2(10 THE AMEUKWS Mf'SElM .lOfliSM 



Si'niNc; AM) Fall Floweks 



Public School So. 36, Matihaltati 



TIr' .s|)rin« and fall flowers distributed at the Museum are a great liclp to us. for we find 

 it difficult to obtain the specimens required bj- the course in nature study. I am sure that 

 this voices the sentiment of all the teachers. 



PLEAStRABLE StIDY 



Pubiic School Xo. 27. Moiihiillan 



The children, even of the higher grades, like the bird collections best of all. A robin 

 collection was sent to a fifth year cla.ss. The teacher glanced at the label and said, "Oh, 

 those are birds; they are for the lower grade. Take them down.stairs." A boy immediately 

 raiscfl his hand and said, "Can't we study Ihcun before they go down?" 



In one of the collections is a parrot. It was the children's favorite. One boy in particu- 

 lar took a special interest in Polly. This boy one day offered to stay after llin^e and put 

 chalk and board rubl)ers away. Later it was found that his motive in staying was not to 

 help his teacher. He wanted the chance to stroke the bird and talk to it. When the time 

 came for Polly to return to the Museum this boy found he could no longer stay in after three. 



Trips to the Museum are always looked forward to with pleasure and the children gain 

 knowledge unconsciously. The classes are large, .so that a teacher often has to ask some to 

 wait until another time. But it is likely that when those chosen to go reach the Museum, 

 the "not invited" members of the class are there b(!fore them and all must be taken under 

 the teacher's guidance. 



The School Children' of New York help the AIuseim to a Greater Usefulness 

 Public School No. 10, Manhattan 



Many of the children know not even of the existence of such a place until they have 

 accompanied their teacher to view some exhibit. Their delight then .sends them home to 

 tell parents and friends of their wonderful "find." and again and again they visit the en- 

 chanted ground with varying groups of acquaintances. So in their childish way, by making 

 the Museum known to the greater mass of the citizens of New York, they help it to a 

 greater and ever widening realization of its asefulness. 



THE CHILDREN'S ROOM OF THE MUSEUM 



By A (J HI'S Rornlcr 



THE ( liildren'.s Room \va.s started in response to the needs and de- 

 mands of young visitors to the Museum. The original equipment 

 was sHght. A few specimens of birds and small mammals, some 

 books, plants, an aquarium and a case containing live snakes consti- 

 tuted the entire material. The children flocked into the room, looked 

 at the picture books, drew portraits of the ])irds and maniiiials and asked 

 questions to their hearts' content. 



At different seasons of the year temporary exhibits were placed on view. 

 A jar containing mosquito culture -was the subject of many talks; frogs 

 and their eggs were collected by some of the boys and formed the subject 

 of an interesting lecture given by a boy of thirteen years. A lecture on I ndians 

 is frequently given and illustrated by some of the youngsters dressed in 



