186 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [10:5— May, 1914 



and their play teacher. Eager because they already know that 

 the flowers, some of them of their own planting are blossoming, 

 they hurry to the flower room. They feel that it is time to plant 

 more flowers, so only for a short time are they kept to admire the 

 blossoming ones. They have been singing a new planting song 

 for several days and they are in a hurry to begin work. When 

 they return to their planting room they find seed flats on the floor, 

 an assurance that they may make little gardens. Older children 

 in the group who perhaps have helped in planting last year, be- 

 come helpers, some to gather the pieces of broken crocks or small 

 stones for drainage, some to fill pails with soil which has already 

 been prepared for planting. All children help in placing the 

 drainage in the bottom of the flats so that "the seed baby's feet 

 wont be too wet when he begins to grow." Then they fill the 

 flats with soil. A circle of children then form about the flats and 

 the play teacher begins the song : 



In my little garden bed 

 Raked so neatly over 



First a little seed I'll sow- 

 Then with soft earth cover. 



Shining down the great round sun 



Smiles upon them often 

 Little raindrops pattering down 



Help the seeds to soften. 



Soon the little seeds awake 



Down the roots go creeping 

 Up they shoot their little heads 



And open into flowers. 



Each child made a little rake of his fingers and raked his little 

 garden. And so each part of the song was fitted to action. We 

 helped them make their rows straight and gave each child a few 

 tomato seeds to plant. Carefully they place their seeds and cover 

 them with the soil. Small watering cans furnish the raindrops 

 when they water their flats. A small pot label is marked and 

 placed in each flat and the flat carried to a sunny window for the 

 sun to do his share. Over and over the children sang their song 

 as they worked. When the last flat was in place they said good- 

 bye. 



