FORESTRY LESSONS ON HOME WOODLANDS 6 



the forest or woodlands. It is important to make records of their 

 abundance and their use and commercial value, the leading rough 

 timber products that have been sold, and the prices received. Such 

 information may be collected and tabulated. 



On a map of the township or one drawn by the students the homes 

 and farms of the different families should be indicated. The acreage 

 of each farm, the number and location of the buildings, and a sketch 

 of the woodlands should be indicated. 



ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL 



The proper use of illustrative material will arouse much more in- 

 terest in the subject and will make for greater success in teaching. 

 It is a good plan for teachers to provide a good collection of illus- 

 trative material and keep it available for use when needed. Many 

 times students can greatly assist in assembling suitable illustrative 

 material. Splendid illustrations can sometimes be procured from 

 bulletins, books, and other publications. Pictures that show the re- 

 lation in size of crown and trunk of a typical tree growing in the 

 open and a tree growing in close stand illustrate important facts. 



Drawings of the cross section of a tree trunk showing how the 

 tree increases by a new ring of growth each year stimulates interest. 

 Students may be induced to collect leaf specimens of trees of the 

 district and mount them on cardboard, after pressing and drying 

 the leaves. Samples of different kinds of woods obtained from trees 

 of uniform size of the locality may be mounted on boards or in 

 frames or racks constructed by students. The various specimens of 

 woods may be classified and mounted by students into groups, such 

 as hardwoods, soft woods, or oaks, maples, and pines. A collection 

 of such woods should be a part of the teaching equipment of every 

 school. Charts showing the relative importance and uses of the most 

 abundant woods should be made. Lantern slides showing important 

 facts about forestry should be used in connection with certain lessons. 

 The Extension Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D, C, has available slide sets pertaining to forestry. 



THE HOME PROJECT 



The use of the project method of teaching has gained wide recog- 

 nition in recent years. There can be no doubt that the intelligent 

 use of the project aids in motivation. An advantage claimed for 

 the project method is that it gives a better hold on subject matter 

 and develops a better plan of reasoning. 



It is generally agreed by teachers of agriculture that instruction 

 in that subject should follow certain definite lines: (1) It should be 

 seasonal. (2) It should be local in its interests and development. 

 (3) It should meet the interest of the pupils. (4) It should be 

 practical. The home-project plan affords the best means of meeting 

 these conditions, especially the practical side. The pupil is working 

 out for himself the principles and theories taught in the classroom. 



The term " home project " applies to instruction in elementary and 

 secondary agriculture and includes each of the following requisites : 

 (1) There should be a plan for work at home covering a season more 

 or less extended. (2) The plan should be a part of the instruction in 



