bailey] XATURE-STUDY IN GENESEO 421 



In this grade, as in the third and fourth, some of the trees and 

 plants are studied. Here, while studying the trees, we make blue 

 prints of the leaves of all the trees which the children have learned 

 to recognize. This helps them to fix the form of the leaf in mind 

 and they pay more careful attention as no one is allowed to print 

 a leaf which he does not know. These are later made into book- 

 lets. 



The study of trees and birds is carried on through the winter as 

 in the preceding grades. By the time the children leave this 

 grade many of them know by sight from twenty-five to forty or 

 fifty birds. 



In the spring we study the honey bee and the bumble bee. 

 Last spring an observation beehive was placed in this grade so the 

 pupils might watch the bees at work. One of the ministers of the 

 •city, who is a great lover of bees, donated the use of one of his 

 swarms and he also gave some very interesting and instructive 

 talks on the life of the bee. 



Aquaria are introduced into all the grades in the spring. Last 

 spring some tiny mud turtles and little bull-heads were brought in. 

 These were used in the third grade. In the fourth grade we 

 studied pond snails, water striders and whirligig beetles, and in 

 the fifth grade the cray-fish. 



We find that we cannot adhere too closely to any set outline 

 in nature-study work. The same general topics can be taught 

 each season, but each day's lesson must be given from the material 

 at hand. 



In all of the nature-study work the aim has been to awaken 

 the child to a realization of the common things which are to be 

 found about him; to cultivate his powers of observation; to lead 

 him, through his observations, to make inquiries, then investiga- 

 tions ; and finally, through this training, to lead him to understand- 

 ing ; to awaken in him a love of the beautiful ; a regard for what 

 is true, and above all else a deep reverence for and a real love of 

 nature. 



