TYPICAL LESSON PLANS 127 



Watch for appearance of the first leaves. Compare 

 with other shrubs and trees as to time of opening the buds. 

 Does frost hurt these leaves ? What is your opinion as to 

 the hardiness of the plant? What is the shape of the 

 leaves ? How are they arranged, singly or in clusters ? 

 What is the end bud becoming? The side buds? Are 

 there any spines on the new, growing twigs? Where are 

 they with reference to the leaves ? 



Watch for the opening of the flowers. Are they more 

 numerous on the old wood or on last year's wood ? Do not 

 decide this too hastily. Examine a number before coming 

 to a conclusion. What is the position of the flowers on 

 the twig on the upper or lower side ? Make out the parts 

 of the flower. What part of the flower becomes the berry ? 

 Watch development from week to week. What part be- 

 comes the dry, brown tuft that must be taken off before 

 the berry is ready to use? Do we have to wait for this 

 fruit to get ripe before we can eat it ? This is a good type 

 of the true berry. Cut one in two across the middle. 

 What parts can you see ? Is the skin thick or thin ? What 

 is the color of the meat or pulp ? Where are the seeds ? 

 Is the plan of this berry anything like that of a tomato? 

 From this the children will conclude that the tomato is also 

 a berry. How about the currant ? When does the goose- 

 berry ripen ? Have children note time of ripening during 

 the vacation and report in the fall. They will find that all 

 the berries do not ripen at once, but that they continue to 

 ripen a few at a time for several weeks. What changes 

 occur in color as the berries mature? 



How may we produce new gooseberry plants? It will 

 be interesting to have the children save some of the seeds 



