42 NATURE STUDY. 



important facts and thoughts, upon which new work 

 must be based. Provision is made for expressive work, 

 to lead the child to arrange and thus clarify his ideas, 

 to give teacher and child a means of testing the clear- 

 ness of the ideas gained, and to make the rabbit study 

 helpful in other school-work. 



The work has been planned for what are believed to 

 be average schoolroom conditions. It is assumed that 

 most teachers can, with some effort and trouble, obtain 

 living rabbits, preferably from or through their pupils, 

 and keep them or care for them for a few days in the 

 schoolroom or school-yard. Without the living rabbits 

 the study is of comparatively little value. The work is 

 planned for intermediate grades, about the fifth or sixth 

 year in school ; suggestions are given for adapting it 

 to younger or older pupils. The lessons, including the 

 related reading and expressive work, are supposed to 

 occupy from three-quarters of an hour to an hour. Much 

 better results will be gained from long lessons two or 

 three times a week than from short lessons (fifteen or 

 twenty minutes) daily. 



OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF THE RABBIT. 

 AIM. 



General Aim. To awaken a sympathetic interest in 

 and love for all animal life, so that the children will be 

 kind and gentle in their dealings with animals ; to help 

 the boys and girls gain some realization and apprecia- 

 tion of the beauty and unity of nature, and of the care 

 and plan shown in nature. 



