Grades 1-3 (pt 1)

 

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Narration Lessons for Grades 1-3 ~ Weeks 1-6

(Copyright © Ruth Marshall 2006, 2009)

Overview

This course is structured around the following weekly lessons: Bible Stories, Tales from Around the World, Science and Nature, and Famous People. Every 6th week is a review week.

The symbol  indicates possible rabbit trails. These are entirely optional. Do not try to follow all the rabbit trails: the idea is to provide a weekly structure, while keeping to fairly short lessons.

Time required each day – Half to one hour, depending on the activities. Branching off onto rabbit trails would add to the time. We have allowed one day a week for these, but if interest dictates, perhaps allow an extra day or two for these.
[A note about scheduling in real life: Six weeks is the ideal, and it is what I originally planned for these lessons; but it actually took us 8 or 9 weeks to complete them.]

There are specific suggestions in the lesson plans below where the child may be asked to read. However, at this stage, most lessons require him or her to listen to an adult (or older sibling) read a passage aloud.

Academic subjects covered: English literature, English language (reading, writing, spelling), Scripture, History, Geography, Science, Nature study, Art.

Subjects not included: Mathematics, Music, Bible memory.

The course could be done with a younger child, but with less in the way of handwriting

Resources for Weeks 1-6

Bible Stories

bulletCatherine Vos, Child’s Story Bible: New Testament
bulletBible Atlas [Use a children’s Bible Atlas, or at least one with clear, uncluttered maps]

Tales from Around the World; Famous People

bulletArthur Mee, Children’s Encyclopedia
bulletJames Baldwin, Fifty Famous Stories Retold [Available online at the Baldwin Project]
bulletWorld map – or an assortment of maps (wall map, atlases, globe, road maps of the British Isles...)

Science and Nature

bulletMillicent Selsam, You and the World Around You
[Note: This is the title we used for these lessons, but any books by Millicent Selsam could be substituted]

Optional Spelling Course – e.g.

bulletSchonell, Essential Spelling List, (from Adnil Press)
bulletor Swinton’s Word Primer (Available online)
Note: a separate spelling course is not strictly necessary if using dictation & copy work regularly. I initially included spelling as part of these lessons, but decided (after only the second week) to use weekly dictation, instead.

Timeline Instructions

Take 7 different-coloured sheets of A4 paper or cardstock, a ruler & marker pen (for the dates), sticky tape (or a hole-punch and yarn) to join the pages end to end.

Begin with creation and allow 1 page for 1000 years. Rule a line across the length of each page and mark each 100 years.

As the child reads (or hears) about specific people or events, he may add pictures at the appropriate places on the time line (clip art, photocopies, magazine pictures, or his own drawings). If one page is filled and more space is required, add another sheet of the same colour underneath the first (see illustration).

A note regarding internet links

First of all, I do not consider any of these to be necessary to the course, provided that you have access to a good source of books, and provided you (and your child) are happy with child-drawn pictures for the time-line. (There is a lot to be said for copying pictures, as well as copying written work). The links are mainly provided for those who may not have suitable books available.

Second (and perhaps more important): the fact that I have linked to a website here does not mean that I endorse everything that is on it. In some cases, as links have a tendency to change over time, I may discover that I cannot endorse anything that is on a particular site. If you happen to find a link from anywhere on my website to a page which is offensive, please let me know.

Weekly Lessons

Week

Story

Activity

1 —
Bible Stories

Chapter 1—
The Priest Who Could Not Talk

(Luke 1)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind place(s) on a map. (First use a world map, and then a Bible Atlas).
bulletBriefly discuss “between the Testaments”.
bulletChild to read part of the account in the Bible.
bulletCopy work – Isaiah 9:6.
bullet Learn about the origins of Hanukkah, and about some of the customs associated with it.
One good book to read is Hanukkah, by Jenny Koralek & Juan Wijngaard (though there are many others which you may find more easily accessible).
Online sources of information include Wikipedia and various sites to do with Judaism and Jewish holidays, such as this, this, this, or this.

1 —
Tales from Around the World

The Leak in the Dyke

(Arthur Mee, p. 6960)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind Holland on a map of the world .
bulletCopy work – Better to be safe than sorry – Use for handwriting practice. (Or substitute spelling for copy work.)

1 —
Science and Nature

The Story of Water – Rain

(Millicent Selsam, You and the World Around You – p.7)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletDiscuss the chapter.
bulletDraw or colour a picture or diagram to illustrate the water cycle.
You may search here for pictures.
bullet Learn more about the water cycle. (Include activities and experiments).
bulletCopy work – Better to be safe than sorry – Handwriting practice and point out punctuation. (Or substitute spelling for copy work.)

1 —
Famous People

King Alfred and the Cakes

(James Baldwin, Fifty Famous Stories, p. 5)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind England on a map of the world.
bulletBegin making a simple timeline (see instructions above).
bulletGlue a picture of King Alfred, on to your timeline (He lived 849-899).
You may search here for pictures.
bullet Alfred the Great had a very interesting life. You may like to learn more about him.
See here for a brief biography.
bulletCopy work – Better to be safe than sorry – Prepare for dictation tomorrow. (Or substitute spelling for copy work.)

1 —
Day 5

 
bulletDictation – Better to be safe than sorry.
bullet(Optional) – Rabbit trail day.

2 —
Bible Stories

Chapter 2—

The Message of the Angel

(Luke 1)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind place(s) on a map (use the Bible Atlas).
bulletChild to read part of the account in the Bible.
bulletCopy work – Either Luke 1:31-33, or Luke 1:38.

2 —
Tales from Around the World

The Hare and the Tortoise

(Arthur Mee, p. 3745 – this version of the story is also available here)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletThis is one of Aesop’s Fables. Who was Aesop, & what is a fable? (See Children’s Britannica).
bulletFind Greece on a map of the world.
bulletCopy work – Slow and steady wins the race – Use for handwriting practice.

2 —
Science and Nature

The Story of Soil

(Millicent Selsam, You and the World Around You – p.15)
bulletHave child read chapter aloud.
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletDiscuss the chapter.
bulletDraw a picture or diagram to show part of this story (discuss this first).
bulletCopy work – Slow and steady wins the race – Handwriting practice and point out punctuation & spelling.

2 —
Famous People

Grace Darling

(James Baldwin, Fifty Famous Stories, p. 61; or
Arthur Mee, p. 4549)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletIf possible, find the Farne Islands on a map of the world.
bulletGlue a picture of Grace Darling on to your timeline. (She lived 1814-1852).
You may search here for pictures.
bullet Find out more about Grace Darling.
See here for a brief biography.
bullet Find out more about lighthouses.
bulletCopy work – Slow and steady wins the race – Prepare for dictation tomorrow.

2 —
Day 5

 
bulletDictation – Slow and steady wins the race.
bullet(Optional) – Rabbit trail day.

3 —
Bible Stories

Chapter 3—
The Holy Night

(Luke 2)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind place(s) on a map (use the Bible Atlas).
bulletChild to read part of the account in the Bible.
bulletCopy work – Luke 2:14.

3 —
Tales from Around the World

The Wise Fools of Gotham

(Arthur Mee, p. 662)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind England on a map of the world; find Nottinghamshire (and Gotham) on a map of England. Explain that “Gotham” is pronounced “Goat-ham”).
bullet See here for more information about Gotham village.
bulletCopy work – Where there's a will there's a way – Use for handwriting practice.

3 —
Science and Nature

The Story of a Big Plant – The Maple Tree

(Millicent Selsam, You and the World Around You – p.21)
bulletHave child read chapter aloud.
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletDiscuss the chapter.
bulletDraw a picture or diagram to show part of this story (discuss this first).
bullet Learn more about trees – observe them, read about them, start a leaf (or seed) collection…
bulletCopy work – Where there's a will there's a way – Handwriting practice and point out punctuation & spelling.

3 —
Famous People

Bruce and the Spider

(James Baldwin, Fifty Famous Stories, p. 33)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind Scotland on a map of the world
bulletDraw a picture of Bruce and the spider, and keep it with your timeline. Robert Bruce lived from 1274-1329.
You may search here for pictures.
bullet Read Robert the Bruce by L. du Garde Peach (Ladybird books), or another biography of Robert Bruce.
See here for a brief biography.
bulletCopy work – Where there's a will there's a way – Prepare for dictation tomorrow

3 —
Day 5

 
bulletDictation – Where there's a will there's a way.
bullet(Optional) – Rabbit trail day.

4 —
Bible Stories

Chapter 4—
A Star in the East

(Matthew 2)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind place(s) on a map (use the Bible Atlas).
bulletChild to read part of the account in the Bible.
bulletCopy work – Matthew 2:11.

4 —
Tales from Around the World

The Story That Had No End

(Arthur Mee, p.535)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bullet Can you begin to tell a story that has no end?
bulletCopy work – Time and tide wait for no man – Use for handwriting practice.

4 —
Science and Nature

Another Plant Story

(Millicent Selsam, You and the World Around You – p.28)
bulletHave child read chapter aloud.
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletDiscuss the chapter.
bulletDraw a picture or diagram to show part of this story (discuss this first)
bulletCopy work – Time and tide wait for no man – Handwriting practice and point out punctuation & spelling.

4 —
Famous People

King Canute

(James Baldwin, Fifty Famous Stories, p.10)

bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind Denmark and England on a map of the world.
bulletDraw a picture of King Canute, and keep it with your timeline. Canute lived c.995-1035.
You may search here for pictures.
bullet Find out more about King Canute.
See here for a brief biography.
bulletCopy work – Time and tide wait for no man – Prepare for dictation tomorrow.

4 —
Day 5

 
bulletDictation – Time and tide wait for no man.
bullet(Optional) – Rabbit trail day.

5 —
Bible Stories

Chapter 5—
Warned by a Dream

(Matthew 2)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind place(s) on a map (use the Bible Atlas).
bulletChild to read part of the account in the Bible.
bulletCopy work – Matthew 2:21.

5 —
Tales from Around the World

Poem:

The Jackdaw of Rheims
(Richard Harris Barham)

(Arthur Mee, p. 4927 – The poem is available online in various places, but see note opposite)

bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletRheims is in France. Point to France on a map of the world, and find Rheims.
bulletFind a picture of a jackdaw.
bullet Learn more about jackdaws.
bullet Look at pictures of the cathedral at Rheims.
You may search here for pictures.
To learn more about the cathedral at Rheims, see here or here.
bulletCopy work – Child should choose a stanza or two that he really liked from the poem, and copy it over the course of this week.

Note: For the original poem, see here:  The Arthur Mee version is a slightly edited version of the original, and may be more suitable for children of this age. Some of the changes include:

Line 17 – “cates” changed to “cakes”
Lines 29-31 omitted
Line 63 – changed to “And no end of a rout”
Line 89 – changed to “He should dream of evil…”
Line 160 omitted
Words ending ’d changed to –ed (e.g. remark'd to remarked)

5 —
Science and Nature

Bears Grow

(Millicent Selsam, You and the World Around You – p.35)
bulletHave child read chapter aloud.
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletDiscuss the chapter.
bulletDraw a picture or diagram to show part of this story (discuss this first).
bullet Learn more about bears.
bullet Read The Grizzly Bear Family Book by Michio Hoshino.
bullet Begin reading A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond.
bulletCopy work – Continue copying from The Jackdaw of Rheims.

5 —
Famous People

How Napoleon Crossed the Alps

(James Baldwin, Fifty Famous Stories, p.75)
bulletOral narration. (Adult to write this down).
bulletFind France and Italy on a map of the world. The Alps are a range of mountains which divide the two countries. Find pictures of the Alps.
bulletFind a picture of Napoleon Bonaparte, and keep it with your timeline. Napoleon lived 1769-1821.
You may search here for pictures.
bullet Find out more about Napoleon.
See here for a brief biography.
bullet Read Boney Was a Warrior by Rosemary Manning (Antelope books).
bullet Sing the song “Boney was a warrior” – See here for the tune and one version of the words. Another version of the words may be found here. (Take your pick as to which you like best!)
bullet For more information about the Napoleonic Wars see here.
bullet Many years before Napoleon, another famous general crossed the Alps with his soldiers and a number of elephants. His name was Hannibal. Find out more about him.
bulletCopy work – Continue copying from The Jackdaw of Rheims.

5 —
Day 5

 
bulletCopy work – Continue copying from The Jackdaw of Rheims.
bullet(Optional) – Rabbit trail day.

6 —
Bible Stories

Review week
  1. The Priest Who Could Not Talk
  2. The Message of the Angel
  3. The Holy Night
  4. A Star in the East
  5. Warned by a Dream
bulletAdult should choose any one of these five stories. Can the child remember the story? (He may need some prompting, to remind him which story he should tell.)
bulletTake the child’s original narration of this story, and work on editing it together.
bulletCopy work – Have the child choose a Bible verse to copy. (If he cannot think of one, suggest the text from last Sunday’s sermon)

6 —
Tales from Around the World

Review week
  1. The Leak in the Dyke
  2. The Hare and the Tortoise
  3. The Wise Fools of Gotham
  4. The Dog in the Manger
  5. The Jackdaw of Rheims
bulletAdult should choose any one of these five stories. Can the child remember the story? (He may need some prompting, to remind him which story he should tell.)
bulletTake the child’s original narration of this story, and work on editing it together.
bulletCan the child show, on a map of the world, where this story took place?
bulletCopy work – Have the child choose a nursery rhyme or a short poem to copy. He may continue with this tomorrow and the day after.

6 —
Science and Nature

Review week
  1. The Story of Water – Rain
  2. The Story of Soil
  3. The Story of a Big Plant – The Maple Tree
  4. Another Plant Story
  5. Bears Grow
bulletAdult should choose any one of these five stories. Can the child remember the story? (He may need some prompting, to remind him which story he should tell.)
bulletTake the child’s original narration of this story, and work on editing it together.
bulletCopy work – Continue with the poem from yesterday.

6 —
Famous People

Review week
  1. King Alfred and the Cakes
  2. Grace Darling
  3. Bruce and the Spider
  4. King Canute
  5. How Napoleon Crossed the Alps
bulletChoose any one of these five stories. Can the child remember the story? (He may need some prompting, to remind him which story he should tell).
bulletTake the child’s original narration of this story, and work on editing it together.
bulletCopy work – Continue with the poem from yesterday.

6 —
Day 5

Review week
bulletHave the child choose one of the narrations he has helped to edit this week. He should copy it out in his best handwriting, and send it (or a photocopy) to his grandparents.

What Next?

We can either go straight on to Weeks 7-12 of these Narration lessons, or have a break for a "book study". One suggestion is to begin with some of the Milly-Molly-Mandy stories by Joyce Lankester Brisley. For lesson plans see here. Our time for this is flexible: we may do it in a couple of weeks; we may take a month or more.

For Weeks 7-12 of these lesson plans see here.

 

[Page last updated 30 May, 2009]

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