422 NATURE-STUDY 



cage permanently. Set out at school or home a drinking 

 trough. (Attracting birds: Chapter X, 113, 109, 478. 

 Food: 120. See page 124.) 



Insects : Observational, informal lessons on June beetle, 

 ground-beetle, potato-beetle, butterflies (when do they first 

 appear?), cecropia moths* (observe the school cocoons). 

 Insects on the flowers (willows, maples, hepaticas, pasque- 

 flowers, etc.) Visit a beehive, and note the renewal of activ- 

 ity. (J, K, 156, etc.) 



Frog: Obsen^e the first pipings of the frogs. Refer to 

 their winter sleep. Find eggs of frogs and toads. Make 

 informal observations on the aquarium tadpoles,* fish, in- 

 sects, etc. Obsen'e tadpoles in the pools at different times 

 in the spring. Do not injure frogs, and especially toads. 

 Pick up toads and place them in your garden to catch grubs, 

 etc. Tame one, feed it. (I, 24.) 



Plants. 



General: Study of whole plants* (see spring flowers), 

 briefly referring to use of root, stem, and flower. (K, 156, 

 158, 161, 222.) Observe the insects on the flowers, (K, 

 M, 156, etc., 207, 216.) Simply refer to their getting nectar 

 and pollen, but omit the pollination. Let children taste 

 the nectar in the spurs and tubes of the columbine, 'honey- 

 suckle, sweet pea, etc. Rub from marsh marigold, roses, 

 etc., some of the pollen, and note its powdery nature. 



Trees: Identification study. (L, 173, etc.) Review 

 trees learned in the fall. Observe the bud development.* 

 Force in school. Observe the flowers of the plum,* apple,* 

 willow,* poplar, maple. 



Special study of the sugar-maple.* Sap. Collect sap 



