AGRICULTURAL NATURE STUDY OUTLINES 
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them building their nests, feeding the young, and teaching them to 
fly. Keep a bird calendar, noting when each bird is first seen. How 
are birds useful to us? 
Insect life .—Notice any insects found in connection with the 
garden or any plant life studied during the year. Describe them in 
a general way, giving size, color, markings, etc. What are these 
insects called, their common names? What is the food of insects? 
How do they get their food ? Perhaps by observation they may learn 
that insects are grouped into two general classes according to the way 
in which they get their food, viz.: the biting and the sucking. This 
knowledge is necessary in order to use the proper spray to kill the 
injurious insects. Spraying and a more detailed study of the insects 
to be left till the upper grades. 
4. Physical Phenomena and the Inorganic World 
Weather calendar. —This should be kept each month, noting days 
of sunshine or clouds, rain or snow, etc. Temperature, direction of 
wind can be indicated. Also note changes of seasons. Why the days 
grow longer or shorter. What is the longest day? The shortest? 
Sky studies. —Where does the sun rise? Set? What direction is 
the sun from us at noon? What is meant by new moon? First 
quarter? Full moon? Last quarter? How does the moon shine? 
How often do we have full moon? Look at the sky on a clear night. 
What do you see? What is the “Milky Way”? Look for groups of 
bright stars. One group is called the Great Dipper. How many stars 
in this group ? Can you see the two stars called the ‘ ‘ pointers ” ? To 
what do they point ? Why is it important to know the North Star ? 
Rain. —What is it? How caused? What good does the rain do? 
What damage at times? How are clouds formed? What is a fog? 
How do hail and snow differ from rain ? How many inches of rainfall 
in your district? What is a rainbow? Tell about the colors. Does 
the snow ever fall in your part of the state ? If so, how deep does it 
get at times ? What good do you think the snow does ? 
The brook. —Appearance during the dry season. What change 
after the rain has fallen for a few days ? Where does this particular 
brook have its beginning? Its end? In what ways is the brook a 
busy worker ? Under what conditions does it do the most work ? The 
least work? What causes the difference in the color of the water? 
Are there any small stones or pebbles in the brook ? Are they rough 
or smooth ? Why ? Bring out the thought of running water as a force 
in soil formation. Watch a section of the brook during one rainy 
season and report changes in appearance. 
