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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



story of their observations in the school-room and at home. In this way 

 the child develops initiative, resourcefulness and the power of expression, 

 while others share in his interesting knowledge and discoveries. The 

 child himself and his development is the chief aim of nature-play. 



At least ten minutes each day should be given to the type under con- 

 sideration, with an appropriate subdivision of the subject matter for the 

 week. There is no need of different subjects for the various grades. 

 There is not a first-grade cat, second-grade cat, and so on ; but only the 

 one cat which should be described in such clear and simple language as 

 to be readily understood by pupils of all ages. Each teacher may be 

 trusted to make whatever translation, or omission, if any, may be neces- 

 sary for her own pupils. Both teachers and pupils should freely ask 

 questions of one another. If no one knows the answer, let all together 

 become searchers for truth. The crime is not to be ignorant, but to pre- 

 tend to knowledge when ignorant. With the same type in all the grades, 

 children of different ages in the same family, or neighborhood, and 

 their parents, as well, may all join together in nature-play and thus the 

 larger part of the population will be devoted to learning all about the 

 type in hand. Thus movements for civic betterment, such as the cam- 

 paign against the fly, may be organized and promoted with power and 

 efficiency. 



As a record of individual observations, nature maps may be made of 

 much value and at the same time give an inspiring opportunity for prac- 

 tise in drawing. On a large sheet of paper, the pupil lays out his home 

 square, bounded by streets and subdivided into lots. Houses, stables, 

 trees, bushes, cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, cows, chickens and other birds, 

 lizards, toads, ants and other insects — indeed all the works of nature 

 and of man that it is possible to include — are drawn in, or indicated by 

 appropriate symbols. The sanitation map is a modification, showing 





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Photograph by Herbert MooNey, Fifth Grade, Awarded the First Place in the 

 First Annual Nature-study Exhibition of the Los Angeles City Schools. 



