NATURE WORK IN EAST CHICAGO, IND. 



By E. N. CANINE 

 Superintendent of Schools 



If nature-study is taught in a perfunctory manner, merely be- 

 cause it is a part of the course, it might much better be omitted 

 entirely. Any one can walk out into the fields and see the trees 

 and flowers arid hear the birds. Few will know or fully appre- 

 ciate them. If we expect to get insight into nature we must look 

 beneath the surface and see the inner workings. To train 

 children to find out for themselves, and to appreciate the facts of 

 nature is the business of the school. This is a scientific age. 

 Almost every phase of life is conditioned and hemmed in by 

 natural phenomena, and applied science. The school can not 

 neglect to acquaint the child with these conditions, and to give 

 him power to interpret them. With this spirit the course is 

 planned. The central idea about which the present lessons are 

 planned is the general influence of the seasons. Let us come into 

 close touch with these phenomena. Observe and study the real 

 object; do not merely talk about it. More work is planned than 

 can be done successfully in any one room. This is to give 

 teachers some choice of subjects. Put the work into the other 

 lessons just as much as possible, but give nature-study its legiti- 

 mate share of time. Plan the lessons for this subject just as 

 carefully as for any other subject. Pay special attention to the 

 topics that deal with health, as cleanliness; warm, dry clothing; 

 and ventilation. Let teachers put forth every effort to secure 

 higher standards of living for the children. These lessons are 

 based very largely on the outlines of Hodge and McMurry. 



List of Reference Books 



Xot all of these books are found in any one building, but 

 teachers should know just what is at hand, and when material 

 can not be found to carry on the work report to the principal, who 

 will immediately report to this office : 



Hodge — Xature-Study and Life. Gray— How Plants Grow. Coulter — 

 Plant Relations. Bergen — Foundations of Botany. Keeler — Our Xative 

 Trees. Xeedham — Elementary Lessons in Zoology. Torrey — Everyday 

 Birds. Miller— First Book of Birds. Holland— The Butterfly Book. 

 Bulletins— Agricultural Department. Hurtv — Health Lessons. Lange — 



41 



