from A. W. Mumford, Chicago, 111., 378 Wabash Ave. Write for catalogue and samples. A 

 series of Nature Study charts Is sold by John C. Mouutjoy, Chicago, 111., 378 Wabash Ave. 

 The work of the three seasons may be allowed to over lap, especially that of fall and winter. 

 Caterpillars and other insects may be kept in chalk boxes, having a small pane of glass sub- 

 stituted for the cover, or in cages made of wire gauze set down over boxes of moist earth. 

 Have the best aquarium that you can afford, fitted up with water plants and animals, so that 

 the water need not be changed. Fruit jars, battery jars, and candy jars will answer, but bet- 

 ter ones can be made at the tinsmiths. Directions for making aquaria are given in Hodge's 

 Nature Study, page 393. They may be purchased from the Bausch and Lomb Optical Co., 

 Rochester, N. Y. Birch bark is so interesting to children and can be utilized in such a variety 

 of ways that a good supply should certainly be secured. 



If approved by your authorities, place the Nature work the last exercise in the afternoon, 

 so that frequent field lessons may be given and the trip extended into the play hours. The 

 fields, woods, streams and ponds will be full of interest for teacher and pupil; especially in the 

 fall and spring. Lay in a supply of good rich loam for germination work of the early spring. 

 Keep the cocoons cool during the winter and spring, where the mice and rats can not injure 

 them and do not bring them into the school-room to remain until the weather is warm enough 

 outside for the moths or butterflies. If you have the white mulberry, orosage orange at hand, 

 you may easily rear a brood of silk worms in the school-room. Eggs may be procured from 

 the Nonotuck Silk Co., Florence, Mass. The least they will sell is 25 cents worth, but this 

 will supply a number of schools. Drop them a postal about April ist telling them to save you 

 a supply and then write for them, enclosing money, just as the very tiny leaves are coining 

 out. The young may be kept alive for a few days upon lettuce, cut into very fine shreds with 

 scissors. Have children feed with leaves, free from moisture, twice a day and transfer daily 

 to clean paper and fresh leaves, being careful to not overlook any of the worms upon the dried 

 leaves. They do not need to be confined in a cage as do our wild caterpillars. From the 

 same company get their booklet on Silk, price 10 cents. At all times teach and practice the 

 utmost tenderness towards animal and plant life. Release the moths and butterflies that come 

 out of their cocoons in the school-room, when observations are completed. Carry the young 

 toads and frogs to favorable places for them, along with the other aquarium material at the 

 close of the school year. A small collection of deserted birds' nests may be made in the fall. 

 Do not endeavor to arouse interest in birds' eggs. The dry portland cement may be easily 

 procured from certain dealers. Add about twice as much sand, or fine gravel, as cement and 

 stir up with water into a thick slush. Some little time after the frogs and toads are heard 

 "singing" in the early spring their eggs may be found in abundance along the margins of 

 streams and pools. The frogs' eggs are laid in gelatinous masses the size of ones fist, attached 

 to weeds or twigs, while the toads' eggs are drawn out into long strands. They will readily 

 hatch in the school-room if kept in fresh water, and the tadpoles may be fed upon decayed 

 leaves or. better still, green algae from the brook. Tadpoles of the frog, one year old, may 

 be found in the ponds and will show their later transformations. Give the toad tadpoles a 

 bank of sand after they have passed into the salamander stage and after they have left the 

 water transfer to a covered dish containing moss and moist sand in which they may be fed 

 upon small insects caught by sweeping the grass with an insect-net. Of the numerous butter- 

 flies available the milkweed butterfly should not be overlooked. Look for larvae upon the 

 milkweeds, transfer to the school-room, feed for a few days upon fresh leaves and keep your 

 eyes open. 



Children of this grade will enjoy a little simple gardening such as indicated upon the out- 

 line. Have the children at first get along with digging-sticks, shells and suitable stones of 

 their own selection. If these prove sufficient there will be no need of introducing modern 

 tools, after the first spading has been done. These children are not ready for more elaborate 

 gardening, which would better be withheld until a little later. Simple meteorological work 

 may be continued throughout the year, either as a part of the Nature work, or for opening 

 exercises. Four points of the compass, taught out-doors, daily movement of the sun, move- 

 ments and phases of the moon; clouds, halos, rain, snow, dew, frost, fog, etc., observed but 

 without attempt at explanation. Use as many myths as are suitable. Upon a large calendar 

 paste colored circles to represent sunshine, clouds, rain and snow. Make summaries at the 

 close of each month of the various types of days and compare the various months. The colored 



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