II. THE ENVIRONMENT OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



Problem. — To discover some of the factors of the environment 

 of plants and animals. 



(a) Environment of a plant. 



Cb) Environment of an animal. 



(c) Home environment of a girl or boy. 



Laboratory Suggestions 



Laboratory demonstrations. — Factors of the environment of a living 

 plant or animal in the vivarium. 



Home exercise. — The study of the factors making up my own environ- 

 ment and how I can aid in their control. 



To THE Teacher. — This chapter may be made one of the most vital in the 

 course by introducing in a broad way what the environment gives to the living 

 things which are within it, how plants and animals are limited by their environment, 

 and how man alone of all hving creatures may change and modify his environ- 

 ment for better or for worse. This last problem is fundamental to aU the work that 

 is to follow. This introductory chapter gives the child the keynote of the problems 

 which follow and enlists his sympathy and interest from the first, for it shows him 

 that biology is a very human subject and one vital to the understanding of how to 

 better his environment. It is understood that the problems as outUned are possible 

 of many modifications, the environment of the pupils serving as the guide to the 

 type of questions to be given. The needs of city children and the condition of their 

 environment differ in many ways from those of country children. But the fun- 

 damental factors of the environment are the same, and by comparison should be 

 shown to be the same. 



Problem 1 : To determine the factors of environment. 



Method and Observations. — What is a factor in arithmetic? 

 In algebra? How might the term be used in speaking of our 

 surroundings ? 



NOTE. — The environment of a living thing is that which surrounds it and from 

 which it receives certain materials necessary for its life. 



What is your environment? Give examples of some different 

 kinds of environments. (See Hunter's Civic Biology, Chap. II.) 

 Explain the term " factors of environment." 



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