222 Graphic Methods in Teaching. [30 



seeds of quick growing vines, like the Lima bean or 

 morning-glory, either in pots or the garden, and record 

 the growth of the plant every day on a diagram, and with 

 it record the temperature and clouds. Record the growth 

 of any plant, wild or cultivated, and the rain-fall or clouds 

 or temperature. Report the temperature of a room and 

 the growth of plants in it or the rate at which seeds 

 germinate. Animals and poultry also afford subjects for 

 daily study, the weight of a growing calf making a curious 

 record in comparison with the temperature of the barn. 

 The weight of growing chickens (the chicks weighed once 

 a week) and the price of corn in the market makes also 

 another most interesting and instructive diagram, as it 

 teaches the child to see the commercial value of the feed- 

 ing rations. Some of the Club members made most 

 elaborate and extensive records of this character with both 

 sheep, pigs, cattle and poultry and gained for themselves 

 data of actual money value in their work and business. 

 Nothing, in fact, is too small or too great to be the subject 

 of observation and graphic record, whether it be the sun, 

 the clouds, a growing chicken or the sprouting of a hun- 

 dred seeds of water-cress. 



In schools it will be found a good plan to trace the 

 diagrams on a large scale on sheets of manila wrapping- 

 paper. Trace the lines first in pencil and then go over 

 them with a marking brush. When finished hang the 

 diagram on the wall where it can be seen by all in the 

 room. Let the observations be made at the opening hour, 

 the pupils taking turns of not less than a week and making^ 

 the record before the school so that all can see the final 

 development of the curves. All diagrams should be hung 

 up in some convenient place near the point of observation 

 that they may be perpetually in sight as reminders of duty 

 to be done. A good plan is always to begin a month's; 

 record on the first day of the month and, if no observations 

 are made on Sundays, the record should be left blank to- 



