PREFACE. 



THIS little book is not intended to be in any sense a 

 treatise on nature study. It does not pretend to be any- 

 thing more than a collection of one hundred suggestive 

 lessons on natural objects, such as have been given in the 

 public school at Chatham, New Jersey, during the past two 

 years. 



It will be observed that these lessons are not classified in 

 any iron-clad order, nor are they arranged with any refer- 

 ence to scientific sequence. This apparent absence of 

 classification is introduced for a purpose, i. e., it fulfils 

 more truly the natural method of acquiring knowledge. 

 The author has found during many years' experience that 

 when nature study is fitted into rigid rules as to what, when, 

 how, etc., it becomes very soon little else than so many pages 

 of some text-book in the teacher's hands. In nature study 

 there should be the utmost liberty of choice given to the 

 teacher and pupil, one condition only being required, 

 namely, that a certain definite period be given regularly to 

 the study of some natural object or phenomenon. 



Comenius said : " Knowledge of things near at hand 

 should be acquired first, then that of those farther off." 

 Taking this maxim as a keynote, the author has endeavored 

 to present only such lessons as can be given in any school 

 outside of large cities : Beginning (i) with things which can 

 be studied in the school-house and grounds, selected by 

 teacher and pupils ; proceeding (2) to things farther away 

 from the school. 



illustrations are, with one or two exceptions, the 



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