i _| 4 THE XA TL "AV-.'-.V TL 7) I ' RE I 'IE W [ 2 : --apnil, .906 



The following outline has been the basis for the work for three years: 

 Birds— Autumn, winter and spring— parallel with studies of trees— {a) Study 

 living and mounted birds in schoolroom in order to give acquaintance with gen- 

 eral form, parts and uses of the body, (b) Field studies of common birds- iden- 

 tification, movements, migration, food, records of observations. Individual work 

 should be stimulated, (c) Studies of habits of young chicks and ducks. (d) If 

 possible, class should visit Zoological Park to observe some of the striking mod- 

 ifications of birds in adaptation to habits of life, (e) Economic relations of some 

 common birds; value of our domesticated birds; bird protection by special socie- 

 ties and laws; birds for decoration. 



In this grade, as in fact in all others in this elementary school, 

 three aims are prominent: (a) to give general acquaintance and inter- 

 est, (b) to develop habits of careful observing and reasoning, and (c) 

 to give some useful knowledge concerning common natural things as 

 they affect " human interests." 



As to methods of conducting the study, the most important is the_ 

 note-book. We use the common covers for perforated sheets of paper. 

 White sheets serve for notes and a grayish paper of soft texture is used 

 for pasting colored pictures of birds and clippings from magazines. 

 Moreover, we lose no opportunity' for cultivating appreciation of good 

 literature and short selections are often written in the note-book. 

 From time to time the teacher gives the pupils mimeographed sheets 

 containing information and these are added to the note-books. The 

 pupils are very proud of these books. One book last year had on the 

 cover in large letters the title " A Superior Reference Book for the 

 Study of Birds, by . " 



The class work begins early in the year with some discussions of 

 the main topic " Birds in theirRelation to Man," attempting to draw 

 together and organize the facts based on the experiences of pupils of 

 the class and at the same time to get them to see that birds are worth 

 studying. This introduction does not fail to arouse great interest, and 

 thus we make a good start in bird study. A small proportion of the 

 time is given to this introduction, but it is strongly emphasized 

 throughout the course when the habits of each bird are studied. The 

 result is that the pupils realize the beneficial relation of the birds to 

 agriculture, the important service they perform as scavengers, and the 

 much needed protection of our game and song birds. 



The injurious relation to man must of course be mentioned. Here 

 arises opportunity for the cultivation of good judgment on the part of 

 the pupil when he is allowed, after carefully weighing both sides, to 

 judge whether the points in favor of a bird are enough to warrant 

 destroying it or not. 



