88 



SEVENTH GEADE. 



The great majority of pupils never reach the high schools, colleges, 

 or universities. They should be given some idea of the relation of 

 minerals, plants and animals in time and space. Type specimens 

 of animals and plants should be studied to show the natural order of 

 development. These should be compared, as far as possible, with 

 fossil species in the rocks. It will be shown that the higher types 

 have evolved from the lower, and that development or evolution can 

 be traced vertically in the rocks, and horizontally in existing species. 



The relation between the animal, vegetable and mineral worlds 

 should be emphasized. Much of the work in this grade is organizing 

 and relating work done in lower grade. 



The following lessons are suggested hoping that an interest may 

 be aroused in minerals, and a desire to read the wonderful story 

 graven in rocks during past ages. It is sincerely hoped that a collec- 

 tion of specimens will be secured for every school. No neighborhood 

 will supply all varieties. An exchange may be effected between 

 different parts of. the State. The bulletin of the American Bureau 

 of Geography, published at the State Normal School, Winona, Minn., 

 has a bureau for the exchange of geographical supplies. The 

 most useful material is that which is secured by the individual pupil, 

 during visits to quarries, bluffs, mines, in his vicinity. Each geo- 

 graphical situation has its own history and interest. Are the rocks 

 igneous or sedimentary; stratified or not; horizontal, tilted or folded; 

 result of mechanical, chemical, or organic agencies. Collect fossil 

 plants, animals and minerals. Observe effects of a heavy rain storm 

 gullied hillsides and roads ; flood plain, water falls, precipices, cata- 

 racts. All the conditions of a great river drainage system may be 

 found in one of these miniature areas. As all continents are made 

 up of adjoining drainage areas, the same land and water forms exist 

 everywhere, modified by altitude, latitude and local conditions. 



The economic side of the study of minerals is important, but the 

 vital thing is that the children shall approach the work with a proper 

 spirit, and an appreciation of the forces necessary to produce a crystal, 

 record the life history of a fern in a piece of coal, or deposit a stratum 

 of rock 40,000 feet in thickness. 



Collections of minerals can be secured from Ward's Natural Science 

 Establishment, 18-28 College avenue, Rochester, N. Y. 



Edwin E. Howell, 612 Seventeenth st., N. W., Washington, D. C. 



A. E. Foote, 1317 Arch st., Philadelphia, Pa. 



