54 NATURE-STUDY 



Thus one subject can be made to help another by forming 

 new associations about the things studied. Again, the sub- 

 ject of respiration can be made clearer and more interesting 

 by some experiments on the properties of oxygen, CO 2 , ni- 

 trogen and water vapor in the air. The usefulness of the lesson 

 in chemistry will become apparent to the pupils in the fol- 

 lowing lesson in physiology. 



These illustrations show in a general way what is meant by 

 correlation in education. To correlate subjects is to bring out 

 useful connections between them, to explain one lesson by 

 another, to add interest to the facts in one lesson by showing 

 their relation to facts learned in another. In this way associa- 

 tions are formed that help the pupil's memory. 



Nature-study lends itself very easily to correlation with 

 other subjects, especially with the formal or expression 

 studies, such as reading, language, writing, drawing. It is 

 very profitable to pursue nature-study and geography to- 

 gether. It is a good plan to study in the nature lessons the 

 animals, plants, minerals, and natural phenomena referred 

 to in geography. 



There must be something upon which to practise language, 

 writing, drawing, etc. The nature lessons may afford suit- 

 able matter for many lessons in these subjects. The thing 

 studied in the nature lesson may be the subject of the read- 

 ing lesson, and may often be used as the object in a drawing 

 lesson. In this way there is a saving of time and energy on 

 the part of pupils and teachers. 



Nature-Study and Geography 



Geography includes more or less all of the natural sciences, 

 and if correlation is ever desirable it certainly is in the case 



