OUTLINE OF PLANT STUDY. 27 



FOURTH YEAR. 



Siiecial Aim. — To gather up and relate the work of the preceding 

 three years and make it a basis for comparison, generalization, and classifi- 

 cation. To train the pupils, particularly in the leaf study, in clear, orderly, 

 truthful expression. 



Plants as a TT7i oZe.— One or two in early fall and one or two in late 

 spring, as organs for producing seeds, studying carefully the work, form, 

 and general structure, and cooperation of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. 



Roots and Stems. — Forms and structure — morphology (October and 

 June). 



Leaves. — Arrangement in bud, position and ari-angement on plant, 

 attachment, parts, venation, shape, structure, and functions. Careful 

 drawings of leaves and descriptions, using the more simple botanical terms 

 (April to June). 



Flowers and Reproduction. — Several in fall and spring, bringing out 

 the use and form of parts, including pollen, the process of fertilization, and 

 emphasizing the order and plan shown, leading to comparison and some 

 study of family characteristics. 



Special Topics. — Observation and comparison of two trees (March to 

 June).. Recognition of common poisonous plants, such as poison ivy, 

 nightshade, poison sumach, and wild parsley. 



CClose of First Cycle of Plant Study.') 



FIFTH YEAR. 



(Beginning of Second Cycle.) 



Special Work for Year. — Roots, Stems, and Leaves. 



Special Aim. — To lay foundations for future plant study by investi- 

 gating much more thoroughly and expressing much more carefully than 

 in previous years, the development or formation, function or physiology, 

 and form and structure or moi'phology and anatomy of root, stem, and leaf, 

 as organs of the plant, not as mere forms; to broaden the conception of 

 the plant by studying two fiowerless plants. 



Roots, Stems, and Leaves. — Falling and colors of leaves, with careful 

 observation (October). Development of root, stem, and leaves from seed 

 and bud (April and May). Function or physiology, forms and structure 

 (April to June); with special attention to careful, thorough observation 

 and with truthful, exact descriptions and drawings. 



Fiowerless Plants. — Ferns, including their life history (September). 

 Horse-tails and their life history or reproduction (April and May). Com- 

 parison with flowering plants. 



Field iessoHS.— Falling and colors of leaves carefully studied in fall. 

 Position and arrangement of leaves, relation to sunlight and rain, and 

 changes in position and arrangement to aid them in getting sunlight (May 

 and June). Observation of trees (March to June). 



