SPRING NATURE STUDY. 



537 



time. Older primary children may note and remember a 

 larger number of characteristics. Children do not distin- 

 guish their playmates merely by one feature, the form of 

 their noses or the color of their eyes, but by many fea- 

 tures in combination. If we can train them to know trees, 

 not by one feature, such as leaves, but by many, and to ana- 



Fig. 58. American or White Elm. 



lyze their knowledge so that they can tell how and why 

 they know each tree or plant, much will be gained. 



As the trees develop, and leaves, flowers, and fruit appear, 

 the children should discover new characteristics, and relate 

 them to what they have already learned, so that the idea 

 or concept or general notion elm tree, or maple, or lilac 

 bush, comes to have a larger and larger content. 



