Lessons in the School-yard. 135 



(Efjapter 



LESSONS IN THE SCHOOL-YARD, 



LESSONS ON A RAINY DAY. 



A rainy day is always more or less difficult to get through 

 with. This difficulty is equally hard upon the teacher and 

 the pupil. There is something in the atmosphere that renders 

 all such days oppressive. The opening exercises drag ; the 

 first class fails ; the teacher scolds ; the other classes go 

 badly ; they are kept in at recess ; and so on, until the 

 close of school. Then the pupils go home, thinking how 

 hateful a place school is, and what an " ugly old bear " the 

 teacher is; and the teacher goes home with a heavy heart, 

 thinking that her lot was not cast in pleasant places, and 

 wishing that she were a clerk, stenographer, or nurse-maid. 



But why adhere so rigidly to the programme on such a day ? 

 Why not turn this very kind of a day to account, and make 

 it a theme for instruction to the pupils and relaxation to 

 yourself ? 



There is much in an ordinary shower to furnish themes 

 for instruction in all manner of lines of thought. 



If the weather threatens rain, bring out the fact in some 

 way. The following is suggested : 



Before the Rain. 



What makes it so dark in the school-room ? Why have 

 clouds come between us and the sun ? What kind of 

 clouds are they ? Rain-clouds. Do we always have clouds 

 before a rain ? Let us go out and look at the clouds. What 

 color are they ? Why do they move about so fast ? Why 

 does the air feel so damp ? In what direction is the wind 



