CHAPTER VI. PRIMARY COURSE OF STUDY. 



" I should not try directly to teach young people to love Nature so much as I should aim to bring Nature 

 and them together, and let an understanding and intimacy spring up between them." Burroughs, 



First Grade. Hunting Phase. Age of Combat. 



CENTRAL FALL THOUGHT : Shelter and Protection Afforded by Homes of Animals, 



Plants and Man. 



Study of live kitten in school-room as to structure, habits and adaptation. 

 Varieties of cats by specimens or pictures. Pussy's cousins by pictures and stories; wildcat, 



lynx, puma, leopard, tiger and lion. 

 Domestication of cat, use in home and danger to birds. 



Bring out strongly the cleanliness, love for home, friendliness, courage and affection for young. 



Story of old "sabre-tooth" and primitive man. 



Begin written language with picture-writing. 



Have frequent field lessons in search of animal and plant homes. 



Pods as seed homes; peas, beans, milkweed, catalpa, wild-cucumber, etc. 



Caterpillars of all kinds; chrysalis and cocoon formation. 

 Gall homes upon oaks, willows, cottonwood. rose bushes, goldenrod, blackberry, etc. 



Homes of mud and paper wasps. 



Land snails, water snails, mussels and caddis-fly portable homes. 



Squash, pumpkin and gourd seed houses. 



Deserted bird homes and bird departure. 



Properties of bark and uses to trees of region. 



Procure a good roll of birch-bark by sending away, if necessary. 



What trees first shed their leaves and which hold longest to them? 



Autumn leaves; press and mount. 



Special Thanksgiving theme; gratitude for shelter and protection of home. 



Simple studies on evergreens available as to cones, bark, resins and leaves, carried through 



December and leading up to the Christmas Tree. 



CENTRAL WINTER THOUGHT : Simple Homes of Early Hunting Man. 



Without waiting for the completion of the fall work begin the consideration of human homes 



from vegetable materials. 

 Have children collect the needed materials and construct grass, leaf and bark houses 



of their own designing. 



Look sharply for points of excellence in the stability, ease of construction, shedding of rain 



and snow, resistance to wind and protection against animals. 



Discuss best types originated. 



Using twigs stuck in a box of earth show children how houses may be made by weaving grass, 



leaves or flexible bark. 



Have children design a tiny house from a single piece of birch bark. 

 Use resin from trees as cement and for mending cracks and holes. 



What winter birds are to be found and how do they live? 



Using an old dish-pan lined with clay, mould a rough basin-like affair of portland cement to 

 represent a cave-home, and break out one side for an entrance. 



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