Correlated lessons in language and occupation work

Introduction

This little book is a product of the school-room. The stories selected are the ones children love. They are the ones that have been told for years and years, but they have been changed and adapted to the child's needs, so the further work of reproduction, dramatization and demonstration on the sand-table can be carried out with much more ease.

A great deal of conversation is put into the stories so as to render them better suited to the child's needs.

When the children in the school-room have listened intently to a story in which the conversation is well suited to dramatization, reproduction and dramatization are easy matters. In playing a story, children should be encouraged to be as natural as possible. If small mistakes are made, they should be overlooked until they can be corrected with tact, for quite frequently a child's face expression is ruined by untactful correction in the midst of the dramatization.

Sand-table demonstration is given for the purpose of training in industrial work. The child becomes interested in the story and is more than glad to work out with his hands the sand-table picture of the story.

The paper cuttings are simple and can easily be used as models for the children's cuttings, or they may serve merely as suggestions.

It is with the hope that some teacher may be helped to solve the problem of the correlation of language with handwork that this little book is brought out.

RUTH O. DYER

Contents

The Gingerbread Man 9

Little Half Chick 27

Little Footsteps-Upon-the- Water 39

Scene I

(Indian Mother is sitting inside the door of wigwam weaving a basket. Footsteps-Upon-the-Water is shooting arrows near by.)

Indian Mother {looking out the door towards little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water) Well, we certainly did give him the right name, for he can run like the wind. I will hurry and finish this basket, for he will be pleased when he sees it with its red and blue figures. (Turns her back to the door and works very rapidly.)

Little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water (seeing a squirrel in the bushes) What is that gray thing there? (Comes nearerto squirrel) Look at its bright eyes! It must be a squirrel. I must lay down my bow and arrow for they will frighten it. (Lays down the bow and arrows and creeps quietly towards the squirrel, talking in a coaxing voice all the time.) Poor little squirrel! I wouldn't hvt you for anything, but I should like to play with you, for I have no little brother at home. Come, little squirrel, I want you for my brother.

(Squirrel ruw away and Footsteps- Upon-the-Water starts in pursuit.)

Squirrel (stopping at a hollow log) This is a good place to hide. I don't believe the little boy can get in — I'll try it anyway. (Squirrel runs in log.)

Little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water (stopping at log) I believe he must be in here (stoops down and peeps in) Yes, indeed, there he is. I'll catch you now, little squirrel!

(Boy crawls in log — squirrel runs out the other end. Boy, finding that he is stuck fast in the middle of the log, pounds and shouts for help until he is exhausted. Then he lies down and sobs himself to sleep.)

Indian Mother (holding the finished basket up to view) That certainly is a good basket. I will put it here (rises, and places basket on the table). Little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water will see it when he comes in. (Goes to the door and looks towards the west.) My, my!

the sun is low and the father will soon be coming from his hunt. I must cook him some supper.

(Indian Mother takes down the meat and prepares it for supper, singing as she works. When the supper is ready to be taken from the stove the father comes in.)

Indian Father (entering the wigwam and looking around in an inquiring way) Where is little Footsteps-Upon-the- Water?

Indian Mother Right out in the woods. Shout for him and he will come.

Indian Father (putting his hands to his mouth) Little Footsteps - Upon - the - Water!

Mother That's strange that he doesn't answer.

Father (going out in front of wigwam and calling as before) Little Footsteps- Upon - the - Water! Little Footsteps - Upon-the- Water !

Mother (rushing out of wigwam) Now, since I remember, I don't believe I have seen him for some time. What if the poor child is lost and a bear should get him. Oh, what shall I do? (Weeps bitterly.)

Father I will go into the woods and search for him. I feel that I cannot eat or sleep until our boy is found.

(Father goes inside and gets gun and comes-out and searches the woods. Mother goes back to wigwam and weeps bitterly.)

Scene II

Little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water (waking from sleep and rubbing eyes) Where am I? Oh, yes, I remember! That little squirrel led me in here (tries to get out and fails). What shall I do? I shall die here. (Screams and pounds until a queer "rap, tap, rap, tap," is heard outside.)

Grandmother Porcupine (stopping and looking in the end of the log) Footsteps- Upon-the-Water, are you there? Are you there?

Footsteps-Upon-the-Water (lying down quietly in the log) That's a queer noise. I guess I won't answer, for life in this old black log is better than being torn to pieces outside.

Grandmother Porcupine Little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water, are you there? Are you there?

Ldttle Footsteps-Upon-the-Water (looking and seeing Grandmother Porcupine) Yes, I'm here. Help me out. I am stuck fast in this log.

Grandmother Porcupine I heard you call and traveled three days and three nights to help you.

(Grandmother Porcupine scratches and scratches, but does not succeed in making the hole large enough.

Grandmother Porcupine I'm afraid I'm not quite strong enough to scratch you out.

Little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water (beginning to cry) Oh, Grandmother Porcupine, please help me out! I can't stay here.

Grandmother Porcupine Never mind. I will run and get my three grandsons. They live up in the old hemlock tree just a little distance from here.

(Grandmother Porcupine runs rapidly towards the hemlock tree. When she reaches it she knocks loudly.)

Grandmother Porcupine They must all be asleep. (Calls loudly) Wake up, you sleepy heads! Wake up!

Grandsons Who's there?

Grandmother Porcupine It's your grandmother. There is a little boy caught in a log up here. I want you to come and help me get him out.

Grandsons (jumping from hole in tree) All right!

(Grandmother Porcupine and the three grandsons bound away over the dry leaves.)

Grandmother Porcupine (stopping at log) This is the log.

Grandsons (beginning work) Oh, we'll have him out in a few minutes.

Bear {coming up to the log) What's the matter? Why all this scratching?

Grandmother Porcupine There's a little boy stuck fast in this log and we want to get him out.

Wolf {coming up to log) What have you found good to eat?

Grandmother Porcupine {angrily) You greedy thing! It isn't anjrthing to eat. It's a little boy stuck fast in the log.

Deer {coming up to log) What's the trouble?

Grandmother Porcupine There's a little boy stuck fast in the log and we're trying to scratch him out.

{The Bear, Wolf and Deer all take a seat near the log. The grandsons continue to scratch until the hole is made large enough for Footsteps-Upon-the-Water to crawl out.)

Little Footsteps - Upon - the - Water {scrambling to his feet and clapping his hands) Oh, how good to be out again! {Hides his face on Grandmother Porcupine's shoulder) I can hardly see. The sun is so bright. {Peeps out just a little at a time until he becomes accustomed to the light.) It was so good of you to work so hard to get me out.

Grandmother Porcupine {turning to the Bear, the Wolf, and the Deer) Now this little boy needs a mother. I am too old to take care of him. Who will be his mother?

Deer I will be his mother.

Grandmother Porcupine The idea! That would never do! Why, you are always going from place to place and the little boy would have no home in winter. No, no, you couldn't be his mother.

Wolf What kind of a mother do you think I would make?

Grandmother Porcupine A bad enough one. Your teeth are too sharp. You would never do.

Bear I will be his mother. I have a warm home in the rocks and I always have plenty to eat. Why, this very night I have berries and nuts enough to feed a dozen boys.

Grandmother Porcupine Well, you shall have little Footsteps-Upon-the- Water, but you must not let your cubs teach him any rough tricks.

{Bear takes the little boy by the hand.)

Grandmother Porcupine {patting Footsteps-Upon-the-Water on his head) Now go home with good Mother Bear and I will come to see you some day.

Footsteps - Upon - the - Water {kissing Grandmother Porcupine) Good-by, Grandmother Porcupine.

{Mother Bear and Footsteps-Upon-the- Water go on down the road. Little Footsteps Upon-the-Water waves his hand and

LANGUAGE AND OCCUPATIUN WORK shouts "good-by" until they are out of sight.)

Little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water Where do you live, Mother Bear?

Mother Bear Over in the rocks on that high hill.

Ldttle Footsteps-Upon-the-Water I'm so hungry! Mother Bear, will you give me something good to eat?

Mother Bear Yes, you shall have some honey and nice ripe berries.

Ldttle Footsteps-Upon-the-Water {clapping his hands) Oh, that will be good !

Mother Bear This is my house. Do not fall over the rocks. (Three cubs come out and rush towards Mother Bear.)

Mother Bear (putting her hand on Baby's head) Little Footsteps-Upon-the-Water, this is Baby Bear. He is very dear and sweet. You will like him, I am sure. {Draws Girlie Bear near.) This is Girlie Bear (points out Boy Bear), and this is Boy Bear. They will all love you and you must never quarrel with each other. Do you understand?

Little-Footsteps- Upon-the-Water Yes, I understand.

Mother Bear (leading the way into the house) Now come in and we will have supper.

(All the children take their places around the table and Mother Bear gives them their supper.)

Baby Bear I want some honey.

Girlie Bear I want some milk on my berries.

Boy Bear I want some bread.

Footsteps - Upon - the - Water I'm so hungry I want some of everything.

Mother Bear No, children, you have had enough for to-night. We will go to bed and in the morning you may have all you want.

{Mother Bear puts children to bed and then lies down and sleeps all night.)