HOME NATURE-STUDY COURSE. 



During the past year, the editors of the Home Nature-study Course 

 have made special effort to render the teaching of nature-study and 

 gardening easy for the untrained teacher, beHeving from past experience 

 tliat the information leaflet affords the most direct method for introducino- 

 nature-study subjects into the public schools of New York State. The 

 lessons in these leaflets have dealt with subject-matter suggested in the 

 Syllabus of Nature-study issued by the State Department of Public In- 

 struction, and covers the more important work of the fourth grade and 

 some subjects in the fifth grade. In each lesson, there is indicated the 

 object of the lesson, the material needed and the best way to secure it, 

 and there is given a series of questions covering the observations which 

 the pupil should make. These questions are in each case followed by a 

 paragraph giving the teacher the facts concerning the topic of the lesson 

 and suggestions as to methods of teaching it. 



This plan seems to have helped the teachers very much ; and because 

 they have felt sure of the subject-matter they have gained confidence in 

 themselves, which has led them to give more time to nature-study. Many 

 letters received from the teachers who have used the leaflets contain ex- 

 pressions of satisfaction with this method of presenting the lessons, and 

 never before has the demand for the leaflet been so great. A large num- 

 ber of lessons sent in by pupils of the public schools last year dealt with 

 the topics given in the Home Nature-study Leaflets, thus proving that 

 these leaflets were used widely. 



There have been published during the year four leaflets and one supple- 

 ment, making in all 128 pages containing jd nature-study lessons, and 

 also detailed directions for the planting of fall bulbs, the planting and 

 care of school gardens and grounds, vacation lot gardens and laboratory 

 gardens ; directions were also given for selecting and planting trees, 

 shrubs and perennials. The nature-study lessons, while giving some 

 attention to wild life, have been devoted, for a large part, to the study 

 of domesticated animals, birds, trees, cultivated flowers and garden 

 vegetables. 



The department has received 1,200 letters and postals during the year 



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