184 NATURE STUDY LESSONS FOR PRIMARY GRADES 



We have been talking about the Austrian pine's 

 dress. Does it wear any ornaments ? (The cones.) 

 Where does it wear them ? Notice this carefully. 

 Are they all alike ? [Have twigs in the class with 

 cones of last summer's growth and others a year 

 older.] Notice color and size of each, the number in 

 a cluster (if you are so fortunate as to find two or 

 three together). Notice cones under the trees and 

 compare them with those on the twig. Do you find 

 on the ground any of the little cones? Why not? 

 Their work is not done. The leaves on the elms and 

 maples did not leave the tree until their work was 

 done, neither will the little cones. 



Let us see if we can find out what the work of the 

 cones is. The cones that have seen two summers 

 are chosen. Where on the twig did we find them ? 

 Draw the cone when first brought into the room. 

 Draw also the twig with the cone upon it, fixing its 

 place on the twig. [The children notice the queer 

 shapes of the doors with their comical little knobs ; 

 they also notice how each door is braced in front by 

 two doors at its side and one before it. The doors 

 are very many, and are closed so tightly that it is 

 with great trouble that we get them open.] Will 

 the cone not let us know what she is guarding so 



