216 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [12:5— May, 1916 



Bulbs (October or November) 



Teacher plants bulbs in stones or water (paper white narcissus). The 

 children observe the process. 



Children watch the bulbs grow and talk about them. The teacher answers 

 their questions, directs observation, and names the parts of the plant. 



Seeds (early spring) 



Children or teacher brings to the class room several of the larger common 

 seeds, e.g., corn, squash, beans, radish, sunflower, etc. 



Children talk about them. Teacher directs observation of form, color, 

 size, markings, etc. 



Children learn to recognize and name the seeds. 



Germination 



Teacher, in presence of the children, places a few squash or bean seeds 

 in moist cotton, sand, or blotting paper in a glass jar. Cover. 

 Children watch these seeds develop into little plants. 

 Recognition by the children of root, stem, and leaves. 

 (The children can pot and later transplant into garden, if desired.) 



Garden 

 Making the bed. 



Children imitate and follow directions in assisting the teacher in preparing 

 the class plot, raking, lining, marking, etc. 



Planting (seeds of bush beans, pop-corn, nasturtiums, sunflower). 



The teacher plants each kind of seed in turn (one kind at a lesson) describ- 

 ing accurately as she plants, in order that the children may understand the 

 directions given later. 



Teacher gives specific directions as to where, when and how to plant each 

 seed. Children follow directions and imitate the teacher's way of planting 

 or transplanting. 



Growth 

 Children observe very frequently the growth of plants in the garden, 

 without and with instructions. 

 Recognition of each plant. 

 Teacher encourages them to ask questions and to talk about what they see. 



Cultivation 

 Teacher shows children how to use rake and hoe to keep soil loose between 

 plants. Children assist in the cultivation. 



Animals 

 If any insects, toads, birds, earthworms, etc., are observed in the garden 

 by the children the teacher satisfies their curiosity concerning them. 



