24O METHODS IN TEACHING 



The topics taken up are, surface and drainage, position 

 and boundaries, industries, products, roads, lines of trans- 

 portation, rivers, towns. A study is made 



County ^ t ^ ie wa ^ ma P ^ t ^ ie countv > furnished 



every fourth grade. The county is drawn 

 again and again until the children can reproduce it easily 

 and accurately from memory. After the outline is firmly 

 fixed in the mind, the principal towns are located and their 

 leading industries are discussed. It is shown that Stockton 

 is a distributing center, and that its intercourse is great 

 with all parts of the county. 



As a preparation for talks on the products of the county, 

 the various kinds of soil are discussed, not in scientific lec- 

 tures, but in the curiosity-satisfying, obser- 

 Soil 



vation-loving methods, delightful and in- 

 spiring to the minds of children. The peat land of the 

 islands, the adobe in and around Stockton, the alluvial bot- 

 tom lands of the rivers, are treated briefly. A map on the 

 board, locating these lands in colors, makes the work very 

 graphic. Products grown upon the different soils are dis- 

 cussed; the teacher talks of the irrigation and reclamation 

 near the city. On all these points the children are either 

 already informed or they hunt up a great many interesting 

 points to contribute to the class. 



The children make a long list of local products, fruits, 

 vegetables, grains, animals, dairy products. In these stud- 

 ies it is usual to procure such specimens as 

 Products ^ seems desirous to have in the school- 



room; to find out in what part of the 

 county each is grown ; to study a little about the life of the 

 specimen on its home ranch; to collect samples indicating 



