PICTURES. 25 



A book consulted by the pupils which by statement or 

 picture tells them in advance what the teacher has planned 

 that they shall learn by investigation, defeats the purpose of 

 the lesson. It is worse in some ways than an " interlinear " to 

 language study or a key to a book of problems. The only book 

 published at date which may be safely and beneficially placed 

 in the pupils' hands is " Public School Nature Study." 1 It 

 will assist the teacher in giving directions and asking questions 

 but it tells nothing that the pupil should find out for himself. 

 A pamphlet, briefly treating thirty-six topics on a similar plan 

 was prepared for the Nature Study students at the Ontario 

 Agricultural College. 2 



McGovern's "Nature Study and Related Literature" and 

 Mrs. Wilson's "Nature Readers" give prose and poetical 

 passages of literary merit which may be used in connection 

 with the various Nature Study lessons. F. O. Payne's " One 

 Hundred Lessons in Nature Study," Mrs. Wilson's "Nature 

 Study for Elementary Schools," and Howe's "Systematic 

 Science-Teaching " are books of Nature Study lessons. 



Readings from Thoreau and Burroughs, Ruskin and Richard 

 Jefferies, Thompson-Seton and Hamilton Gibson, and a fast- 

 increasing number of other writers of nature literature may 

 afford good examples of literary treatment and sympathetic 

 insight. 



Pictures. — After pupils have attempted to express their 

 observations in drawing and color, it will benefit them to be 

 shown how professional artists have treated similar subjects. 

 Several of the books named above are illustrated. Many 

 nature pictures in black and white and color are offered at one 

 or two cents each by the Perry and other dealers in pictures 

 and art goods. 



1 Public School Nature Study, Illus., The Copp, Clark Co., Limited, 40c. 



2 Outline of Nature Studies, Biological Department, O.A.C., 20 pages. 



