SPRING NATURE STUDY. 597 



LESSON VII. MAKING NEW LEAVES TO HELP IN THE WORK. 



Watch with the children the growth and unfolding of 

 the bud. Why is it between the lower ends of the leaf 

 stems ? For better protection. Is it covered with scales, 

 like the buds studied in March, which had been on the 

 trees all winter ? Why not ? Note how its stem pushes 

 it up from between the first two leaves, and how it unfolds 

 until we see leaves quite unlike the first ones. They are 

 divided into three parts, or leaflets. Note how they are 

 folded in the bud and how they unfold. 



When the most mature leaves are fairly well developed, 

 have a lesson, having the children draw a leaf, with its 

 three parts. 



LESSON VIII. THE GREAT WORK OF THE LEAVES. MAKING 

 THE WORLD BEAUTIFUL. 



Mother Nature (who is Mother Nature?) has been so 

 very careful in covering and wrapping and folding these 

 bean leaves ; she has given them such a store of food ; she 

 sets the root and stem at work getting and carrying food 

 for them, she brings them out so slowly and cautiously in 

 the spring, she must have a great work for them to do. 

 What is it ? 



Try to have the little folks see how the green leaves give 

 the main beauty to the bean plant. How bare a bean 

 plant looks from which all the leaves have fallen ! How 

 much the leaves differ in size and outline, and how much 

 better that is than having all alike ! This thought will be 

 impressed if children are led to try to find two leaves ex- 

 actly alike. How much the plants in the window boxes, and 

 mainly the leaves of these plants, brighten the windows 

 and the room ! 



At this season, when all nature is dressed in richest 



