96 NATURE STUDY. 



our schools, of studying without plan or sequence any- 

 thing in nature which may be accessible or convenient, 

 to-day a plant, to-morrow a bird, next day a stone, or 

 the wind or weather, may interest the children, may 

 develop and train the teachers, may be a preparation for 

 elementary science ; but it is not elementary science, it 

 is not or does not result in "knowledge classified." 



To get the best results in elementary science in bur 

 schools, we need a clear, definite plan or course of study, 

 with its various parts closely related. The work of 

 each grade should be adapted to the children of that 

 grade, based on the work of the preceding grade, and 

 should prepare for the next grade above. Then our 

 work will become, in truth, elementary science. 



The term " elementary science " refers mainly to the 

 results of the work, classified knowledge/ The term 

 " nature study " has more reference to the materials 

 considered and the methods pursued, and better ex- 

 presses the spirit in which the work should be carried 

 on. The materials are found in nature, our physical 

 environment. The methods are the methods of nature, 

 those by which we have always become acquainted with 

 our surroundings since we first opened our eyes on this 

 world of sense. The spirit in which we should study 

 nature, the spirit in which children approach a constant 

 companion or friend, is better indicated, to the children 

 and teachers at least, by the simple "nature study," 

 than by the somewhat high-sounding and formidable 

 " elementary science." 



