why does he do that? He does that because "he's a coward".

How would you feel about doing the same thing?

I would feel ashamed of myself.

Reading and recitation of this stanza should now be conducted as indicated in Stanzas I and II, above.

Stanza IV

Did you ever manage to get away from your shadow? Yes, I did.

Tell us about how you did it. Well, "One morning, very early", I got up "before the sun"

did, and went out in the flower garden. I looked around for my shadow, and I found he "had stayed at home behind me" in bed.

What is he called for doing that? He is called "an arrant sleepy-head".

Give another word in place of "arrant" that will mean the same thing. He was a thorough and shameless "sleepy-head".

What was the real cause of his staying behind?

There was "none of him at all", because the sun was not up.

What will happen when the sun does come up?

Then my shadow will suddenly show himself again.

Now, if you would like to have another stanza, telling about what happened when the sun came up, just try your best to write one.

Here is another that was written once at the end of the lesson:

But when the dear old sun came up above the trees, My frisky little shadow came out into the breeze; I didn't see him coming, but, when I turned around, His head was at the window, and he lay along the ground.

ONE, TWO, THREE

(Second Reader, page 21)

AIM

To enable the pupils to understand the beauty and pathos of the selection.

To arouse in them a sympathy for those who are weak.

PREPARATION

How many of you like to play games? Everybody.

Name some of the games you play. Ball, tag, hide-and-seek, etc.

With whom do you like to play? With boys and girls of our own age.

PRESENTATION

Here is a story that tells about two people playing a game. (The selection is read aloud by the teacher.)

What is the story about? An "old lady" and a little boy playing "Hide-and-Go-Seek".

What relation were they? The old lady was the boy's "Grandma".

Let us look at the story again, and see if they enjoyed their game as much as you do yours. Is there anything in the first stanza that tells us they were having a good time? "The way that they played together was beautiful to see."

What was beautiful about it? They were so kind to each other. It was pleasant to see an old lady and a little boy having such a happy time playing together, and understanding each other so well.

How do you feel, as you read the second stanza?

I feel sorry for the boy because he is lame.

Any other reason for feeling sorry for him? He is "thin", as though he had been sick a long time.

In what way are he and his Grandma alike?

Neither of them can run or jump.

Do you feel more sorry for the Grandma or for the little boy? I feel more sorry for the boy, because he may never be able to run around, and his Grandma could when she was young.

Describe the picture you see in the third stanza. I see an old lady and a little boy sitting "under the maple tree". The little boy has a pair of crutches beside him. The "sunlight" is s.h.i.+ning through the leaves, and it is a warm summer's day, or they would not be sitting out. There is a house near them.

What game were they playing?

"Hide-and-Go-Seek."

Would you know it from looking at them? No, because they are sitting still, and when we play the game, we run around and hide.