METHOD OF STUDYING MATERIAL. 225 



First. To train the child to note and study carefully 

 resemblances and differences in objects before him. 

 The young child usually sees differences most readily. 

 For classification the teacher must emphasize resem- 

 blances and help him to see them. 



Second. To lead him to distinguish the essential or 

 important from the non-essential or unimportant in the 

 form of plant or animal, or in the property of mineral, 

 or in physical or chemical phenomena, and to relate or 

 group or classify in accordance with essential resem- 

 blances and differences. 



Third. To help him to recognize or abstract the 

 general plan in plants and animals, and general prin- 

 ciples or laws in physical phenomena, and to realize 

 more and more a unity in apparent diversity. 



Fourth. To lead him to apply his generalizations to 

 other phenomena, and to arrange his knowledge in the 

 most convenient form for ready reference ; to " tie it 

 up in assorted bundles ready for use," each bundle or 

 group or class labelled and represented in the mind 

 by a type. Thus the bee may represent the insects, or 

 the membrane-winged insects ; the robin or sparrow the 

 birds, or the perchers ; the cat the vertebrates, or the 

 mammals or the flesh-eating (carnivorous) animals or 

 the cat family, depending on the extent to which the 

 knowledge has been assorted and grouped. 



Lessons VII and VIII in the outline for the study 

 of the rabbit, given in Chapter II, illustrate order and 

 method in comparison and classification, and bring out 

 the application of what is here presented. 



