BROWN A NATURE-STUDY PROJECT 381 



Seventh Grade 



To those who would find fault with the last grade on the grounds 

 that it is unorganized and too fragmentary, there can be a definite 

 relief in this work. My seventh grade project deals with the 

 Indian. The last grade studied ideas and thoughts in general. 

 Now I propose to center attention upon a single piece of human 

 thought as projected in one long work. And I have chosen for 

 that work, as a nucleus of the year's study, Longfellow's, "Hia- 

 watha. " I do not think it is necessarilly made any greater by having 

 been given this place, but it will afford a guide to much material 

 which I think the student needs, and which he would not get 

 elsewhere. The study outlined briefly follows: 

 Playing Indian. (Introductory to the poem to be studied.) 



Seton — Two Little Savages. (To be read outside of school 

 as an extra, and discussed briefly in the classroom.) 



Eastman, Charles A. — Indian Boyhood. (Excellent as a real 

 background with which Hiawatha can be compared for truthful- 

 ness, detail, beauty and interest.) 

 Primitive Emotions and Life. 



Ancestors of the Indian (Primitive men of stone age.) Illustrate 

 with literature upon the subject, such as cave and stone dweller 

 series and in art, Bartlett's, Primitive Man and Bears, "Barrias," 

 "The First Burial," etc. 



Hiawatha. The basis of the study. Present this with constant 

 reference to pictures. Illustrations of Indians, paintings, photo- 

 graphs, etc. 



Present the meaning of the woods and lakes to these early men, 

 with some sort of definite illustration in art. That is, the hold 

 of the " Shining Big-Sea-Water, " can be illustrated with reference 

 to the Ferguson Memorial Fountain of Lorado Taft in which 

 Lake Superior stands above the rest. It is a wonderful h^ pretty 

 display of S3nnbolism in sculpture. If the students understand 

 it they can interpret the meaning of the lake's fascination in 

 this Indian legend. Let Taft's, "Blackhawk" be in a cons])icu()us 

 place about .the room throughout most of tlie i)rojcct. It is 

 worthy of much study and high appreciation. A story miglit be 

 suggested about it which would parallel tlie Great Stone Face. 

 If the students have not already had it, introduce it at (his time. 



