150 THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [i, 4, july 1905 



Macdonald Institute at Guelph in Ontario, and to provide additional 

 funds for nature-study teachers and school-garden demonstrations 

 [see this journal, No. i, pp. 20-22]. 



For about twenty-four years the nature-study idea has been 

 in the public course of study, developing gradually from mor- 

 phological to biological observation — from the observation of 

 forms to the observation of action. For a number of years rec- 

 ords have been made in the public schools of the biological and 

 meteorological facts capable of being accurately observed by 

 pupils and verified by teachers, such as the dates of first flower- 

 ing, leafing and fruiting of plants ; the migration of birds ; thun- 

 derstorms, frosts, high and low water, etc. These have proved 

 so valuable as scientific records that for some years they have been 

 annually compiled into averages for the different regions of the 

 province as well as for the whole province. The schedules have 

 to some extent been utilized in the other provinces of Canada, 

 and a similar system has been introduced in imitation of it into 

 some of the schools of Denmark. The main object of the scheme 

 originally was to give some objective work to the pupils on their 

 way to and from school, to be reported to the teacher in school. 

 These schedules are being carefully bound up into annual volumes, 

 for the benefit of future students of climatic and ecological condi- 

 tions of the province. 



In the provincial course of study special directions are given 

 for each of the eight grades of the common schools. The general 

 directions published in each school register gives in brief form 

 the general character of the special directions published annually 

 in the Journal of Education, which is the official bulletin of the 

 Education Department sent free twice a year, in April and 

 October, to each school-board in the province. These general 

 directions, which indicate the view taken by the Nova Scotian 

 Education Department of the character and importance of this 

 elementary work in the public schools, are as follows : 



Official Directions for Nature-Study in Nova Scotia 

 "Nature Study — The noting, examination and study of the 

 common and more important natural objects and laws of nature 

 as they are exemplified within the range of the school section or 

 of the pupils' observation. Under this head pupils should not be 

 required to memorize notes or facts which they have not, at least 



