AN INTRODUCTION 



r I ^HE first purpose of this book is to suggest subject-matter 



of genuine interest to children, and which of itself 



is worth while. A second purpose is to indicate such 



treatment of the subject-matter that the language used in 



the lessons will be the expression of real thought, and the 



formation of correct habits a natural result. 



No claim is made to originality in subject-matter, but an 

 effort has been made to select material which is suited to the 

 changing conditions of the seasons and common to many 

 localities. 



Related lessons have been arranged in groups so as to 

 arouse an interest in many phases of the subject and to 

 broaden the child's experience. This grouping also demands 

 natural repetition of vocabulary and consequent familiarity 

 with its form. While lessons on nature study, stories, poems, 

 and pictures have been so grouped, it has been the aim to 

 treat each of these so that it would make its own legitimate 

 appeal, and the peculiar value of each experience be gained 

 by the children. 



In developing each subject, many topics have been pre- 

 sented to meet varying conditions and interests. It is not 

 expected that one pupil or class will necessarily follow all the 

 lines indicated, but that those will be selected which appeal 

 to past experience or which stimulate to further activity. In 

 some cases " Suggested Work" has been outlined to point out 

 possibilities of additional work for pupils or classes beyond 



