11. THE ENVIRONMENT OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



Problem, — To discover some of tlie factors of the environ- 

 ment of plants and animals. 

 (a) Environment of a plant. 

 ib) Environment of an animal. 

 (c) Hojne environment of a girl or boy. 



Laboratory Suggestions 



Laboratory demonstrations. — Factors of the environment of a living 

 plant or animal in the vivarium. 



Home exercise. — The study of the factors making up my own environ- 

 ment and how I can aid in their control. 



Environment. — Each one of us, no matter where he Hves, comes 

 in contact with certain surroundings. Air is everywhere around 



us ; light is necessary to us, so much so 

 that we use artificial light at night. The 

 city street, with its dirty and hard paving 

 stones, has come to take the 

 place of the soil of the village 

 or farm. Water and food are 

 a necessary part of our sur- 

 roundings. Our clothing, 

 useful to maintain a certain 

 temperature, must also be 

 included. All these things 

 — air, light, heat, water, food — together 

 make up our environment. 



All other animals, and all plants as 

 well, are surrounded by and use prac- 

 tically the same things from their en- 

 vironment as we do. The potted plant 

 in the window, the goldfish in the aquarium, your pet dog at 

 home, all use, as we will later prove, the factors of their environ- 



19 



An unfavorable city environ- 

 ment. 



