WINTER EARTH STUDY. 465 



A blackboard story on " How Water Helps Us " may 

 gather up the most essential points. Below is such a read- 

 ing lesson, as used by a teacher in a room where the chil- 

 dren (five-year olds), were just learning to read, and could 

 recognize but few words : 

 " Water helps us. 



Water helps everyone. 



We drink water. 



We wash with water. 



Fish live in water. 



Water carries boats. 



Water carries stones and sand." 



If the children can write, cannot they be divided into 

 groups, each with a different topic ? The teacher may tell 

 a story about " What a Pail of Water Did," having the 

 children help her from time to time. It may be better to 

 bring into the schoolroom a pail of water, and have the 

 little folks tell, one by one, " What this pail of water can 

 do and how it can do it," each giving such statements as 

 these : " It can help me wash my hands by dissolving and 

 carrying away the dirt ; " " It can help mother get break- 

 fast by dissolving the coffee ; " " It can wash ibhe steps by 

 carrying away the dirt." How alert an'd interested the 

 little folks are if such a review is sometimes turned into a 

 game of " story-match," on the plan of a spelling-match, 

 the children dividing into two groups, and successive 

 children from alternate sides trying to tell a new story 

 about " What the pail of water can do," taking their seats 

 when they fail. 



EVAPORATION. 



Order of study. Be sure that evaporation is understood 

 before making any reference to the opposite process, con- 

 densation. Do not be in a hurry to use the term " evapor- 



