Lesson 4: Whose Child is This?

A. Read and Recite the Poem.

Read the poem aloud and then recite it to the class.

Whose Child is This?

“Whose child is this?” I asked one day, Seeing a little one out at play.

“Mine,” said the parent with a tender smile, “Mine to keep a little while

To bathe his hands and comb his hair,

To tell him what he is to wear,

To prepare him that he may always be good And each day do the things he should.”

“Whose child is this?” I asked again,

As the door opened and someone came in “Mine,” said the teacher with the same tender smile.

“Mine,” to keep just for a little while,

To teach him how to be gentle and kind,

To train and direct his dear little mind, To help him live by every rule And get the best he can from school.”

“Whose child is this?” I ask once more,

Just as the little one entered the door.

“Ours,” said the parent and the teacher as they smiled, And each took the hand of the little child.

“Ours to love and train together

Ours this blessed task forever.” [Anonymous]

Note:

• tender = kind; gentle; loving
• to bathe = to wash
• to train = to teach
• blessed = noble

B. Answer the Questions.

Read the poem silently and answer these questions:

1. Who asked the question, “Whose child is this?” in the poem?
2. How many times did he/she ask the question, “Whose child is this?”
3. Who answered the question in stanzas 1, 2, and 3?

C. Make a List.

Read the poem silently again and list the things or activities both the parent and the teacher do individually and together. One is done for you.

| What the parent does | What the teacher does | What both the parent and the teacher do | ------- | -------- | --------

1. gives a bath | 1. teaches him how to be kind | 1. love and train the child |
2. | 2. | 2. |
3. | 3. | 3. |

D. Discuss in Groups.

Discuss in groups and write an answer to this question: Why do both the parent and the teacher smile and answer the question, “Whose child is this?” by saying “Mine” and “Ours”?