vnderhill] BIRD STUDY FOR THE FIFTH GRADE 145 



The introduction is followed by some study of the bird structure, 

 which is needed for field work and identifying birds. In this work 

 live pigeons and parrots, stuffed birds, bird skins, skeletons and charts 

 are used. We simply study the chief external parts of the bird's body 

 and their uses. 



During the autumn and winter we keep blackboard records of 

 individual observations of fall migrations and winter birds. Another 

 space on the blackboard is devoted to individual observations. These 

 can never be accurate because they are made by untrained observers 

 in various places. All reasonable ones are accepted for the sole pur- 

 pose of arousing and keeping alive the interest in the study and 

 encouraging outdoor activity. 



Sections of the class under the guidance of the teacher make 

 excursions, often before school in the morning, to Central Park 

 where careful observations are made. Twenty-seven different kinds 

 of birds have been accurately identified in a single morning. 

 Strong emphasis is placed upon accuracy and doubtful observations 

 reported to the class are noted on the blackboard as demanding more 

 evidence. 



Constant reference is made to a set of colored pictures, arranged 

 for the purpose of easy inspection, as a frieze around the room. 

 These are placed in the order of the spring arrival of the birds. 

 Stuffed specimens such as are not available at Teachers College arc 

 loaned by the Museum of Natural History, giving a more intimate 

 knowledge of the coloring than can be obtained from the bird in his 

 native haunts or from even the best colored plates. 



Through the kind interest of a nature lover an instructive talk, 

 illustrated by microscopic slides, showing the development of a feather, 

 was given to last year's class; and by the kind cooperation of interested 

 parents and friends who loaned their membership tickets, the entire 

 Fifth Grade and many of the Fourth were able to attend the stereop- 

 tican lectures on birds at the American Museum of Natural History. 



One of the most important results of the work is the constant train- 

 ing in accuracy, not only of eye and ear, but accuracy of statement . 

 which affects all other branches of study in this grade. Here is cer- 

 tainly something of practical value in the nature work of the present clay. 



Certain bird games have been tried for the purpose of testing the 

 memory and familiarity with the subject. In one game where seventy- 

 two birds were to be identified in a given time from stuffed specimens 

 and pictures, more than two-thirds of the class knew half the number 

 and one pupil knew sixty -seven of the seventy-two. 



