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SEPTEMBER NATURE-STUDY 



281 



blossoms and fruit, and the variations in leaves. This will give 

 material for three lessons : the plant and leaves ; the blossom ; the 

 fruit. For the lesson on the plant, use obs. 7, 8, p. 530. For the 

 lesson on the blossom, obs. 1,2,3,4,/?. 530. For studying the use 

 of the fruit, obs. 4, 5, 6, p. 530. 



The points to bring out in these lessons are: the variations of 

 leaf forms on the same plant ; the interesting little pocket for nec- 

 tar at the base of each petal, and that each seed 

 box or ovary contains one seed and that there are 

 many of these ; 



The petunia — If buttercups cannot be found 

 use the petunia. Use obs. 1, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, pp. 

 642-3. 



The morning-glory or the bind-weed — Some 

 plants must have a support upon which to lean 

 in order to flourish, and each species has its own 

 way of clinging to its support. The readiness 

 with which such plants take hold of an object or 

 grow toward it so as to reach it, should convince 

 us that the plants know what they are about. 

 Either the morning-glory or bind-weed may be 

 used to illustrate those plants that twist their 

 growing shoots in a spiral around the support. 

 Both these plants twist their spirals in the direc- 

 tion that the clock hands move or exactly opposite 

 to the direction that the sun moves. 



In teaching second grade children about either of these plants, 

 the following observations should be made : How they climb, their 

 petals are joined to form a bell, the color of the bell, inside and out ; 

 the five stamens with a nectary well between the bases of each two, 

 the little seed box at the base of the bell, the time of day the flow- 

 ers open, the way they close and when they close, the study of the 

 sepals which act as blankets for the bud, and also for the seed pod. 

 It should be explained that these flowers open just at the time of 

 day that the insects which carry their pollen would naturally be 

 flying. Colored crayon drawings of the flowers and leaves should 

 be made. Obs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, p. 537. References: First Studies of 

 Plant Life, p. 150; Lessons with Plants, Bailey, p. 396. 



A crocus bulb — The planting of a crocus bulb in a garden or in a 

 jar should begin with an examination of the bulb in which the 



