Purpose: Run a complete lesson using Chapter 39 and the Student Self-Study page as the student material.
Recommended Level: A2–B1 | Lesson Length: 30–45 minutes
1) Lesson Overview
- Theme: honesty, mercy, consequences, wise choices, and giving good advice.
- Skills: Listening, reading, discussion, vocabulary building, critical thinking, and personal reflection.
- Outcome: Student can explain what happened after Dusty was stolen and discuss why Jake gave the young thief his Good Advice Book.
Tutor tip: This chapter works especially well for discussing the difference between mercy and removing consequences. Jake shows kindness, but Sheriff Tex still does his duty.
2) Warm-Up Questions
- Have you ever had to tell the truth after making a mistake?
- Why do people sometimes make bad choices when they are afraid?
- Can kindness and consequences happen at the same time?
3) Vocabulary
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Tutor Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| thief | a person who steals something | “Why did Jake first think the young man was a thief?” |
| borrowed | used something for a time, usually with permission | “Why was the young man wrong to say he borrowed Dusty?” |
| settle this dispute | solve an argument or disagreement | “How did Sheriff Tex try to settle the dispute peacefully?” |
| offence | a crime or wrong action | “Why was stealing a horse a serious offence in the story?” |
| on the square | honest or truthful | “Why did Jake wonder if the young man might be on the square?” |
| saddle bags | bags carried on a saddle | “What did Jake find in his saddle bags?” |
| Good Advice Book | Jake’s name for the Bible he gives away | “Why did Jake call it his Good Advice Book?” |
| trial | a legal hearing to decide guilt or innocence | “Why was the young man taken to Mineral Wells for trial?” |
4) First Listening
- Listen once without reading.
- Ask: “Where did Jake find Dusty?”
- Ask: “What explanation did the young man give?”
- Ask: “What did Jake give the young man?”
Expected big idea: Chapter 39 teaches that wrong choices have consequences, but a person can still be offered mercy, truth, and a better path forward.
5) Speaking Practice
- Why did Jake stay calm when he found the young man?
- Why did Sheriff Tex still arrest him?
- What does Jake’s gift show about his character?
- What is the difference between borrowing and stealing?
- Why might the young man still take the Good Advice Book with him?
6) Writing Task
- Option A: Summarize Chapter 39 in 6–10 sentences.
- Option B: Explain why Jake gave the young man his Good Advice Book.
- Option C: Write about a time when someone gave you wise advice.
Fluency Tip: Ask students to retell the story in order: finding Dusty, confronting the stranger, hearing his story, Jake giving the book, and Tex’s final report.
7) Wrap-Up
Wrap-up: This chapter reminds readers that truth matters, choices have consequences, and mercy can still point a person toward a better life.
Final question: “Why do you think Jake gave the young man something valuable even after the young man stole from him?”