comstock] A GRADED COURSE IN BIRD STUDY . 151 



Meanwhile the pupils should be encouraged to observe birds and 

 talk about all they see. This is a very important part of the work. 

 Especially encourage reports about the nesting habits of those birds 

 that build near our dwellings, always impressing upon the children 

 the danger of driving the birds away by tampering with the eggs or 

 nests. 



Impromptu plays based upon the Burgess stories or upon the 

 observed habits of the robin, will add greatly to the vitality of the 

 work. 



THIRD GRADE 



The activities of this year may profitably center around the feed- 

 ing of birds in winter and the special event of the year should be 

 providing a bird Christmas tree. To make this work successful 

 there should be a feeding station near the school house where the 

 pupils may see it from the windows. If it were possible for any 

 of the pupils to put up suet on the trees about their homes and put 

 out tables with sunflower seeds and other bird food much interest 

 would be added. 



For busy work the pupils should color bird outlines with crayons 

 and for these the most common and familiar birds should be 

 chosen. In this way at least fifteen birds should be learned well 

 enough to be recognized when seen. 



Stories should be read concerning the birds studied especially 

 stories of the winter experiences of those that go southward. 



FOURTH GRADE 



The plan of this year's work should be to promote an actual 

 acquaintance on the part of the pupils with at least thirty common 

 birds. The schoolroom work should consist of coloring bird out- 

 lines and talks about the birds which the pupils have observed out 

 of doors. One practical way of accomplishing this work is to let 

 each pupil make a calendar for each month, each page of which 

 should be about 9x12 inches and may be made of heavy wrapping 

 paper. Let the pupil find some picture appropriate to the month 

 to paste at the top of the sheet then have him color outlines of birds 

 which may be seen that month; then he should cut them out and 

 paste them on the sheet. There should be three or four birds for 

 each month. The folllwing are suggested: 



September : Redstart, wood thrush, wood pewee, humming bird. 



October: Phcebe, catbird, wren, scarlet tanager. 



