THE AIM OF NATURE STUDY. 117 



lated and mutually dependent, which are all really sub- 

 ordinate to the great aim of nature study or education, 

 character-building, we may summarize the aims of 

 nature study, considering the development of the indi- 

 vidual child, as : 



First. To awaken an interest and cultivate a sym- 

 pathy with his physical environment. 



Second. To cultivate the higher nature of the child, 

 aesthetic, ethical, and spiritual, and lead him toward 

 God. 



Third. To develop his intellectual powers and form 

 right habits. 



Fourth. To lead the child to acquire a knowledge of 

 his physical environment. 



Considering the child in his relations to school, we 

 may give as secondary or subordinate aims of nature 

 study : 



First. To give the child an understanding and ap- 

 preciation of nature which will enable him to enjoy and 

 appreciate the literature and art which have been in- 

 spired by nature. 



Second. To give the child clear impressions which 

 shall serve as one basis for the expressive work of the 

 school, language, reading, drawing, modelling and 

 arithmetic. 



Third. To give the child a clear knowledge of his 

 immediate physical environment which will serve as a 

 basis for his work in geography, his study of his broader 

 environment. 



