198 NATURE STUDY. 



out-of-door lesson, in imbuing the children with the 

 spirit of nature, than an introductory literary gem, or 

 a short story. Parts of Bryant's " Forest Hymn " read 

 as they have gathered under the trees may make a 

 deeper impression than hours given to its study in 

 school. Longfellow's " Autumn," or portions of Low- 

 ell's " Indian Summer Reverie," or " The Maple," may 

 be the best prelude to the study in the meadows or 

 park of the autumn leaves, may impress the thought 

 of the perfect whole, the highest aim of the field lesson. 



The purpose of the field lesson, it must be remem- 

 bered, is to study, not mere form and structure, but 

 processes and relations, life and dependence on and 

 adaptation to environment. Structure can be studied 

 better in the schoolroom, where the conditions are more 

 favorable for definite work. In our work out-of-doors 

 we should largely limit ourselves to what cannot be 

 observed or cannot be studied as well indoors ; such 

 topics as the falling and coloring of leaves, the work 

 of earthworms or frost, of rain or streams or waves, 

 the formation of soil, the relation of leaves and flowers 

 to the sun, the habits and homes of insects, birds, and 

 other animals, the occurrence, form, color and other 

 obvious characteristics of trees. 



It is difficult, unnecessary, and unwise to attempt to 

 maintain out-of-doors the order which is required in the 

 school. Such order will defeat the purpose of the field 

 lesson. On the other hand, a lesson in which no order 

 is maintained, which degenerates into a frolic or picnic, 

 is not merely of little value, but may bring discredit 



