312 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. DoC. 



growing and working, and not as a mere form or structure. To learn 

 about the plant as a whole, the relation and Avork of its parts, and 

 its life-history, from the seed to the formation of the seed. 



To lead the child to see how^ well mother nature protects and cares 

 for her children. My time is limted, and consequently I shall take 

 up only a few plant forms, such that we are all familiar with, and 

 show you how they may be studied and successfully taught. In the 

 month of September, we find two very interesting plants, the mallow 

 and buttercup. 



THE MALLOW. 



This is a common weed found in and about dooryards, around the 

 school house and home. It is recognized by its roundish or kidney- 

 shaped leaves, and by its small round fruit, called "buttons" or 

 "cheeses" by the children. This plant is excellent for the first study, 

 because the children are familiar with it, and because it has many 

 icteresting habits, such as you have often noticed, the turning of its 

 leaves toward the sun and the closing of its flowers at night. 



Lead the children to talk about the work they have to do at home, 

 to tell how they help. Tell them that the mallow, like themselves, 

 and like everything else, has a w'ork to do, and that they are to find 

 out about the work of the plant and each of its parts. 



To give direction to the thoughts of the children and the right 

 spirit or tone to their work, read to them frequently, or if they can 

 read, write on the blackboard and keep before them something like 

 the follow'ing little stanza: 



"It was only a little plant, 



But on it did shine the sun; 

 The wind did caress, the birds did sing. 



And it lived till its work was done. 



"It was only a little plant; 



But it took a gladsome part 

 In the great earth's life; and at last 



Earth clasped it to her heart." 



THE BUTTERCUP. 



The buttercup does not have the many interesting habits of the 

 mallow (in the spring its leaves turn tow^ard the sun, but not to any 

 marked extent in the autumn.) But it shows somewhat more ch-arly 

 the spread and branching of the roots, to get nourishment from the 

 ground, the extension of the veins into every part of the leavesi to 

 support and carry food to each division, and the protection of the 

 young leaves by the older ones, and will give the children a better 

 idea of the parts and plan of the flower. 



All the class work with the buttercup can be done in the school 

 room. But great pains should be taken to have the boys and girls 



