PREFACE. 



When the teachers began to teach the part of the new 

 Course of Study relating to nature work, judging by the 

 questions asked by Normal School students and numerous 

 correspondents, many of them were confronted by difficulties 

 over which the books available did not help them. An 

 engagement to answer such questions, and to offer hints and 

 suggestions on the Nature Study part of the Course has 

 drawn forth the following pages. 



Direct the children how and where to collect the material, 

 guide their observations and reasoning upon what they bring, 

 and teach them the arts of expressing the steps and results 

 of their investigation. This general direction seems as simple 

 as it is comprehensive ; but in its application almost as many 

 different problems arise as there are different lessons. No 

 one can anticipate all these problems, but solutions of many 

 of them are herein proposed. 



The Nature Study teacher well knows the value of com- 

 parison. Any one using the course of study prescribed for 

 his own province will derive much benefit from comparing it 

 in detail and in entirety with the course adopted in another 

 province. This little book may, therefore, prove as helpful to 

 teachers outside of the Provinces whose regulations are 

 quoted as to those serving within their boundaries. 



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