A GRADED COURSE OF NATURE-STUDY 401 



of primitive man. The relation of nature-study to manual 

 training and domestic economy is also kept in view. Fur- 

 thermore, one science is correlated with another, physiology 

 with chemistry and physics. In the primary grades, espe- 

 cially, the nature material should be used chiefly for devel- 

 oping the child's expression. Hence the nature-study in 

 these grades is selected largely for its suitability as material 

 also in reading, construction, and art. 



It is not expected or intended that all of the topics indi- 

 cated in the following course shall be studied in any one 

 school. It has been made extensive with the idea of allow- 

 ing teachers a greater freedom of choice according to local 

 conditions, and also to provide for variety from year to year. 

 The educational motive and the educational material in a 

 commercial metropolis must necessarily differ considerably 

 from those of a rural, agricultural community. In one the 

 commerical industries and civic problems are the chief inter- 

 est. In the other the chief interest is how to grow plants, 

 and how to raise animals. The course below contains enough 

 suitable material for schools of both communities. Each 

 should select from the course according to local requirements. 



The departmental plan of teaching is practised in many 

 of our schools. It might be very desirable in some schools 

 to let the nature-study be taught by certain teachers espe- 

 cially enthusiastic in that work, and especially well equipped 

 for it. 



Field lessons and visits to industrial establishments should 

 accompany the nature-work whenever possible. They are 

 not always indicated in the course, but are to be taken for 

 granted. Suggestions for art treatment are indicated by 

 asterisks. 



