SELECTION AND SEQUENCE OF MATERIAL. 325 



cussed, the exact material studied and the emphasis 

 placed on different topics must depend, to a consider- 

 able extent, on the location and surroundings of the 



School. ::. ' 



In general, that is best for study in any locality, other 

 things being equal, which is most common, and with 

 which the children are most familiar. This is easiest 

 to obtain. What is more important, it is best for the 

 children. For the study of this the foundation is al- 

 ready laid by nature. The teacher can build best on 

 this foundation, gradually building broader and higher. 

 The daily contact out of school with what is studied 

 in the school will strengthen and re-enforce the ideas 

 gained. The children will thereby be led to see that 

 school is everywhere. At the same time they will learn 

 the importance of that which is nearest, and see better 

 the possibilities in that which is simplest and most in- 

 significant. 



Most of the material considered in the course of 

 study in the next chapter is to be found throughout 

 almost the entire northern half of the country. Many 

 species of plants, such as maple, elm, and oak, dandelion, 

 mallow, thistle, mustard, and buttercup, differing in dif- 

 ferent localities only in minor characteristics, are found 

 in most parts of the northern half of the United States 

 east of the Rocky Mountains ; and others, closely re- 

 lated or illustrating the same functional and structural 

 features, in other sections. Among the animals, the 

 birds, such as the robin, bluebird, sparrow, and oriole, 

 the most common insects, such animals as the crayfish 



