42 NATURE-STUDY 



of some slight detail will often spoil an experiment. If the 

 teacher does the experiment before class-time, she will see 

 difficulties both for herself and her pupils and can prepare 

 for them. Experiments in nature-study require no elaborate 

 apparatus. Any ingenious teacher, aided by bright pupils, 

 can construct and invent simple and efficient "home-made" 

 apparatus. The boys will hke to make models of machines 

 and other mechanical apparatus. The school stove, radia- 

 tor, oil-lamp, or alcohol-stove will do for a source of heat. 

 Glasses, cups, and bottles will replace test-tubes and beakers. 

 Spools make good pulleys. Old files or knitting-needles 

 make excellent magnets when stroked on a magnet. Many 

 other pieces of apparatus may be devised, that for nature- 

 study will do as well as those which are factory-made. If 

 there is a manual training department in the school, it 

 should -be utilized as much as possible in the making of 

 apparatus. 



The high school science teacher will generally be found 

 ready with suggestions and assistance, if the nature-study 

 teacher appeals to him. Apparatus and material may often 

 be secured through him. He may be willing to give the 

 children experimental exhibitions or talks on nature sub- 

 jects. Often he has valuable lantern slides that he can show 

 the grade children. For instance, get him to give an illus- 

 trated talk on birds, insects, plants, etc. The children would 

 be delighted to hear these talks. He may also give experi- 

 ments with the air-pump, the static electric machine, etc. 

 Similarly, college professors may often be got to aid the grade 

 teacher. Again, physicians and others interested in scien- 

 tific lines are often willing to lend apparatus, specimens, 

 pictures, etc., and to give elementary talks on their special 



