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Early in September school began. The schoolhouse was a small white building. In front of it was a large yard. This was a good place to play.

Polly went to school every day except Saturdays and Sundays. She liked it very much. Peter stayed at home and played with Tim and Wag-wag and Collie. He liked that better than going to school.

Polly came home from school early. She had plenty of time to play.

One day Polly said, "I know something to do. Let's have a school."

"We used to do that," said Peter.

"Yes, we did, Peter. But I know how to play it better than I did. I go to school now, so I can play it better."

"I do not like to play school," said Tim. "Let's not."

"We are going to," said Polly. "You need not, if you do not wish."

"Well," said Tim, "I will, if Collie may play, too."

"Of course, Collie may," said Polly. "Dogs make good pupils. Wag-wag must play, too. Peter, please go into the house and get some of the doll family. Then we shall have quite a large school."

"Shall we have it out of doors?" asked Peter. "You do not have your real one out of doors."

"Sometimes we do," said Polly. "I like that very much. You and I will have ours out of doors until it is winter."

"I wish it were winter now," said Peter. "I am tired of autumn."

"Well, I am not," said Polly. "I hope that it will be autumn for a long, long time."

"It will not," Tim said. "My father thinks that a hard frost will come any night. He has taken all our pumpkins into the barn."

"So has my father," said Polly. "Oh, I know something! We will play school in the barn. Then we will use the pumpkins for chairs. Come on!"

Polly and Peter picked up the doll family, and away the three children ran. After them ran Collie and Wag-wag.

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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

It is September, and Polly has started learning at school. Peter is too young for school. Peter, Polly, Tim, their pets, and their dolls decide play school in their barn. They plan to use pumpkins as chairs.

Vocabulary

School: A place where children learn.
Schoolhouse: A building where school is held.
Universe: Everything in existence including the Earth, Sun, Moon, and other planets and stars.
Observation: Watching something intently and noting or recording items of interest.
Experiment: A procedure undertaken to make a discovery or demonstrate a known fact.
Science: Studying how the universe works through observation and experiment.

Concepts

Science is a common subject that children study during school.

Scientists are people who study the universe and/or apply scientific knowledge to solve problems. You might decide to be a scientist when you grow up.

Common science subjects include:

  1. Biology - the study of life.
  2. Chemistry - the study of matter.
  3. Physics - the study of matter, energy, forces, and motion.
  4. Oceanography - the study of the ocean.
  5. Geology - the study of the Earth.
  6. Meteorology - the study of weather.
  7. Astronomy - the study of the universe, stars, and planets.
  8. Computer science - the study of computers.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Story

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

Activity 2: Draw the Sun and Planets in Our Solar System

Objective:

Astronomy is the study of the universe, stars, and planets. Examine and draw the solar system, including the sun, earth, and other planets.

Materials:

Pencil, crayons or markers, and paper.

Procedure:

  • Examine the picture of the solar system below. Look for our planet, the planet labeled 'EARTH.'
  • Sketch and color the sun and planets, including the fiery SUN and our planet EARTH.

Review

Question 1

Why do people go to school?
1 / 6

Answer 1

People attend school to learn.
1 / 6

Question 2

Describe what it means when you 'observe' a bird?
2 / 6

Answer 2

When you observe a bird, you watch the bird and note or record what it looks like or what it does.
2 / 6

Question 3

What might a scientist study?
3 / 6

Answer 3

Scientists study varied topics including the earth, living things, forces, motion, weather, computers, and the universe.
3 / 6

Question 4

Is the Earth located inside the universe?
4 / 6

Answer 4

As far as we know, everything in existence is in the universe.
4 / 6

Question 5

Is the Sun located in the universe?
5 / 6

Answer 5

As far as we know, everything in existence is in the universe.
5 / 6

Question 6

Are you in the universe?
6 / 6

Answer 6

As far as we know, everything in existence is in the universe.
6 / 6

  1. Why do people go to school? People attend school to learn.
  2. Describe what it means when you 'observe' a bird? When you observe a bird, you watch the bird and note or record what it looks like or what it does.
  3. What might a scientist study? Scientists study varied topics including the earth, living things, forces, motion, weather, computers, and the universe.
  4. Is the Earth located inside the universe? As far as we know, everything in existence is in the universe.
  5. Is the Sun located in the universe? As far as we know, everything in existence is in the universe.
  6. Are you in the universe? As far as we know, everything in existence is in the universe.