3 Lessons in Nature Study. 



chestnuts, etc., were sprouting outside, and from their study 

 a valuable fund of knowledge, an increased power of observa- 

 tion, and a more hearty appreciation of nature's plan and 

 God's providence were awakened in those children's minds. 



The following sentences are culled here and there from 

 the work of some forty children ranging from six to eight 

 years of age: 



"See the bean in the glass. The seeds are in the 

 water. The bean is wet in the glass. The bean was 

 planted on wet cotton in the glass. There are roots in the 

 glass. The leaves come from the stem. The little baby 

 plant in the seed is called a germ. We planted the seed on 

 wet cotton. There are roots on the bean and the com and 

 the pea. The stem grows up from the seed. We can plant 

 seed in the ground. The seed has two skins. We like to 

 eat beans when they are cooked. The rootlets run from 

 the large root. The roots are white. Can you see the 

 stem of the pea ? " 



The foregoing will show about what to expect. The 

 teacher should always say : " Now, children, look at your 

 sentences and see if they are begun correctly." This fixes 

 capitalization. In like manner attend to punctuation. Ac- 

 cept no slovenly work. This fixes habits of neatness and 

 helps the penmanship. Drawing of everything studied is 

 advisable, since it is one of the best means of delineation. 



A few problems in number are added : 



1. There are 5 corn-sprouts in one glass and 3 in another; 

 how many in both ? 



2. I had 4 peas in one glass; how many in three such 

 glasses ? 



3. The bean-plant has 3 leaflets on each leaf, and a bean- 

 plant has 6 leaves ; how many leaflets on the plant ? 



Have pupils write the story of a seed. How it grew in a 

 fruit or pod ; how it fell upon the ground ; how the water 

 and light and heat of the sun wakened it up ; and how it 

 grew to be a fine plant. This exercise may be varied by 

 having the seed tell its own story. 



