244 NATURE- STUDY REVIEW [11:5— May, 1915 



to develop introduction to science in the first year of most four year 

 high schools and this means biology in the second year. To avoid 

 misunderstanding, let me digress to say that this is not opposed 

 to the New York plan of "first year biology," for the outline of 

 that course as interpreted by leading teachers is, to my mind, a 

 first class introduction to science with a biological center, and 

 adapted to very peculiar local conditions. 



All the present planning with reference to placing introduction 

 to science in the first year of four year high schools offers onlv a 

 more or less temporary compromise pending the development of 

 the seventh and eighth grades under systems of junior high school, 

 or departmental teaching, or any other plans which provide the 

 special instructors and equipment that are absolutely essential for 

 teaching the introduction to science. It is greatly to be desired 

 that such opportunities for developing introduction to science may 

 come quickly, for it is sure to be the medium for conveying valuable 

 scientific information to the masses of young people who never 

 enter the present high schools. 



And now I ask attention to the nature-study point of view in the 

 introduction to science that should follow nature-study in the 

 elementary schools. I can make my point clearer if I give first an 

 example of a lesson from the science point of view, and later 

 follow with an outline of a series of lessons planned on a nature- 

 study basis. 



In a certain book that attempts to introduce grammar school 

 children to science by imitating a course in physics, the first lesson 

 on atoms and molecules runs essentially as follows : 



Subject of lesson: "Matter, Masses, Molecules, Atoms, Spaces 

 between Atoms." Exp. i — Fill a tumbler with water and drop a 

 stone into the water. Exp. 2 — Lay a book on the table and try to 

 put another book into the same space at the same time. "Defini- 

 tion — Matter is that which occupies space and two bodies of matter 

 cannot occupy the same space at the same time." Exp. 3 — Put 

 powdered sugar into water. It disappears because the dissolved 

 sugar consists of the smallest possible particles, called molecules. 

 These are made up of atoms. Definitions of mass, molecule, atom. 

 Exp. 4 — Pour sand into a cup full of water. Why does the water 

 run over"" Exp. 5 — Pour slowly some fine sugar into a cup full of 

 water. Why does not the water run over as it did when sand was 

 poured in? (The small sugar molecules fit in between those of 



