To THE Teacher: 



This is the third of a proposed series of leaflets designed to sug- 

 gest methods of presenti7ig nature-study upon common-place sub- 

 jects. This is a new field of effort for the College of Agriculture, 

 a7id we therefore look upon the methods as largely experimental. 

 We are endeavoring to determine the best way of interesti7ig chil- 

 dren in conntry life. Yon can give ns 7nany suggestions , a?idwe 

 shonld like a free expression of yonr opinions and experie?ices. 

 It shonld be borne in niiiid that the object of these lessons is not 

 to impart direct and specific information, but to train the child 

 in the poivers of seeing aftd inqniring. We suggest that you 

 familiarize yourself thoroughly with the apple twigs in these four 

 lessons, a7td the7t collect a few twigs a7id exa77iine the77i for your- 

 self , Whe7i you thi7ik that you understand such twigs, collect 

 some more (or have the childre7z collect the77i), and givi7ig each 

 jf}upil 07ie, co7iduct an observation 07i the7n. If this work is done 

 now whilst the twigs are dor7nant, you will fi7td the childre7i to 

 he greatly i7it crested i7t the trees whe7t the buds begi7i to burst. 

 Once the inquiry is started, you- will 710 doubt be able to co7iduct 

 ether sii7iilar observatio7is fro77i ti7ne to ti7ne. If questio7is co7ne 

 Mp which you ca7tnot a7iswer, write them to ils a7id we 7nay be 

 dible to help you. 



We suggest that you ask your pupils to ivrite short co77ipositions 

 34p07i these lessons a7td to 7nake sketches of zvhat they see, a7id 

 ihat you se7id us so7ne of these from ti7ne to ti7ne i7i order that we 

 imay lear7i how the experi77ie7it is worki7ig. We do 7iot care for 

 the best essays alo7ie, but si77iply the average. The suggestions 

 which we obtai7i fro7n teachers will aid us greatly i7i the prep- 

 aratio7i of future leaflets. 



