NATURE STUDY 



NATURE STUDY 



If one unalterable rule were to be made and 

 followed in a nature study course it would be 

 this: study live things. It may be difficult to 

 achieve this at all times, but make it a rule. 

 John Burroughs sounds another warning: 



"I am not always in sympathy with nature 

 study as it is taught in the schools. Such study 

 is too cold, too mechanical, it is likely to rub 

 the bloom off nature ; it misses the accessories of 

 the open air, it and its exhilaration, the sky, the 

 clouds, the landscape, and the currents of life that 

 pulse everywhere." 



And Froebel says: 



"In rendering the boy familiar with natural 

 objects we are by no means concerned with the 

 teaching of names or of preconceived views and 

 opinions, but only with presenting the things 

 themselves with their obvious attributes In such 

 a way that the boy may view each object as the 

 definite individual object reveals itself in its 

 form, etc. Even the knowledge of a previously 

 given name is unimportant ; only the clear and 

 distinct apprehension and the correct naming of 

 the general and particular attributes are im- 

 portant." 



Bird Study. Detailed suggestions for this 

 branch of nature study may be found in the 

 article BIRD, subtitle Study of Birds, page 733. 



Fish Study. It will be comparatively easy 

 to secure fish from ponds or lakes. Possibly 

 one of the most easily-procured subjects is the 

 goldfish. A detailed study of fish anatomy 

 similar to that made with birds can be begun. 

 The different parts of the fish can be named, 

 perhaps by means of a diagram on the board. 

 Its shape and size, its appearance from above 

 may be noted; its fins, its tail, its scales, its 

 gills, its eyes, etc., arc all points of interest and 

 significance. The bullhead, the common sucker, 

 the shiner (minnow) and the sunfish may be 

 taken for study after the subject of the goldfish 

 has been exhausted. 



Study of Frogs and Their Relatives (A&f- 

 F-iiiuiANs or BATRACHIANS). This division of 



nature study may begin with the toad. A tad- 

 pole aquarium may be started, and the entire 

 life cycle of the toad may be studied. This will 

 intensely interest all children. The pupils will 

 note the toad's protective coloring, which is so 

 like the soil; its legs and feet, its behavior and 

 its habits. If they are allowed to handle a pet 

 toad, which might very well be a permanent 

 inmate of the terrarium, they will learn, too, 

 that the belief that a toad causes warts is only 

 a superstition. Its usefulness in gardens should 

 be emphasized. Next may come the tree frog, 

 then the frog and the salamander. 



Reptile Study. Thoreau says in his journal, 

 "I have the same objection to killing a snake 

 that I have to the killing of any other animal, 

 yet the most humane man I know never omits 

 to kill one." Perhaps reptile study, for lack of 

 living specimens, can go no further than the 

 garter snake, but if it teach only that this snake 

 is a common and harmless little creature it 

 will be of value. The study of the one snake 

 will probably cure children of the unreasonable 

 horror of snakes which most people have and 

 which children acquire naturally. After studying 

 the garter snake they might proceed to the 

 study of a turtle. A small turtle may be placed 

 in the aquarium; there should be a stone pro- 

 jecting out of the water for it to climb upon, 

 or a pond might be made for it in the ter- 

 rarium. The children should learn to know 

 the most common species of turtles the snap- 

 ping turtle, the mud turtle, the pond turtle, the 

 wood terrapin, the box turtle and the soft- 

 shelled turtle. See TURTLE. 



Mammal Study. This branch of study might 

 begin in the winter with the rabbit, when tin* 

 children will be able to find its tracks in the 

 snow. Its coat, which changes in color to fit 

 the season, its long cars, which give warning 

 of approaching danger; its long legs, whirh 

 enable it to run so swiftly, should all br 



FRIENDS IN SWAMPY PLACES 



