LESSONS IN NATURE STUDY. 



PRELIMINARY LESSONS. 



THINGS BROUGHT IN BY PUPILS. 



Introductory. Let the teacher bring to school a few ob- 

 jects, picked up haphazard say, an ear of corn, a piece of 

 leather, a chicken's foot. These things are taken, exam- 

 ined, and talked about. There should be no attempt at 

 formal instruction, but the objects should be centres of ob- 

 servation, and pupils should be encouraged to talk about 

 the thing under discussion. The teacher may remark that 

 there is much to learn from all kinds of common things. 

 She may suggest that to-morrow each pupil bring in what- 

 ever may be found, and that the class will then see what 

 can be learned from it. 



Let us suppose that the following things are brought in 

 and placed upon the desk : 



1. A Pebble Here is a small rounded stone. Can you 

 tell me what such a stone is called ? Are pebbles all alike ? 

 How do they differ in color and size ? Describe this peb- 

 ble. Why is it round ? What made it round ? Did you 

 ever see a pebble rolling along where the water was flow- 

 ing rapidly? If a stone were sharp and the water set 

 it to rolling, what would become of its sharp edges ? Do 

 stones wear away very fast ? Think how very old this little 

 pebble must be to have become so smooth and round. 



2. A Snail-shell. Here is a house. Is it not a very 



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