Nature-Play in the Los Angeles City Schools 



Frances Conrad 



The great aim in the Nature-Play, as outlined and directed by 

 Dr. C. L. Edwards for the Los Angeles school children, is to bring 

 them to an understanding of Nature — of life itself — of themselves. 

 In this effort, the children become interested in varied forms, they 

 become alert to, and observant of different phases of life; and, as 

 they grow familiar with these, they learn the laws governing and 

 controlling all life. 



It is the belief that a "cut and dried" program of Nature-Study 

 for each grade stunts the interest in, and dwarfs the magnitude of a 



At the Museum 



subject so broad. The song of the mocking-bird is as much for 

 the first grade tot as for the eighth grade lad. The boy of five is as 

 keenly interested, in his small way, in the earthworm as is the one 

 of twelve. 



So we believe in a general outline of study thru out the grades 

 and thruout the schools, that shall bring the same life story to the 

 beginners as to the advanced, only, of course, in a much sampler 

 form. In this way, the children of all ages talk about the subject 

 of common interest, both at play, and with their parents at home. 



To this end each teacher is sent a weekly lesson, giving in detail 

 a topic for that week's work. There being one hundred thirty- 

 four schools, Dr. Edwards and his one assistant are each able to 

 visit every school only three times during the year. The director 



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