32 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [13:1— Jan., 1917 



of teaching how the cocoon protects the insect from weather and 

 enemies. Cut open cocoon and use obs. 1-5, p. 334. 



THIRD GRADE 



The Mouse. — I hope that no teacher will scream or climb upon a 

 chair when she sees this topic suggested for a nature-study lesson. 

 A mouse, confined in a glass jar, (see " Method," p. 228) is one of the 

 most interesting subjects for nature-study that I know; it can be 

 kept captive for a month and studied at recess or at any conven- 

 ient time. Mice are thirsty and must be given fresh water every 

 day, and a shelter of strips of paper should be put in to afford the 

 captive a place to hide and make it comfortable. A mouse is a very 

 clever animal and has many cunning ways, the watching of which 

 soon removes the ridiculous fear which the idea of a mouse inspires 

 in some people. 



Each of the Obs. 1-3, p. 228 is enough for a lesson. Obs. 4, 5, 6 

 constitute another lesson. Obs. 7,8,9 suggest respectively a story 

 to be told by the teacher to make the lesson interesting. 



The Wolf — ^Winter is just the season for reading about wolves; 

 and an understanding of the habits of this animal is necessary 

 before undertaking the study of a dog. Kipling's Mowgli stories 

 and Thomson Seton's " Lobo" "Tito," "Bad Lands Billy," and the 

 "Winnipeg Wolf " all give fascinating accounts of the wolf and its 

 habits. See p. 255. The topics in the last paragraph on p. 256 

 should be used as subjects for oral questioning or for written 

 accounts. 



The Goldfish — It is a pity that these golden idlers in a school 

 aquarium are so seldom used to illustrate the adaptations of a fish 

 for life in the water. One goldfish will afford enough material for 

 the nature-study lessons for a week. 



For the first lesson, use Obs. 2, 3, 4, p. 152; Obs. 5, 6 for the 

 second ; 7 , 8 for the third ; 9 , i o f or the fourth ; 1 1 , 1 2 f or the fifth ; 

 13-16 for the sixth lessons. Obs. 17 ,18 suggest topics for a story. 

 See Pet Book, p. 226. 



The Sun — January is an excellent season for beginning the study 

 of the sun, for it rises after we awaken in the morning, and sets 

 long before we go to sleep. Of coxirse a serious study of the sun is 

 too advanced for third grade, but certain observations can be made 

 and stories told, so that the children may know that it is a great 

 blazing star. See p. 905-6. Observations on the time of the 



