About Curriculum
lesson image


Daniel Webster was a great statesman. As a little boy, he was called "Little Black Dan." When he grew larger, he was thin and sickly-looking. But he had large, dark eyes. People called him "All Eyes."

He was very fond of his brother Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a little older than Daniel. Both the boys had fine minds. They wanted to go to college. But their father was poor.

Daniel had not much strength for work on the farm. So little "All Eyes" was sent to school, and then to college. Ezekiel stayed at home, and worked on the farm.

While Daniel was at school, he was unhappy to think that Ezekiel could not go to college also. He went home on a visit. He talked to Ezekiel about going to college. The brothers talked about it all night. The next day Daniel talked to his father about it. The father said he was too poor to send both of his sons to college. He said he would lose all his little property if he tried to send Ezekiel to college. But he said, that, if their mother and sisters were willing to be poor, he would send the other son to college.

So the mother and sisters were asked. It seemed hard to risk the loss of all they had. It seemed hard not to give Ezekiel a chance. They all shed tears over it.

The boys promised to take care of their mother and sisters if the property should be lost. Then they all agreed that Ezekiel should go to college too.

Daniel taught school while he was studying. That helped to pay the expenses. After Daniel was through his studies in college, he taught a school in order to help his brother. When his school closed, he went home. On his way, he went around to the college to see his brother. Finding that Ezekiel needed money, he gave him a hundred dollars. He kept but three dollars to get home with.

The father's property was not sold. The two boys helped the family. Daniel soon began to make money as a lawyer. He knew that his father was in debt. He went home to see him. He said, "Father, I am going to pay your debts."

The father said, "You cannot do it, Daniel. You have not money enough."

"I can do it," said Daniel; "and I will do it before Monday evening."

When Monday evening came around, the father's debts were all paid.

When Daniel became a famous man, it made Ezekiel very happy. But Ezekiel died first. When Daniel Webster made his greatest speech, all the people praised him.

But Webster said, "I wish that my poor brother had lived to this time. It would have made him very happy."

story image

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary words.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Daniel Webster and his older brother Ezekiel were smart boys who wanted to go to college. Unfortunately, their family was poor, and it was too expensive to send both. Daniel was too sickly and weak for farm work, so he attended school and college while Ezekiel worked on the family farm. Daniel talked to his family about allowing Ezekiel go to college. The family agreed, even though the additional expenses could have caused them to lose their farm. While in college, Daniel taught school to help pay expenses. He gave money to his brother. When he later became a lawyer, he paid off his father's debts, and his father did not lose his farm. When Daniel became famous, Ezekiel was happy for his brother. When Daniel made his greatest speech, people praised him. But Ezekiel did not hear Daniel's famous speech, for he had died. Webster said 'I wish that my poor brother had lived to this time. It would have made him very happy.'

Vocabulary

Statesman: A skilled, experienced, and respected political leader or figure.
Sickly: Often ill and in poor health.
College: An institution of higher learning beyond high school.
Risk: A situation involving exposure to danger.
Property: A thing or things belonging to someone.
Debt: Something, typically money, that is owed or due.

Concepts

Daniel Webster's story is one of sacrifice.

  1. In the story, Daniel's family was poor and had little money.
  2. The family sacrificed so both Daniel and Ezekiel could attend college.
  3. Paying for college meant the family barely had enough money to survive. The family risked losing their farm.
  4. Without the farm, the family would have nowhere to live and nothing to eat.
  5. Luckily, it worked out for the family. They sent Daniel and Ezekiel to college and kept their farm.

Sacrifice means to give up something you value for something or someone you value even more. Like Daniel and his family, people often gladly sacrifice things for their loved ones.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Story

  • After reading or listening to the story, narrate the story events aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Color the Story   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 43 of 'History Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 3: Explore the Story

  • Daniel Webster once gave a speech for that lasted over two days.
  • He implored that the United States of America was one united nation, not just a collection of independent states that could leave at any time.
  • In his speech, he said, 'Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!' Recite Daniel Webster's famous line.

Review

Question 1

Why was Daniel initially chosen to go to college instead of Ezekiel?
1 / 4

Answer 1

The family wanted one son to work the farm, but Daniel was too sickly to do farm work.
1 / 4

Question 2

Why did the family eventually send Ezekiel to college, even though the family risked losing their farm?
2 / 4

Answer 2

Ezekiel was smart, and the family believed he should have the opportunity to learn.
2 / 4

Question 3

Who paid off the family's debts?
3 / 4

Answer 3

Daniel paid off the debts.
3 / 4

Question 4

What did Daniel do for work in the story?
4 / 4

Answer 4

He was a teacher, a lawyer, and a statesman.
4 / 4

  1. Why was Daniel initially chosen to go to college instead of Ezekiel? The family wanted one son to work the farm, but Daniel was too sickly to do farm work.
  2. Why did the family eventually send Ezekiel to college, even though the family risked losing their farm? Ezekiel was smart, and the family believed he should have the opportunity to learn.
  3. Who paid off the family's debts? Daniel paid off the debts.
  4. What did Daniel do for work in the story? He was a teacher, a lawyer, and a statesman.

Contact  Privacy Policy  Terms of Use © 2023 Under The Home Online Homeschool Curriculum
Contact      Privacy      Terms
youtube icon twitter icon pinterest icon facebook icon
© 2023 Under The Home