40 Lessons in Nature Study. 



When all are ready with paper and pens, the order may 

 be given to write, as neatly as possible, a description of the 

 gentian. This description should be illustrated with draw- 

 ings, either from memory or after the sketches from the 

 plant itself. 



Before taking up the written work the teacher should 

 say : " Begin and end your sentences properly." " Look 

 to your capitals and punctuation." " Be careful with your 

 penmanship." 



Suggestions. Each plant may be pressed between some 

 thoroughly dried newspapers. Use a board and about six 

 bricks as a weight to press them. When thoroughly dry, 

 mount the plant on Bristol-board cut same size as the writ- 

 ten exercises, and bind the whole together with a ribbon or 

 a brass clip. This makes an attractive exhibit, and also a 

 souvenir of work done in school. No work should be ac- 

 cepted until it has been done neatly. Misspelled words 

 should be marked for the pupil to copy and study. 



This beautiful flower is also easily made into designs for 

 drawing, and since its leaves are in twos and the parts of 

 its flowers in fours, there is likewise an opportunity to use 

 it with lowest primary classes in number-work. 



Having studied the fringed gentian carefully, bring in the 

 various beautiful poems about it. Bryant, Lowell, Whittier, 

 and others have celebrated its beauties in song. These 

 selections are excellent for supplementary reading. 



The following flowers are offered as good subjects for 

 similar lessons in autumn : the bellflower, goldenrod, 

 aster, sunflower, lady's - tresses, chickweed, and closed 

 gentian. 



In conclusion the following scheme for Friday afternoon 

 programmes is offered : select a flower as the subject for the 

 afternoon. Let the school-room be decorated with this 

 flower where it can be found in abundance. Let the black- 

 boards be ornamented with drawings of the plant from 

 nature, with conventional designs of tiles and borders hav- 

 ing this flower for a unit. This may be easily done with 



