vixal] 



MECHANICAL AIDS IN NATURE-STUDY 



61 



3. Calendars. 

 form: 



The spring calendar is made in the following 



Since our girls come from all parts of the state we are able to 

 have a competition by counties and by classes. The observations 

 are written upon a blank form, as : 



Name of collector Class 



Object Date 



County City or Town Locality 



Remarks 



These slips are dropped into a box made after the fashion of a 

 letter box. Each day the observations are entered upon the 

 calendar. The first blue bird reported in Providence County is 

 credited to that county and to the class of which that student is a 

 member. The class records are kept distinct by using a different 

 colored ink for each class. In graded schools the competition 

 might be by districts, between classes, or between the boys and 

 girls. The whole thing can be taken charge of by the pupils. 



The numbers upon the monthly calendars may often be used in 

 nature-study, as in labeling specimens for identification. I ahvavs 

 save each sheet as I remove it. 



4. Examinations. Examinations which invite cramming have 

 no place in nature-study. The true test of knowledge of trans- 

 planting, making cuttings, grafting apple trees, etc., is in the suc- 

 cess of doing the thing. Unlike most examinations the nature- 

 study test means obsercation at the beginning rather than a written 

 paper at the end of the course, as — Note the direction in which the 

 "leaders" (Top shoots) bend on the pine trees of the vicinitv. 

 How account for this? Rather than, — What did John Smith 

 write about the trees in his first chapter? 



There are three forms of examinations which I commonly use in 

 Xature-study : (1). The five minute quiz. Questions are asked 

 to test whether pupils have worked out the assignment. (2). The 

 Identification test. The identification of flowers, shells, etc. The 

 point of view in this test is different from other subjects in that it 



