EXPERIMENTAL LESSONS. 93 



EXPERIMENTAL LESSONS. 



LESSON ON BIRDS IN A SIXTH GRADE, WILLIAMS SCHOOL, 



AUBURNDALE, MASS. 



BY 



Harriet B. Spooner. 



This paper, uncorrected, is the result of a half hour's 

 lesson given by Mr. Maynard to my pupils. 



In the lesson, a fish, squirrel, robin, song sparrow, and 

 vesper sparrow were used. 



This was the first time the pupils had ever been called 

 upon to take notes. 



[Articles worthy of notice were by Ethel Wyeth, Mar- 

 ion Chamberlin, Gladys Underwood, Elsie Purdey, and Ed- 

 ward D. Kendall. The question, why does the vesper 

 sparrow build its nest in an open field? was answered 

 correctly by Lizzie Long, as follows. Ed.] 



The reason why the vesper sparrow builds his nest in the open field 

 where the stubble grows, is because he is about the same color as the stubble 

 and is not noticed much. 



Some Native Birds, by Ruth Strongman. 



I have found by comparing a fish, a squirrel, and a bird that they all 

 three have some protection. The fish has scales to protect him : the squirrel 

 hair or fur to protect him ; and the bird feathers to protect him. A fish 

 needs scales to keep him from hurting himself as he runs against rocks and 

 such things. A squirrel needs fur to keep out the cold, as he stays north 

 all winter. A bird needs feathers to keep out the cold, and so that he can 

 fly easily. 



The male robin has a dark gray back, a jet-black head, orange-brown 

 breast, and an orange-yellow bill. The female robin has a lighter gray back 

 and head than the male robin, a gray-brown breast, and a gray bill. The 

 female robin does not attract as much attention when she is on the nest as 

 she would if she were brighter colored. 



The robins build their nests quite early in the spring. They are usu- 

 ally built in the crotch of a tree, or hidden by twigs and leaves. First the 



