NATURE STUDY. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE STUDY OF THE DANDELION. 



An Introduction to Nature Study. 



"Flower in the crannied wall, 

 I pluck you out of the crannies; 

 Hold you here, root and all, in my hand, 

 Little flower but if I could understand 

 What you are, root and all, and all in all, 

 I should know what God and man is." 



TENNYSON. 



IT seems wise, in beginning to consider nature study 

 by and with the children, to illustrate by a concrete 

 example much which will be discussed and elaborated 

 in detail in succeeding chapters. In this preliminary 

 study of some part or phase of nature, we can be helped 

 to realize what is meant by nature study by and with 

 children, as distinguished from natural science as com- 

 monly pursued by older pupils, and can see illustrated 

 something of the method, and gain some idea of the aim 

 and principles on which the method is based. After 

 such preliminary concrete work we shall be better pre- 

 pared for the discussion in succeeding chapters of defi- 



1 



