trafton] OUTLINE OF NATURE-STUDY 133 



Problems — 



How can we tell the oaks apart by their leaves? 

 How do the acorns of the oaks differ? 

 What use is made of the wood of oak trees? 

 How can we tell a butternut from a walnut tree? 



III. Some Animal Friends and Foes. 



1 . Social insects, such as ants, bees, wasps. 



2. Insect activities; how they eat, breathe and move. 

 Problems — 



In what ways is the life of social insects like the social life of human 



beings? 

 How do insects eat? 

 In how many ways do insects move? 

 How does the insect's way of breathing differ from our way? 



3. Earthworms. 

 Problem — 



In what ways are earthworms helpful to man? 



4. Squirrels. 

 Problems — 



What makes squirrels interesting animals to have around? 

 How many kinds of squirrels are there? 



IV. Aquarium Studies — fishes ; fishes used as food, native fishes. 



Problems — 



How does the fish use its fins in swimming? 

 How does its method of breathing differ from that of the frog? 

 To what extent do we use fishes for food in Mankato? 

 What fishes are found around Mankato? 



V. Fall Sports. 



1. The swing; other applications of the pendulum, such as the clock. 



Simple experiments showing relation of length, weight and arc 

 to time of vibration. 



2. The slide; other applications of the inclined plane, such as coal 



slide, plank for loading wagon, sliding down hill. 

 Problems — 



What principles of the pendulum are illustrated in the swing? 

 What other applications of the pendulum can you find? 

 What other applications of the inclined plane can you find beside the 

 swing? 



Seasonal Order of Topics 

 September October November 



Wild flowers. Cultivated flowers. Squirrels. 



Soft mushrooms. Insects. Bulbs — indoors. 



Cultivated flowers. Bulbs — outdoors. Fish. 



Earthworm. Vegetables. 



Trees. Woody mushrooms. 



Swing and slide. 



