What Subject to Take up First ? 



Whatever has an interest for the children, whatever has an interest 

 for you, or whatever is suggested by a reading lesson. Once you 

 begin you will be surprised at the number of subjects which come up for 

 Investigation, — but be sure to begin. 



How TO Make the Study Effective ? 



1. Whenever possible, make it the basis for (a) oral expression (ex- 

 tempore addresses) ; (b) written expression (reports and composition) ; (c) 

 form expression (drawing and modeling); (d) color expression (painting). 



2. As far as possible correlate it with the other school studies, which 

 will frequently be vitalised and refreshed by the correlation. 



3. Encourage the making of collections of natural objects, and have 

 school exhibitions at intervals. 



4. Have boxes and cages for such live animals as toad, snake, rab- 

 bit, or crow, and flower-boxes for plants near the window. 



5. Encourage the children to keep a diary of things seen outside 

 of school, such as first flowers, first birds, first frost, first snow-fall, etc., 

 etc. A school diary should also be kept, in which the children may make 

 entries. (Nature-Study Journal). 



6. Keep a school-garden. Get help if necessary from a neighbor, 

 but keep a garden. By its means many problems can here be worked 

 out in a concrete form. Have a school exhibit at the close of the season. 



7. Give practice in sight seeing, or in reporting Voyages of Dis- 

 covery. 



8. Finally, try and read some of the most excellent books on Nature- 

 Study which have been recently published. Get some of the best every 

 year for your school library. 



The new prescribed course in Nature-Study for Public Schools is 

 quite explicit as to the scope of the work to be done in each form, but 

 it must be noted that much latitude is given the teacher as to the subjects 

 and mode of treatment. This is as it should be, for Nature-Study cannot 

 be taught by a machine. It stands for independence and the full ex- 

 pression of the personality of the teacher. It stands also for the active 

 pupil and the suggesting teacher. 



