306 METHODS IN TEACHING 



rivers, lakes, bays, mountains, cities, and provinces are 

 quickly and accurately located whenever mentioned. At the 

 end of the term the painted outline can be removed easily 

 from the board. 



SEVENTH YEAR GRADE 



In the seventh grade the subject for the year is American 

 history. This is introduced by stories of the Crusades, 

 selected and prepared for the classes so as 

 Introduction to s how the restlessness of the Middle Ages 

 History anc ^ t ^ le knowledge of the world that was 



gradually leading men out of their own 

 home countries into distant lands. The pupils thus see how 

 the Europeans came into contact with the higher civilization 

 of the older countries of the East, imbibing many of the 

 luxurious tastes there prevalent. To supply the commodi- 

 ties demanded by these new tastes long and difficult com- 

 mercial voyages were undertaken, well suited to adventurous 

 spirits that still held back from the more settled, monotonous 

 habits of industrial life. 



All the time desired can not be given this period of 

 awakening in Europe, so fitting an introduction to the dis- 

 covery of America, for it is also desirable to familiarize the 

 pupils somewhat more specially with life and conditions in 

 England just before the voyages of discovery and the begin- 

 nings of settlements in America. For this purpose a text is 

 used. The whole book can not be read and discussed in 

 class, and it is not desirable that it should be ; but selections 

 are made of stories illustrative of the periods most closely 

 connected with American history. Many pupils read the 

 entire book for themselves. 



