iv Preface 



OUR SURROUNDINGS, while covering in detail the field of the 

 ninth year course, has provided as well the background of the 

 earlier years as outlined above. 



It is commonly accepted that the content of the regular course 

 in general science, as given in the one-year form, shall be selected 

 largely from the environment of the pupil. True, environment 

 varies markedly in different localities, but there is much in science 

 common to the lives of all. Air, water, soil and food are essential 

 to all environments ; so are light, sound, heat and motion ; so are 

 health and the weather. The strength of a textbook in general 

 science lies in part in the wise selection of material from the 

 wealth of subject-matter. In the construction of OUR SURROUND- 

 INGS exceptional consideration has been given to the content, 

 especially with reference to the essential factors common to all 

 environments, and to those wider applications of science which 

 affect the pupil indirectly and which can be understood through 

 the knowledge gained in a study of his immediate surroundings. 

 This has resulted in a book that meets the requirements of any 

 standard syllabus. 



The story of OUR SURROUNDINGS is told in three ways. The 

 introductory sections of each chapter capture the pupil's attention 

 and fix his interest on what follows. A unifying thread runs 

 through the entire series of introductions so that if read consecu- 

 tively as an independent group they sketch vividly the field of 

 general science and bring out its basic facts. 



The story of general science is told again in the main text, in 

 simple, direct language, with scientific facts and laws presented 

 in logical order and properly related. It forms a readable, well- 

 organized treatment of the subject, complete in itself, and not 

 dependent on supplemental aids for an understanding of its mean- 

 ing. 



The story is retold in vivid illustrations and diagrams, with 

 crisp, pointed, thought-provoking captions, to arouse interest and 

 the spirit of investigation. 



General Science, as developed in OUR SURROUNDINGS, is not 

 a patchwork, made up of unrelated parts of special sciences, but 

 is a unified whole. In the treatment of topics, the relation of 



