TYPICAL LESSON PLANS 115 



warm days they sally forth to feed upon tree borers and 

 whatever they can find. 



While a detailed study is made of the nicker the other 

 woodpeckers seen by the children should come in for a share 

 of the discussions. Even in the third grade something 

 may be done with a simple comparative study of the wood- 

 peckers. The children will be able to point out a few 

 characteristics that are similar in all the birds. In local- 

 ities where the red-headed woodpecker is abundant it will 

 be found fully as good for a detailed study as the nicker. 

 Other woodpeckers that are likely to be seen are the hairy, 

 downy, and sap sucker. 



ANTS.— Third Grade 



Almost all third-grade children have seen ants. Ask 

 where they have seen them and what they were doing. 

 The discussion will raise the question where do ants live, 

 and how do they care for their home and young ? If you 

 know of an ant's nest accessible to the school building, by 

 all means let the first lesson include a visit to this home. 

 Nests of small black and brown ants are often found under 

 sticks, boards, and stones. Some are found in the ground, 

 while others make mounds or hills which are often several 

 inches above the surface of the soil and several feet in 

 diameter. If a mound is found have the children note 

 whether there are any openings leading down into the 

 ground. How many ? Watch to see whether the ants go 

 in and out of these openings. Are any ants carrying things ? 

 With a trowel dig up a small portion of the mound. How 

 do the ants behave when disturbed? Is there anything 



