XIV. GROUP WORK Planning a Circus What part should you like to take in a circus? Tell the class what you wish to be, and how you intend to carry out your part. Plan what you have to say, and tell it in good sentences. One pupil may act as secretary and write down what each member of the class wishes to be. After you have decided on the "acts" of your circus, you may discuss the costumes. Tell in a few sentences what kind of costume you think you should wear. A Letter You will probably wish to order something for your circus. Decide on what you wish to order, and find out where you can get it. Write a letter ordering what you need. The following letter may be a help to you: Florence, Alabama The Atlantic Athletic Company 125 Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland Gentlemen: In your catalogue for 1922-1923 you list gymnasium mats at $12 each. Please send me by express one gymnasium mat. I inclose money order for twelve dollars ($12) in payment. Yours truly, Clarence Samuels A Circus Program When you have planned all the "acts" of your circus, you may arrange a program. Try to have as much variety as you can in your program. STOP LOOK LISTEN Correct Usage - Past Forms of Verbs You should be careful in using verbs that tell of events that have already happened. It is correct to say "I ring the bell" when you mean that the action is taking place at the present time. Ring is the present tense of the verb. If you mean that the action took place yesterday, it is correct to say "I rang the bell." Rang is the past tense of the verb. you wish to use have, has, or had, you should say have rung, has rung, had rung. These forms are made from the past participle. If It is necessary, then, to know three forms of every verb, the present, the past, and the past participle. Learn the three forms, present, past, and past participle, of the following verbs: Always use a helping word, such as has, have, had, is, was, with the past participle of the verb. Do not use a helping word with the past form of the verb. Select the right word to complete each of the following sentences: 1. He has (went, gone) to the store. 2. The child has (broke, broken) his pencil. 4. Herbert (threw, thrown) the ball over the fence. 6. He has (threw, thrown) the ball to me. 7. The broken toys were (threw, thrown) away. 8. The toys were (broke, broken). 9. Mary has (chose, chosen) a good book to read. 10. Arthur has (went, gone) home. Dictation Write the following from dictation: We expect to have a good time at our circus. There will be tight-rope walking, pole climbing, and trick dancing. The performing animals will do some good tricks. These will not be real wild animals, but they will be our pets. The circus will be given in Mr. Franklin's barn. Why are the commas used in the second sentence? In the fourth sentence the comma after animals is used to separate two distinct parts of the sentence. Each part of the fourth sentence has a subject and a predicate. What are they? A Letter Write a letter to a classmate who is absent, telling him about your plans for the circus. Make your letter so plain that he will understand just what you are going to do. A POEM ABOUT THE CIRCUS A Poem about the Circus 171 Read the following poem aloud, and notice how musical it is. What pictures of the circus parade does it make you see? How does it make you feel? Oh, the Circus-Day Parade! How the bugles played and played! And how the glossy horses tossed their flossy manes, and neighed, As the rattle and the rhyme of the tenor drummer's time Filled all the hungry hearts of us with melody sublime! How the grand band-wagon shone with a splendor all its own, And glittered with a glory that our dreams had never known! And how the boys behind, high and low of every kind, Marched in unconscious capture, with a rapture undefined! |