To THE Teacher : 



This is the first of a p7'oposed series of leaflets designed to suggest 

 methods of presenting nature-study upo?t conwion-place subjects. This 

 is a 7ieiv field of effort for the College of Agriculture^ and we therefore 

 look upon the methods as largely experiine^ital. We are endeavoring to 

 determine the best way of interesting children in country life. You can 

 give us matiy suggestio?is^ and we should like a free expression of your 

 opinio7is and experiences. It should be borne in mind that the object of 

 these lessons is not to impart direct and specific ifjformation, but to train 

 the child in the powers of seeing and inquirifig. The teacher should keep 

 the attention of the pupil closely fixed upo?i the germinating seed {when the 

 subject of this leaflet is under review)^ asking him to describe everything 

 ivhich he sees. Require that the pupil sees all that is specifled in this 

 leaflet, and endeavor to lead him on to see things which are not here de- 

 scribed. Once the inqtmy is started, you will ?to doubt be able to cofiduct 

 other similar experi7nents from ti7ne to time. If questio?is C07?ie up 

 which you ca7inot ansiver, write them to us a7id we 77iay be able to help 

 you. 



We suggest that you ask your pupils to write short compositions 

 upo7i these lessons a7id to make sketches of the observations, and that you 

 se7id us so7ne of these fro77i ti7ne to ti77ie, in order that we may lear7i 

 hoiv the experime7it is worki7ig. We do 7iot care for the best essays 

 alone, but si77iply the average. The suggestio7is which we obtain fro7n 

 teachers will aid us greatly in the preparation of future leaflets. 



