NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



133 



MOSSES 



CLASS 40 pupils. 

 AGE 9 to 10. 

 TIME 30 minutes. 



{to train observation, 

 to cultivate reasoning powers, 

 to give elementary knowledge of mosses. 



OBSERVATION 



I. Let teacher or pupils bring into room 

 any mosses which they have gathered in 

 the woods, or on decayed stumps. Hold 

 up to light, and notice tiny leaves, some- 

 what shape of fern fronds. Note tiny 

 stein. Observe how tightly and closely 

 the roots are matted. 



Tell children mosses cling to rocks 

 more closely than oak roots to the soil. 

 Show how this is an advantage to places 

 they cover. Roots require little soil and 

 grow rapidly. Mosses are one of the sim- 

 iles t forms of plant life. 



I. PARTS 



INFERENCES 



Leaves tiny. 



Stem short. 



No seeds but spores in 

 capsule. 



No flowers. 



Roots fibrous, tena- 

 cious. 



Moss CAPSULE SHEDDING SPORES 



