A GRADED COURSE OF NATURE-STUDY 465 



INSECTS: Care and observation of school beehive. (47, 

 133, 246 " Bee-keeping.") 



PLANTS. 



GENERAL : Germination studies.* The seeds,* parts, uses. 

 Seedling,* observe in glass germinator and in soil. Note 

 how different kinds get out of the shell.* Plant peas, beans, 

 corn, grain, radish, flax, onion, sunflower, squash, acorn, 

 walnut, plum or peach pit. Note what happens to the seed 

 leaves of the bean as the seedling develops.* Cut them 

 from a young bean seedling. Observe effect. Infer their 

 use. Show starch in seed-leaves with iodine test. They are 

 stores of food for the young plant. Note the delicate root 

 hairs on the roots of the seedlings in the glass germinators.* 

 These are the sucking hairs for drawing up the moisture 

 and solutions from the soil. (190, 193,201, 154, 152, 157, 

 222, etc.) 



TREES :* Simple classification : The oaks, willows, cotton- 

 wood, poplar, hard-maple, soft-maple, boxelder, and birch. 

 Do this by comparison of leaves,* flower,* and fruit.* Ob- 

 serve the flowers of these trees. Note the catkins,* and 

 the abundant pollen that easily shakes out in clouds when 

 ripe. Discuss wind pollination. Refer to the pollination 

 of corn, grasses, and grains. Have children observe these 

 later. (173, etc.; 193, 154, 156, i59> 152-) 



Visit an orchard in flower.* Note the abundance of bees 

 and other insects. What are they getting? Observe how 

 they are dusted with pollen. Discuss how the pollen is 

 brushed against the stigma. The importance of bees in an 

 orchard. Why do many fruit raisers keep bees ? (200, 207, 

 238 page 289.) 



