vi PREFACE 



The lessons, though grouped according to the subjects to 

 which they relate, may be given in any order ; the lesson on 

 Mushrooms, for example, at a season when mushrooms can be 

 easily obtained, and the lesson on Trees either in Spring or 

 Autumn, as the teacher wishes to study them under the Spring 

 or Fall aspect. 



At the end of each lesson is a suggestion for an oral or 

 a written language test. This may be given in the form of a 

 composition written under two or more topics, or in para- 

 graphs answering two or more questions. This, of course, can 

 be omitted at the teacher's discretion, but it is a valuable aid 

 in fixing the matter in the child's mind. 



The poetical selection, which accompanies most of the les- 

 sons, should be read either by the teacher or a pupil, in con- 

 nection with the lesson to which it relates. 



As an Appendix, several " Notes of Lessons " are given 

 to aid the teacher in placing intelligently before the class 

 the matter to be studied. These lessons are given accord- 

 ing to the most approved method in the Herbartian style, 

 and the inductive form. The method and illustration intro- 

 duce the matter to be presented, and the facts and inferences 

 to be elucidated and deduced. 



Feeling the need of such Nature Work, especially in the 

 fourth year of school life, these lessons were prepared and used 

 in a New York City school. They were thoroughly tested by 

 experimental use in the classroom. After two years of trial 



