60 NATURE STUDY. 



Compare the positions with those of the cat. Notice 

 that their position, whether reclining or sitting, is usu- 

 ally such that they can spring up instantly, that the 

 opening of their ears is always turned outward, that they 

 hear very slight noises even when asleep, and that their 

 eyes never seem to be entirely or tightly closed. Why 

 is this so ? 



Summary and expressive work. For a summary have 

 at least two children tell, as clearly and exactly as pos- 

 sible, the position of body, head, ears, and feet when the 

 rabbit is reclining, and two others tell about the posi- 

 tion of these parts when the rabbit is sitting up, all 

 telling the " why " as far as possible. As the impor- 

 tant ideas to be impressed are position or form ideas, and 

 these can be expressed by drawing much more clearly 

 and exactly than by words, drawings may serve as the 

 best summaries. If any pupils can draw fairly well, 

 have them draw, in outline merely, the positions of the 

 rabbit. Have the class, with the rabbits before them 

 for observation, tell the teacher how to draw the outline 

 (only gross features, not details) of the rabbit on the 

 blackboard. If the teacher pretends to know nothing 

 about it, and compels them to observe exactly and ex- 

 press clearly, by drawing only what they tell her and as 

 they tell her (but not carrying this so far as to discour- 

 age the children), this exercise may be made very profit- 

 able in helping both teacher and pupils to test the 

 exactness of their observations and their power of ex- 

 pressing their ideas clearly. 



This Step 1 is essential for giving the children the 



