FALL AND WINTER ANIMAL STUDY. 449 



JANUARY WORK. 1 

 THE CAT. 



Aim. To cultivate a sympathetic attitude toward animal 

 life ; to interest children in the careful observation of the 

 domestic animals ; to lay foundations for a better under- 

 standing of the animals of which the cat is a type. 



Preparatory Work. Some days before beginning for- 

 mal study, ask the children to watch their kitties at home, 

 and to find out and tell the teacher, perhaps immediately 

 after the opening exercises each morning, exactly what their 

 kitty does and how she does it. For a few days before the 

 lessons, and during the lessons, it is well to have a cat in 

 the schoolroom. Give the children definite questions such 

 as : 



How does the cat drink milk ? How use her tongue 

 when drinking ? 



How does pussy eat ? How does she use her claws and 

 her teeth when eating ? 



How does she play ? How does she jump when trying 

 to catch anything ? How roll on the floor ? 



How does she lie when resting or asleep ? How place 

 her feet ? 



How is it that kitty can walk quietly ? What does she 

 have under her feet to aid her in walking quietly ? 



Is she a good climber ? What aids her in climbing ? 



How does kitty wash herself without water, soap, or 



1 This is recommended for midwinter work because the plant work 

 leaves little time for it in the fall, and because it seems wise to in- 

 troduce in winter some study which has more of the human inter- 

 est, and appeals more to the children's sympathies, than does the 

 study of the forms of water. 



