kepner] choosing AN AQUARIUM 339 



the bottom, two or three inches deep. It should be washed by 

 covering it with water, stirring it arotind, and then draining off 

 the water; repeat this until the water is clear. The first water 

 may be poiired in and the sand allowed to settle; but later, when 

 the plants are in, the children must be brought to see that the sand 

 particles and the delicate roots must not be disturbed, and that 

 when ever water is added, it must be siphoned in. This phase 

 may be worked out in the elementary physics class, or even in an 

 "opening exercise" period. 



It is best to plan the trip to the pond or river for either after 

 schcol or on a Saturday. The teacher must show no partiality 

 by choosing her attendants. She must either ask for volimteers, 

 or ask the entire class to go. The utensils necessary for the trip 

 are a long-handled dipper, — a butterfly seine answers the purpose 

 very well, — and a few pails or cans to put the collection into. 

 During the walk to the pond the teacher should endeavor to inter- 

 est the children in their surrotmdings; they may anticipate what 

 they will get, where they will get it, etc. When they know where 

 to look and what to look for, they will, with eagerness, search the 

 banks for snails, frogs' eggs, toads' eggs, minnows, various plants, 

 and the like. As much as possible, the several plants and animals 

 should be kept separate; and of ccnirse they must be kept in water. 

 After the party has returned to the schoolroom, special care must 

 be taken in placing the plants. Teach the children never to put 

 their hands in the water, but to use a pair of tongs to place the 

 plants, arrange stones, and remove any foreign matter. Putting 

 the hands in the aquarium is a mistake fatal to the prosperity 

 of its inhabitants, and measures to prevent it must be taken 

 immediately. After a few hours the animal life may be intro- 

 duced. The teacher should, in an intelHgent and interesting 

 way, explain to the children the changes that have taken place 

 and what to expect to take place in the life forms within the 

 aquarium. This will give them a clue as to how to study these 

 forms; and with the influential interest of the teacher, they will 

 eagerly watch, note, and study the constant changes. It is a good 

 plan to bring seme rivahy into the other studies by allowing any 

 child with a perfect lesson or quickly completed number paper, 

 to pass to the aquaritmi and watch its inmates during school hours. 

 Thus, by actual contact w-ith the plant and animal life in its natural 

 environment, the co-operation of the teacher and pupils in attempt- 



