42 NATURE-STUDY 



of some slight detail will often spoil an experiment. If the 

 teacher does the experiment before class-time, she will see 

 difficulties both for herself and her pupils and can prepare 

 for them. Experiments in nature-study require no elaborate 

 apparatus. Any ingenious teacher, aided by bright pupils, 

 can construct and invent simple and efficient "home-made" 

 apparatus. The boys will like to make models of machines 

 and other mechanical apparatus. The school stove, radia- 

 tor, oil-lamp, or alcohol-stove will do for a source of heat. 

 Glasses, cups, and bottles will replace test-tubes and beakers. 

 Spools make good pulleys. Old files or knitting-needles 

 make excellent magnets when stroked on a magnet. Many 

 other pieces of apparatus may be devised, that for nature- 

 study will do as well as those which are factory-made. If 

 there is a manual training department in the school, it 

 should be utilized as much as possible in the making of 

 apparatus. 



The high school science teacher will generally be found 

 ready with suggestions and assistance, if the nature-study 

 teacher appeals to him. Apparatus and material may often 

 be secured through him. He may be willing to give the 

 children experimental exhibitions or talks on nature sub- 

 jects. Often he has valuable lantern slides that he can show 

 the grade children. For instance, get him to give an illus- 

 trated talk on birds, insects, plants, etc. The children would 

 be delighted to hear these talks. He may also give experi- 

 ments with the air-pump, the static electric machine, etc. 

 Similarly, college professors may often be got to aid the grade 

 teacher. Again, physicians and others interested in scien- 

 tific lines are often willing to lend apparatus, specimens, 

 pictures, etc., and to give elementary talks on their special 



