80 NATURE STUDY 



as in the more difficult matters of structure and of function, or we 

 take up that which has no significance at this stage, such as the 

 number and names of the parts of an insect's leg, or the tech- 

 nical names of the shapes of leaves. In either case the work in 

 nature study will be a failure, and is to be classed with other 

 meaningless work that children are called on to memorize. 



Now, among the phenomena of the world of non-living things, 

 there are a number which are simple enough to be readily grasped 

 by school children. They are of intense interest to them when 

 once seen. Their lack of initiative interest in them is easily ac- 

 counted for by their ignorance of their existence. The peculiar 

 nature of many of these phenomena allow them to be fairly well 

 isolated, so that they can be studied without involving, at the 

 time, confusing relations. The experiments can be repeated as 

 often as necessary to allow better seeing to correct errors in ob- 

 servation and conclusion. The materials are always available 

 and the success of the experiment does not depend on time and 

 place, but may be completely under the control of the one making 

 it. Thus they give the means of that most excellent drill involved 

 in planning and executing an experiment which is a real inquiry 

 of nature. 



The value of the information received from lessons on the 

 common physical phenomena is certainly second to none other ot 

 the school course, since it deals with such important matters as 

 air, water and soil. 



Many of these lessons, beside forming a part of the nature 

 study course, may well take their place in the work of geography. 

 There are many subjects touched upon in the usual courses in geo- 

 graphy, which would have more meaning if the phenomena on 

 which their explanation depends were experimentally studied by 

 the classes. Among such subjects are rain, frost, ice, winds, 

 storms, electricity, magnetism, and means for measuring time. 

 There are many experiments which would throw much light on 



