NATURE STUDY 



4085 



NATURE STUDY 



mounted on a tripod so that the object to be 



inspected may be placed underneath it. There 



is probably no one who does not take delight 



in seeing tiny things magnified so that every 



detail can be inspected in all its perfection. 



A potato beetle, 



a snowflake, a bit 



of moss or the 



heart of a flower 



is not only a thing 



of beauty, but 



also an intricate 



and fascinating 



marvel when seen 



through a lens. 



The School 

 Garden. Gar- 

 dening, as such, is 

 not nature study, 

 but a garden can 

 be made the b=, TRIPOD LENS 



for nature study. This is done by giving the 

 children, for instance, the reason for everything 

 do in connection with the garden. When 

 are taught how to prepare the soil, teach 

 i the reason for this from the standpoint 

 of the plants' development. Lead them to ob- 

 serve that every plant is an individual, with 

 peculiarities as marked as those of a human 

 being. Teach them to note that each plant has 

 its own form of flower, its own way of devel- 

 oping and planting its seeds. Make them see 



that every grub and earthworm, working be- 

 neath the soil, is doing something for good or 

 ill, either helping the growth of the plants or 

 hindering it. Every insect feeding on leaf or 

 root, every bird that visits it, every bee that 

 dips into the flower cups 

 is doing something which 

 affects the life and growth 

 of the garden. 



TWO FORMS OF MICROSCOPES 



Aside from furnishing a laboratory for nature 

 study, the school garden serves the purpose of 

 giving the child some active work to do every 

 day. Unfortunately, not all schools have gar- 

 dens. Any country school and probably any 

 village school could manage some sort of a 

 garden, but unless ground is provided by the 

 school board, it is almost an impossibility in 

 towns, and the teacher and children will have 

 to do the best they can with window boxes and 

 flowerpots. If teacher and pupils work to- 

 gether to make the school garden product ivr; 

 if the pupils learn from this piece of work how 

 and what to plant, and a few fundamental facts 

 about soils, they will be almost certain to want 

 to have gardens at home. This is, perhaps, the 

 happiest thing that can result. 



Suggestions for the Study of Nature 



In many kindergartens, particularly if the 

 class is small, all nature study is taught out-of- 

 doors. This is ideal, but unfortunately it can- 

 not be achieved in most schools. But teacher 

 and pupils should go on an outdoor expedition 

 not less frequently than once a week. Froebel 

 has soiwihinn to say about this: 



At least once a week the teacher should take a 

 walk with each class not driving them out like 

 a flock of sheep, nor leading them out like a nun 

 pany of soldiers, but going with thorn as a father 

 with his sons or a brother with his brothers, and 

 acquainting them more fully with whatever tin- 

 season or nature offers them to see. 



Not only children. i>ut indeed many adult 

 with nature and her character as ordinary nn-n 







,.;,! 



A DAY WITH THE BIRDS 



