Purpose: Run a complete lesson using Chapter 16 and the Student Self-Study page as the student material.
Recommended Level: A2–B1 | Lesson Length: 30–45 minutes
1) Lesson Overview
- Theme: generosity, true riches, enough, gratitude, fear, need, sacrifice, and sharing.
- Skills: Listening, reading, discussion, vocabulary building, moral reasoning, personal reflection, and writing.
- Outcome: Student can explain how the story contrasts having enough with sharing enough, and discuss why generosity can make a community feel richer.
Tutor tip: This chapter works well for discussion about money, security, fear, and generosity. Help students distinguish between literal riches, such as grain or money, and deeper riches, such as grace, love, courage, and a generous heart.
2) Warm-Up Questions
- What does it mean to have “enough”?
- Why is it sometimes hard to share when supplies are limited?
- Can a person be rich without having much money? Explain.
3) Vocabulary
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Tutor Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| bushel | a measure used for grain or other dry goods | “Why is Jake counting bushels at the feed shed?” |
| feed shed | a building where animal feed or grain is stored | “Why is the feed shed important to the ranch?” |
| settlement | a small community or group of homes | “What happened to the settlement downriver?” |
| floods | large amounts of water covering land that is normally dry | “How can floods create hunger or need?” |
| grateful | thankful | “Why would the families be grateful if someone noticed their need?” |
| riches | wealth or valuable things; also deeper blessings that matter most | “How does the story redefine riches?” |
| glory | great honor, beauty, or heavenly splendor | “What does Mary say was the richest thing Christ owned?” |
| resolve | firm decision or determination | “What does quiet resolve look like in the story?” |
| burlap sacks | rough cloth bags often used for grain or supplies | “Why do they fill burlap sacks by lamplight?” |
| without fear | with trust instead of anxiety | “Why can Jake give without fear by the end?” |
4) First Listening
- Listen once without reading.
- Ask: “What problem is Jake thinking about at the feed shed?”
- Ask: “What decision does the ranch family make by the end?”
Expected big idea: Chapter 16 teaches that true riches are not only what a person keeps, but what a person can share without fear because grace has already given more than enough.
5) Speaking Practice
- Why does Jake say, “We’ve got enough,” but still feel troubled?
- What does Eli mean when he says he would be grateful someone noticed?
- How does Mary connect generosity with Pastor Kendall’s message?
- Why does the feed shed look thinner but the ranch feel fuller?
- What is the difference between being rich in coin and rich in grace?
- Why is it important that they help without speeches or pride?
- How does the final sentence explain Caldwell’s idea of “enough”?
6) Writing Task
- Option A: Summarize Chapter 16 in 6–10 sentences.
- Option B: Explain what Jake learns about the true measure of riches.
- Option C: Write about a time when sharing, giving, or helping someone made a person or group feel richer.
Fluency Tip: Ask students to retell the story in order: Jake counting grain, the traveler’s message, the porch conversation, the packing of sacks, the trip downriver, and Jake’s new understanding of “enough.”
7) Wrap-Up
Wrap-up: This chapter reminds readers that generosity changes the way we measure wealth. When people have enough to share, they may discover that giving can make life feel fuller, not poorer.
Final question: “Why do you think the story is called The Measure of Riches?”