8 LESSON ON STAR-FISH. 



Nuthatches feed on insects, but will sometimes eat acorns and 

 other nuts. In order to get at the contents of these nuts, they break 

 them open by picking them as they hold them in one foot, that is 

 they hatch them ; hatch, being a word that is derived from the French 

 bacher, which means to chop or hack, whence the name of the bird, 

 nuthatch. 



EXPERIMENTAL, LESSONS. 



LESSON ON STAR-FISH IN AN EIGHTH GRADE 



SCHOOL. 



SOMERVILLE MASS. 



By 

 M. Eva Warren. 



I gave to my class, an Eighth Grade, a lesson upon the star-fish using 

 rlried specimens lent me by Mr. Maynard. The children had seen star- 

 fishes among the rocks- on the shore, and immediately became interested 

 in learning about them. Each pupil was provided with a specimen and 

 from this learned what he could. I did not give them a point which if 

 was possible for them to find out for themselves. After they had care- 

 fully examined and made drawings of both sides, I supplied the remain- 

 ing facts. They were delighted with the specimens of four, six, and 

 seven rayed star-fishes which Mr. Maynard sent them. 



Later in the week the children wrote what they could remember of 

 the lesson and the following papers give an idea of their work. 



That by Loena Snowman contains a large number of facts arranged 

 in the best manner. 



That by Thomas Dowd is a good example of a condensed style given? 

 in an original manner. 



[Many other papers were excellent. There were thirty-four articles 

 written, in eleven of which we find fifty or more facts recorded, the great- 

 est number being sixty-two, (this article was by Helen A. Keach.) In> 

 ten articles were recorded between forty and fifty facts, and in twelve 

 between thirty and forty ; in one, the smallest number, twenty-four. 



The drawings were on an average good, almost all showing thatf 

 the pupils grasped the ideas which their teacher intended to convey t# 

 them, or that the}' saw for themselves. Ed. 2 



