Poets of Nature, Revelry, and Rhyme Nature, Revelry, and Rhyme    

Lesson 6: A Life Lesson

by James Whitcomb Riley

Performer: Librivox - Val Grimm

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The poem moves through difficulties faced by a girl as she grows up. The narrator reminds the girl that her troubles are temporary and that better days are ahead.

Vocabulary

Slate: A flat piece of slate used for writing on, typically framed in wood, formerly used in schools.
Gleams: Shine brightly, especially with reflected light.
Youthful: Young or seeming young.

Concepts

1. James Whitcomb Riley was born in 1849 in Greenfield, Indiana. See his picture below.

2. Zoom in and find Riley's birth state of Indiana (IN - The Hoosier State) on the map of the continental United States.

3. Riley had five siblings. His mother taught him to read at home before sending him to school. He frequently got into trouble at school and did not like his teachers, which he later wrote about in his poems.
4. Riley wrote approximately 1000 poems during his lifetime and became famous by going on poetry tours across America.
5. Riley was known as the 'Hoosier poet.' A 'Hoosier' is a native or inhabitant of Indiana. Some of Riley's poems were written in a Hoosier dialect, including 'The Raggedy Man', 'Little Orphant Annie', and 'When the Frost is on the Punkin.'
6. Riley suffered from alcoholism and never married or had children. Riley died in 1916 at the age of 66 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Title, the Poet's Name, and the Poem

• Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

• Study the poem picture, and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

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

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 8 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Activity 5: Discuss Difficulties You've Faced

• Discuss a difficulty you faced in your past.
• Did you cry because of the difficulty?
• Describe how you overcame the difficulty.
• Discuss who you can turn to for help in times of difficulty.
• Do you agree that in times of trouble, better days are ahead of us?

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'A Life Lesson.'

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the name of the poet who wrote 'A Life Lesson?'

2 / 5

Answer 2

The name of the poet is James Whitcomb Riley.

2 / 5

Question 3

What happens in the poem?

3 / 5

Answer 3

A girl cries as she encounters difficulties. The narrator advises her to stop crying and reminds her that better days are ahead.

3 / 5

Question 4

Who are the characters in the poem?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The characters are the narrator and a little girl.

4 / 5

Question 5

Does the poem teach us anything?

5 / 5

Answer 5

The poem reminds us that in difficult times better days are often ahead.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'A Life Lesson.'
2. What is the name of the poet who wrote 'A Life Lesson?' The name of the poet is James Whitcomb Riley.
3. What happens in the poem? A girl cries as she encounters difficulties. The narrator advises her to stop crying and reminds her that better days are ahead.
4. Who are the characters in the poem? The characters are the narrator and a little girl.
5. Does the poem teach us anything? The poem reminds us that in difficult times better days are often ahead.

References

'James Whitcomb Riley.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.