Nature-Play in the Los Angeles City Schools 



Frances Conrad 



The great aim in the Nature-Play, as outHned and directed by 

 Dr. C. L. Edwards for the Los Angeles school children, is to bring 

 them to an understanding of Nature— of life itself— of themselves. 

 In this effort, the children become interested in varied forms, they 

 become alert to, and observant of different phases of Hfe; and, as 

 they grow familiar with these, they learn the laws governing and 

 controlling all life. 



It is the belief that a "cut and dried" program of Nature-Study 

 for each grade stunts the interest in, and dwarfs the magnitude of a 



At the Museum 



subject SO broad. The song of the mocking-bird is as much for 

 the first grade tot as for the eighth grade lad. The boy of five is as 

 keenly interested, in his small way, in the earthworm as is the one 

 of twelve. 



So we believe in a general outline of study thruout the grades 

 and thruout the schools, that shall bring the samc> life st()r>- to tlie 

 beginners as to the advanced, only, of course, in a much simpler 

 form. In this way, the children of all ages talk about the subjiH-t 

 of common interest, both at play, and with their ])ar(MUs al lioiiie. 



To this end each teacher is sent a weekly lesson, giving in detail 

 a topic for that week's work. Therc^ being one lunidnMl lliirly- 

 four schools. Dr. Edwards and his one assistant iwc each able to 

 visit every school only three times during the year. 'I'he <hreetor 



