skilling] nature-study FOR THE SCHOOL 9 



able to do constellation work in this way there are still many 

 interesting observations which can be made in the daytime on the 

 positions of sun and moon. The lack of a telescope is another 

 difficulty but a field glass or even an opera glass will bring out 

 many things which are beyond the limits of naked-eye vision. 

 It will thus be seen that something can be done with practically 

 no equipment beyond a pair of eyes and a desire to know. 



Physical Nature-Study for the Elementary School 



Wm. T. Skilling 

 State Normal School, San Diego, Cal. 



Chapter II 

 (Astronomy) 



One of the earliest topics of education was astronomy. While 

 as yet little was known of the true nature of man's immediate 

 surroundings the far away realm of star-land had been explored 

 by the observant eyes of early civilizations aided in some degree 

 by rude measuring instruments. The constellations were charted 

 and names were given to the brighter stars. The motions of the 

 planets or "wandering stars" were observed and elaborate theories 

 constructed to account for their vagaries. 



While modem chemistry was still in the alchemic stage, astron- 

 omy was being evolved from astrology. More than a hundred 

 years before Harvey discovered the circulation of blood, Copernicus 

 announced the true theory in regard to the circulation of the 

 solar system about the sun. 



Arguing from the premise that education of the child should 

 proceed in the order of the development of the race we find a 

 reason for placing elementary astronomy early in the child's 

 curriculum. 



A more cogent reason for doing so is found in the vital interest 

 which children take in the subject. 



Much of the information could be given in the literature work 

 in the form of stories of those who have developed the subject. 

 Some of it should co-ordinate with geography. But the natural 

 place for it is the nature-study class. There is sufficient demand 

 and opportunity for observation to make this a legitimate nature- 

 study subject. 



