Rural School Leaflet 1373 



Dairying. — If dairying is the chief industry in the community, the sub- 

 ject matter as outlined in the syllabus for which specific material can be 

 found, should be used. 



In country places a visit should be made to a farm in order that the 

 children may learn the types of cows and begin to think about pure breeds 

 of cattle. A Babcock test machine might be placed in the schoolroom, 

 and milk from different farms tested by the pupils. When the test has 

 been successfully made in the schoolroom it would be valuable to have 

 the class make this test at a grange meeting or a farmers' institute. The 

 matter of balanced rations may be studied, also other subjects of interest 

 on a dairy farm (pages 1200 to 1233). 



Nature study corner. — In order to encourage the children in their general 

 out-of-door observations, many teachers have found it helpful to have in 

 the schoolroom a nature study comer. There should be a table on which 

 specimens may be kept, and above this a shelf containing reference books. 

 The children may be taught to bring to the schoolroom specimens of plants 

 to be left on this table until the teacher has time to identify them. If the 

 teacher is unable to identify any plant, it should be sent to the College 

 for identification. A good-sized specimen should be sent, showing roots, 

 leaves, and flowers or fruit, if possible. 



Terrarium. — A terrarium, which is an enclosed piece of earth on which 

 things may live and grow, has been found very interesting in some of the 

 schoolrooms in New York State. Many kinds of animal life have been 

 housed in terraria. The writer has seen salamanders, toads, snakes, 

 butterflies, caterpillars, beetles, rabbits, hens, guinea pigs, and kittens, 

 in terraria in different schools. Children have been allowed to watch 

 the animal life during leisure hours. 



Aquaria. — ^Aquaria have not been very successful in most schools, 

 but any teacher can use to advantage battery jars, or even mason fruit- 

 cans, in which aquatic forms of life may be kept for a limited time. 



Gardening. — There should be opportunity for gardening if only on 

 a small scale. The gardening connected with the rural school might well 

 have relation to the planting of the grounds with some of the native vines 

 and shrubs that can be found along the waysides and in the woods. There 

 should be some experimental work that will have relation to farm interests. 

 Com, potatoes, a plat of alfalfa, or the like, will lead to observation of 

 the home crops. 



For the cultivation of a large piece of ground for children's gardens it 

 is well to buy the seeds in bulk. Some of the older children will enjoy 

 putting them in packets and marking them. The teacher, with some of 

 the children, might estimate the number of lineal feet to be planted with 

 each kind of seed. If the teacher does not know the quantity needed 

 for this estimate, the seedsman will tell her. 



