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The Revolution was about over. Americans were very happy. Their country was to be free.

At this time, a little boy was born in New York. His family was named Irving. What should this little boy be named?

His mother said, "Washington's work is done. Let us name the baby Washington." So he was called Washington Irving.

When this baby grew to be a little boy, he was one day walking with his nurse. The nurse was a Scotch girl. She saw General Washington go into a shop. She led the little boy into the shop also.

The nurse said to General Washington, "Please, your Honor, here is a bairn that is named for you."

"Bairn" is a Scotch word for child. Washington put his hand on the little boy's head and gave him his blessing. When Irving became an author, he wrote a life of Washington.

Little Irving was a merry, playful boy. He was full of mischief.

Sometimes he would climb out of a window to the roof of his father's house. From this he would go to roofs of other houses. Then the little rascal would drop a pebble down a neighbor's chimney. Then he would hurry back and get into the window again. He would wonder what the people thought when the pebble came rattling down their chimney. Of course, he was punished when his tricks were found out. But he was a favorite with his teacher. With all his faults, he would not tell a lie. The teacher called the little fellow "General."

In those days, naughty schoolboys were whipped. Irving could not bear to see another boy suffer. When a boy was to be whipped, the girls were sent out. Irving always asked the schoolmaster to let him go out with the girls.

Like other boys, Irving was fond of stories. He liked to read about Sindbad the Sailor, and Robinson Crusoe. But most of all he liked to read about other countries. He had twenty small volumes called "The World Displayed." They told about the people and countries of the world. Irving read these little books a great deal.

One day the schoolmaster caught him reading in school. The master slipped behind him and grabbed the book. Then he told Irving to stay after school.

Irving expected a punishment. But the master told him he was pleased to find that he liked to read such good books. He told him not to read them in school.

Reading about other countries made Irving wish to see them. He thought he would like to travel. Like other wild boys, he thought of running away. He wanted to go to sea.

But he knew that sailors had to eat salt pork. He did not like salt pork. He thought he would learn to like it. When he got a chance, he ate pork. And sometimes he would sleep all night on the floor. He wanted to get used to a hard bed.

But the more he ate pork, the more he disliked it. And the more he slept on the floor, the more he liked a good bed. So he gave up his foolish notion of being a sailor boy.

Someday, you will read Irving's "Sketch Book." You will find some famous stories in it. There is the story of Rip Van Winkle, who slept twenty years. And there is the funny story of the Headless Horseman. When you read these amusing stories, you will remember the playful boy who became a great author.

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Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary words.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Washington Irving was named after George Washington, the Revolutionary War General and first American President. When Irving was a little boy, General Washington put his hand on Irving's head and blessed him. As an older boy, Irving was full of mischief. He'd climb on roofs and drop pebbles down chimneys. Irving loved to read about foreign countries, so much that he would read his books in school. His schoolmaster caught him reading a book, 'The World Displayed.' The schoolmaster did not punish Irving because it was a good book, but warned Irving not to read in school. Irving wanted to become a sailor and travel the world. He ate salt pork and slept on the floor at night to train to become a sailor. Irving did not like pork or sleeping on the floor and decided to become an author instead of a sailor. As an adult, Irving wrote the story of Rip Van Winkle and the Headless Horseman.

Vocabulary

Bairn: Scottish term for 'child.'
Blessing: A prayer asking for God's favor and protection.
Mischief: Playful misbehavior or troublemaking, especially in children.
Salt Pork: Pork covered in salt and refrigerated for around a week.

Concepts

As a boy, Irving wanted to become a sailor, but he eventually became an author.

An author is a 'a writer of a book, article, or report.'

  1. Authors might create writing such as novels, short stories, or plays.
  2. Novels are book-length stories containing imaginary characters and action in some setting.
  3. Short stories are like novels, but shorter and simpler.
  4. Plays are dramatic works typically performed by actors on a stage.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Story

  • After reading or listening to the story, narrate the story events aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Color the Story   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 36 of 'History Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 3: Explore the Story

Be an author like Washington Irving.

  • Come up with your own short story and tell it to someone else.
  • Who are the people (characters) in your story?
  • What happens in your story (plot)?
  • Where does your story take place (setting)?

Activity 4: Can You Find It?

Washington Irving wrote about the Headless Horseman in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.' See below the painting, 'The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane' by John Quidor.

Find the following in the painting:

  • Ichabod Crane
  • Headless Horseman
  • Jack-O-Lantern Head
  • Horses
  • Country Road
  • Cape
  • Town
  • Mountain

Review

Question 1

Who was Washington Irving named for?
1 / 5

Answer 1

Washington Irving was named for George Washington, the first American President.
1 / 5

Question 2

What types of mischief did Irving engage in as a boy?
2 / 5

Answer 2

Irving dropped pebbles down chimneys and read books about far off countries in school.
2 / 5

Question 3

What did Irving want to be when he grew up?
3 / 5

Answer 3

Irving wanted to be a sailor.
3 / 5

Question 4

Why did Irving decide against becoming a sailor?
4 / 5

Answer 4

Irving did not like salt pork and sleeping on the hard floor.
4 / 5

Question 5

What occupation did Irving choose when he grew up?
5 / 5

Answer 5

Irving grew up to be an author.
5 / 5

  1. Who was Washington Irving named for? Washington Irving was named for George Washington, the first American President.
  2. What types of mischief did Irving engage in as a boy? Irving dropped pebbles down chimneys and read books about far off countries in school.
  3. What did Irving want to be when he grew up? Irving wanted to be a sailor.
  4. Why did Irving decide against becoming a sailor? Irving did not like salt pork and sleeping on the hard floor.
  5. What occupation did Irving choose when he grew up? Irving grew up to be an author.

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