HOME NATURE-STUDY COURSE. 



TEACHER'S LEAFLET. 



BASED ON THE WORK FOR FOURTH AND FIFTH YEAR PUPILS AS OUTLINED 



IN THE SYLLABUS OF NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE ISSUED BY 



THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. 



Late spring, summer and early autumn when animal and plant life is 

 at its best and most easily observed are especially fit and interesting sea- 

 sons for nature-study. Unfortunately for teachers and pupils the school 

 year does not coincide with the season of abundant life. We are still 

 more unfortunate, since our Home Nature Study leaflets are necessarily 

 even more confined to the months of the year when animals and plants 

 are mostly dormant. The editor has tried to meet this difficulty by giving 

 in every leaflet some lessons for spring, summer and autumn with the 

 hope that the teachers will preserve the leaflets and use these lessons at 

 the proper time. For instance, the material for many of the lessons in 

 the October issue was not to be obtained by the time the leaflet reached 

 the teachers; yet this leaflet preserved will give plenty of material for 

 lessons next September. Thus in the current leaflet and those to follow 

 lessons will be given which may be used in the summer; therefore, we 

 hope those who receive these leaflets will keep them for future use. The 

 number printed of each issue is necessarily limited, and the leaflets of this 

 year will not be obtainable next year. 



THE CROW. 



The crow is probably the most intelligent of all our native birds. It is 

 quick to learn and clever in action, as many a farmer will testify who has 

 tried to keep it out of corn fields with various devices, the harmless char- 

 acter of which the crow soon understands perfectly. Of all our birds the 

 crow has the longest list of virtues and of sins, as judged from our stand- 

 point, and we should listen to both sides of the case before we pass judg- 

 ment. The editor finds with crows, as with people, she likes some more 



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