40 NATURE STUDY. 



to be followed in the work with the children. Each 

 member of the class was then expected to prepare an 

 outline, very definite and specific, for the study of the 

 rabbit with children of a certain age or grade in school, 

 different sections of the class preparing outlines for the 

 different grades, from the first to the eighth. Later 

 some time was spent discussing and criticising these out- 

 lines. The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebted- 

 ness to the members of his class for many helpful ideas 

 and suggestions, and for much of the related literature. 



The plan of work and method followed in studying 

 the rabbit depend : 



First. Upon the aim kept in mind : the cultivation of 

 a sympathetic interest in the rabbit and in animal life, 

 and through this a better appreciation of the beauties 

 and uses and rights of the world of life ; or a develop- 

 ment of the intellect and intellectual powers of the 

 child, training him to observe and think and express ; 

 or the acquisition of a mass of facts about the rabbit 

 and animals in general. Aims in nature study are dis- 

 cussed in Chapters IV and V. 



Second. Upon certain laws of mind : that the child 

 depends upon his senses and mainly upon his eyes for 

 real knowledge ; that each new idea must be related to 

 or incorporated with what is already in the child's mind 

 before it becomes his mental possession ; that the mind 

 receives and retains ideas most readily when they are 

 presented in order, step by step, each point clearly and 

 deeply impressed before a new point is presented ; that 

 the child must arrange and give back, or express in some 



