66 



The second experiment dealt also with the teaching of groups 

 outdoors, but in this case each child was given a mimeographed 

 sheet upon which was tabulated the lesson of the day and points 

 to be studied were suggested. Following the lesson was a 

 series of questions which was worked out to stimulate interest 

 and to clinch points in the lesson. By this method the child did 

 practically all of the work. The reaction from teachers and 

 pupils to this second educational experiment in teaching was 

 most satisfying and flattering. 



The attendance at lectures to visiting classes has increased 

 about 20 per cent, over the lecture attendance of last year. 



I should like to bring to notice here three particularly delightful 

 experiences with visiting classes. On May 22d, P. S. 36 sent the 

 entire upper school to celebrate Lilac Day. After a talk in the 

 auditorium on "Down to Kew in Lilac Time," by Mr. Montague 

 Free, and the singing of "Lilac Time" by the boys and girls, a 

 pilgrimage was made to the lilac triangle. In early June the 

 Maxwell Training School for Teachers sent 200 students here to 

 listen to a talk on the educational opportunities offered to 

 teachers at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This lecture was 

 given by the Curator of Elementary Listruction, and after that, 

 the young teachers-to-be were taken about the grounds to learn 

 for themselves the possibilities. Li the spring we received a gift 

 of two moving-picture reels on "Tea." These were presented 

 by Sir Thomas Lipton of London. On June 13, the first showing 

 of the reels was given to groups of children selected from thirteen 

 of our elementary schools, at which time a letter of thanks was 

 dictated by the children to be sent to Sir Thomas Lipton, and 

 to which a reply of appreciation was received on September 12. 

 These reels have been shown since that time before a number of 

 groups of visiting classes and are a valuable asset to the De- 

 partment's film collection. I would call to your attention also 

 one striking result or reaction from the work given to \'isiting 

 classes. Some years ago a group of boys and girls was sent to 

 the Brooklyn Botanic Garden from P. S. 36 to learn how to pot 

 bulbs. That group, returning to the school, taught the children 

 in the entire school how to pot bulbs. This fall the Curator w^as 

 invited to go to P. S. 36 and see the result of this work after five 

 years had elapsed since the initial lesson. A picture given w^ith 



