ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL 47 



Let it be the children's duty to provide and care for these 

 school-room animals and plants. Teach them the needs of 

 the creatures and see that these are satisfied. A good deal 

 can be learned about the feeding and other habits of these 

 creatures in the school-room. They should be looked upon 

 not simply as decorative objects but as nature-study material. 



Do not let an animal or plant thirst or starve to death if 

 you can help it. Do not put a moisture-loving creature in 

 a dry cage, or vice-versa. Try to make the conditions as 

 natural for the caged animal or a plant as possible. This 

 will require an intelligent study of the needs of each, and 

 thus give a very good chance for nature-study. 



Incidental Outdoor Observations 



School-room study of nature should be supplemented with 

 outdoor observations. Get the children in the habit of see- 

 ing the things about them. Have them report on what they 

 see on their way to the school or oil a visit to the country. 

 After studying an object in the school-room, ask the children 

 to observe it outdoors and to note its surroundings or its 

 outdoor habits. Sometimes have them make preliminary 

 observations outdoors for a future indoor lesson. Thus, in 

 preparation for the lesson on winter birds, have the children 

 on the lookout for winter birds for a week or so before, and 

 let them report on their observations. These may then be 

 summarized, and conclusions drawn from them in the indoor 

 lesson. Similarly, preliminary observations should be made 

 in the daily weather study. 



Teach the children how to observe wild animals. If you 

 suddenly come upon a rabbit, a squirrel, a butterfly, or a 

 bird, stand still for a while and make no noise. Wild creat- 



