1a. What animals appear in the rhyme for the letter L?
2a. Which letters have rhymes that might refer to a book?
3a. To what kind of glass does the rhyme for the letter G refer?
4a. During an era of political chaos and revolution in seventeenth-century England, the king saved himself from enemies by hiding in a tree. Which letter has a rhyme referring to this incident? Which other rhyme refers to the political leadership of the day? Which rhymes refer to moral teachings?
5a. At least three rhymes warn of age and death. Identify the letters with these rhymes. Do you think that these are appropriate rhymes for children? Why, or why not?
1b. What two qualities might the animals referred to in the rhyme for the letter L represent?
2b. Explain the couplets for the letters B and H. To what book might these couplets refer?
3b. What does the rhyme for the letter F tell about the treatment of school children during the time the Primer was in use?
4b. Based on this selection, how did the Puritans feel about their leadership? What can you tell about the differences between education and culture in the 1600s and 1700s and education and culture today?
5b. Make up new rhymes to replace the ones that you think are not appropriate for children of today. Try to incorporate topics that are emphasized in school today, such as cooperation, environmental awareness, tolerance and diversity, drug awareness, and global consumerism. Explain why you wrote each new couplet the way that you did.
Aim. The aim of the Primer was education, but education in what areas? What descriptions within the alphabet support your answer?
Couplet. Which letter is given a verse that is not a couplet? How would you describe that particular verse? Several of the couplets are written in more than two lines of type simply because the width of the page limits the number of characters on a line. Identify one of those couplets, writing it in couplet form.
1. In your journal, write three couplets about lessons you learned as a child, then share them with your classmates.
2. A curriculum consists of the courses provided by a school. What courses would you need to understand all the references in the Primer alphabet? Write a curriculum for your studies, with a short description for each course.
3. Write a lesson story for an audience of young children, with the aim not merely of entertaining your audience but also of educating the children about good behavior. Choose a behavior you wish to promote. Then write a short story that demonstrates why this behavior is desired. You may wish to demonstrate rewards for following the behavior and punishments for deviating from such behavior. Refer to the Language Arts Survey 3.3, "Register, Tone, and Voice."
Linking Verbs. Write each verb from the following sentences. Star (*) each linking verb.
1. Some modern people feel ignorant when they read Puritan writings.
2. Although the language looks familiar, its meaning is sometimes obscure because of historical and religious references with which modern-day people are often unfamiliar.
3. Footnotes are one means of providing information about obscure references in literary works and other written materials.
4. Religion was the central force within the Puritan community, and all aspects of life felt its influence.
5. That is why Puritan writings were full of religious references.
Annotations.Write two annotations for the section of the alphabet from O through S.
Pop Culture Alphabet Book.With a small group, create an original alphabet book in which you associate the letters with elements of pop culture or the popular media. (Example: R is for rap). Begin with a brainstorming session during which all suggestions are listed. Next, vote on the best word for each letter and decide which form to use - phrases, couplets, or another form. Divide the alphabet among the group members and write the entries. Illustrate them as your group chooses. Finally, assemble the pages, and add a title page and cover. Use the lines below for your brainstorming session.
