366 NA TURE-STUDY REVIEW 



From Field's "Love Songs of Childhood," the following seem 

 to me to possess the greatest values for the first grade pupils: 



1. "The Night Wind." 



2. "Picnic Time." 



3. "Swing High and Swing Low." 



4. "The Brook." 



Use the fourth of these, which is a lullaby, with such songs as 

 the "Cradle Song" from Brahms, or the similar one from Schubert. 

 The song " Sweet and Low" might be introduced at this time. Not 

 for the children to sing, but for them to interpret and come to love. 

 The group singing wants to be stressed, of course, but that more 

 in connection with such things as "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary," 

 Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," etc. 



Much interesting material can be found for the first grade 

 teaching. Every now and then one will come across little verses 

 which do not seem to be great, yet which have a simple loveliness 

 about them which makes them very well worth while for teaching 

 material. Edwin Markham's, "Little Virgil's Window," is 

 such a four-lined verse as could be understood and interpreted by 

 the first grade children. Let them have many flowers about 

 them. The teacher should bring them in from the woods and 

 gardens as often as possible, and discuss them, with the children. 

 Let them know the superstitions about some of the flowers. 

 Let them see the little man with his feet in a tub which the violet 

 shows. 



Second Grade 



We pass from Mother Goose and childhood jingles to folk-lore. 

 I think that it is desirable that the children be introduced through 

 the teacher to the folk-lore of our country. The negro stories, 

 the Indian and then from them, some of the old-world tales can 

 be brought in. The stories of St. Nicholas are good m-aterial. 

 Let the children see how stories about animals talking might 

 arise, how im.possible stories about a man are built up. The 

 origin of such literature may illustrate the need of discriminating 

 in acceptance of much which is mere legend. The children should 

 become acquainted with the animals and birds of their own 

 locality. The Mimiford colored bird plates can be hung around 



