Do you think that Santa Claus read Mary Anna's letter? Do you remember the first real letter that you wrote? If you do, tell the class about it. Tell how old you were and to whom you wrote it. Tell about any other letter that you have written that was interesting. Let us play that you know Santa Claus is coming to our room, and that he will bring you any one thing if you write to him and ask him for it. He must be very busy getting presents for so many boys and girls, and he will not have time to read letters unless they are written very neatly and plainly. Think of one thing that you want most, and then write a letter to Santa Claus and ask him to bring it to you. You must tell exactly what you want so he can get it ready for you without any trouble. It would not be enough to ask for a pair of skates because he would not know what kind you want, and very likely he would not bring any. He would spend his time getting presents for boys and girls who can tell what they want. After all the pupils in the class have finished their letters, the teacher may copy one on the blackboard; but she need not sign the name of the pupil who wrote it. CHRISTMAS PROJECT A LETTER . 77 Do you think it is the kind of letter Santa Claus would like to get? Tell how you think the letter may be changed so that Santa Claus would like it better. Does each sentence begin with a capital letter, and is there a period at the end of each statement? If you see anything that you think is not right, you may go to the blackboard and change it. As many letters may be copied on the blackboard and corrected by the pupils as time permits. This work may occupy the time of two recitation periods to advantage. Now read over your own letter to see if you can improve it in any way or correct any errors in it before you make the final copy to go into your book. Do not begin your letter too near the top of the page. Leave an even margin of five-eighths of an inch on the left-hand side of your letter and about one-half an inch on the right-hand side. On the next pages are pictures of two letters. Which one do you like better? Why do you like it better? Now hold up your own letter at the length of you arm. How do you like it? Does it look like the better letter in the picture? If you do not like your letter, do you want to copy it again to try to make it look like the better one in the picture? When you think your letter is as good as you can make it, you may give it to your teacher to keep for you until you are ready to make your book Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a bicycle for my Christ- paint it black. If it is too large to come Your little friend, LESSON 29 A Christmas Accident On pages 80 and 81 there are four pictures that tell about a Christmas gift and what happened to the boy who received the gift. Make up the story and tell it to the class. Look at the first picture to see what the girl is handing from the Christmas tree to the boy. Then study each of the other pictures. Perhaps the questions on the next page will help you to think of the story. CHRISTMAS PROJECT — A PICTURE STORY 79 Dear Santa Claus, Please bring me a bicycle for my Christmas present. I want one that is the right size for a boy eight years old. You may paint it black. If it is too large to come down the chimney, you may leave it on our side porch. I will look for it early Christmas morning. Your little friend, George. him the skates? Had he ever had skates before? Who is the boy? Where does he live? Who gave Why do you think so? Did his parents know How did he happen to Did he know how to skate? Who went skating with him? that he was going skating? break through the ice? How did he get out? What did he do after he got out of the water? The class will watch to see if each pupil speaks. distinctly in telling his story. At the end of the recitation the pupils may write on the blackboard the words not pronounced clearly. The words may be used for a class exercise in pronunciation. |