(_a_) Have them make an alphabetical list of words from the vocabulary;
as, _able_, _beam_, _cage_, _daily_, etc.
(_b_) _Finding Words Quickly._ Teacher says, “Read this list of words
until you find the word _cane_.” After the pupils have complied the
teacher says, “Count all the words you read before you found the word
_cane_.” Pupils count and answer, “Seventy-one.” Teacher asks, “How
could I have saved time in finding this word?” The pupils easily
discover the fact that they can save time by looking for the word among
the words beginning with the same letter. The teacher tests and proves
this to be true by calling for other words; as, “With what letter does
_face_ begin? Where shall we find it?” Pupils answer, “_Face_ begins
with _f_; we shall find it with the words beginning with _f_.” They do
so. Teacher asks, “How many words did you have to read before finding
the word _face_? How many do you think you would have to read if you
counted from the beginning?” Conclusion to be discovered and expressed
by the pupils: An alphabetical arrangement of words saves time in
finding any particular word.
(_c_) _Finding Words Easily._ Teacher says, “Who can find the word
_autumn_ first?” Pupils find it. Teacher asks the first pupil ready with
the word, “Where did you find it?” Pupil answers, “I found it among the
words beginning with _a_ at the beginning of the list.” Teacher calls
for more words from different parts of the list; as, _farm_, _yellow_,
_branch_, _taste_, _many_, etc. In every case pupils must determine
first, the initial letter of the word; second, the place in the
alphabetical list for words beginning with that letter.
Conclusion to be discovered and expressed: An alphabetical arrangement
of words makes it easier to find any given word in a given list.
3. Have the pupils arrange the hundred words on pages 41 and 42 in
alphabetical order, considering only the initial letter of each word.
This may be done by having each word copied on an oblong piece of paper,
or on oak tag cards, and these cards placed in alphabetical order, or by
having columns marked off, headed by letters alphabetically arranged;
as: