bigelow] NATURE-STUDY LESSONS OBSERVED 89 



said, "The animal is all one hunch and six or seven rings and a big 

 pair of paddles." Another one reported, "There's no breathing 

 tube like the larva has on its tail." Another pupil saw two 

 tubes on the hunch of the back. Others saw eyes. All looked to 

 verify these points. The teacher said, "I wonder why pupas stay 

 at the top." After looking a moment one pupil said, "It would 

 be better to stay down in the mud so that other animals can not 

 eat them." Another pupil said, "I think that is why they wiggle 

 down when we jar them." Another pupil said, "I think the pupa 

 stavs at the top most of the time so the mosquito won't get 

 drowned when it comes out." Another pupil discovered a mos- 

 quito sitting on its empty shell, and others looked to see the same. 

 One little girl remarked, "Goodness, you would not think there 

 was so much to nothing but a mosquito, would you?" Another 

 pupil said, "If the mosquito flies in the air, how does the larva 

 get into the water?" ; and quick as a flash another pupil answered 

 "the lady mosquito lays the eggs in the water." (The pupils were 

 convulsed with laughter.) At this point the teacher replied, "We 

 will keep the mosquitoes penned up in some of these jars and will 

 watch for eggs." The pupils made some sketches in their note- 

 books and at this point the second lesson closed. The time was 

 about thirty minutes. 



It is evident from many points in the foregiong outlines that 

 the pupils had had an earlier lesson on the adult mosquito. 



To the observer the most interesting thing was that it was a 

 lesson largely conducted by the children, for there was very little 

 talking on the part of the teacher. As shown in the report above, 

 the teacher's remarks were chiefly in the line of setting problems 

 in order to direct the observation of the pupils, and it is obvious 

 in many places that there was plenty of opportunity for expression 

 of originality on the part of the pupils. There are some points 

 in this lesson, which are open to criticism, but on the whole 

 they have some excellent points. If others have different 

 views they are invited to send them to the editor of The Review 

 for publication. 



Perhaps other readers of this magazine will be able to give 

 reports of especially interesting lessons which they have observed. 



