iio8 Rural School Leaflet 



BIRD STUDY 



The Editors 

 N preparation for bird study for 1915-1916, 

 teachers should read over the material in this 

 publication and make simple plans for the year's 

 work, both as to method of instruction and as 

 to results to be accomplished. This does not 

 mean to have outlines made to be followed by 

 the children, for nature study should be largely 

 spontaneous. Instead of following outlines in bird study, the birds them- 

 selves should be followed. It is very important, however, for the teacher 

 to decide what will be most helpful in leading the boys and girls to make 

 the right kind of observations. 



No one should plan to do too much, but should consider the following 

 suggestions carefully, and perhaps use one or more of them in outdoor 

 teaching. 



1. As you read over the articles on birds in this leaflet, write down in 

 your notebook some things that you will be able to work out with the boys 

 and girls. During your reading you will get a fairly good knowledge of 

 the possibilities of educational work connected with the birds for study 

 this year. You may not know these birds, but when your interest is 

 once aroused, the knowledge comes easily and rapidly. Some teachers 

 have known only a few of the commonest birds at the beginning of the 

 school year, but with the aid of the children they have become familiar 

 with twenty-five, thirty, and even a larger number before the close of the 

 spring term. 



2. Make a list of the birds given for this year's work that you do not 

 know. Try to become familiar with the descriptions of these birds, so 

 that if you should come across one of them you would recognize it. En- 

 courage the boys and girls to help. 



3. Have a canary at school some day. Caged birds are most unsatis- 

 factory to any one who has associated with birds in the open, and from 

 the experience with the canary a desire to leave the birds free, and yet 

 have their companionship, can be encouraged. Any stories that you 

 know of the experiences of bird lovers with wild birds will be valuable. 

 Often some of the shy birds will respond to human kindness and become 

 very friendly (page 1114). 



4. The boys and girls wnll take an interest in making bird houses. At 

 least one should be placed in every school yard in New York State. Some 

 of the most attractive birds, such as the bluebird, the wren, and the 

 purple martin, will build in houses. In view of the fact that children 



