38 Lessons in Nature Study 



Oral Lesson. Having given time for silent, indepen- 

 dent observation, get each pupil to tell all he sees. Ques- 

 tion to get him to see what he has not yet observed. 

 Ignore those features which the child cannot see, i.e., is 

 not ready to see. 



Illustration. The untrained child will probably not be 

 able to see more than that the flower is blue, and perhaps 

 that the petals are fringed (fringed gentian), or that the 

 flower is closed (closed gentian). 



It will then be the teacher's place to ask questions like 

 the following : Are there many or few roots ? Their color 

 and size ? Are they branching or simple ? What is the 

 position of the stem ? Its shape ? Break it ; is it solid or 

 hollow ? Its height ? Its surface (rough or smooth) ? Its 

 color ? Does it bend readily (flexible or brittle) ? How 

 are the leaves placed on the stem ? Are they few or many ? 

 Large or small ? etc. Their shape, size, color, and general 

 appearance ? Are all leaves alike ? Compare the lower 

 with the upper leaves. Are the flowers alone or in clus- 

 ters ? Are they single or double ? How many sepals 

 (green outer flower-leaves) ? Describe the petals as you 

 did the leaves. Draw a petal. Cut open a flower. Are 

 petals separate or united ? Count the stamens. To what 

 do they grow ? Are they between or opposite the petals ? 

 How many pistils ? Draw the pistil. Cut it crosswise 

 and draw the section ? What do you find inside the large 

 part of the pistil (ovary) ? When these (ovules) ripen into 

 seeds, how will they get out of the pod ? Where are the 

 seeds attached to the ovary ? 



The foregoing questions may be multiplied indefinitely. 

 The teacher should at least bring out the following facts : 



The roots are many, fibrous, white. The stem is smooth, 

 green, erect, rarely branching. The flowers are usually 

 three or four in number, four-parted, blue, with " satiny " 

 fringed petals. The stamens are equal in number to the 

 petals. The pistil is large, having two stigmas at the top. 



The flowers growing in shade are always paler than 



