6 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-EXPERIMENT STATION 
occasion for the community. All grades of the school must have a 
part in this. There need be no competition or prizes even, simply a 
show for its own sake. 
3. Animal Life throughout the Year 
Common domestic animals. —Name the various animals of pasture 
and barnyard. The pets of the household, poultry, etc. Have children 
talk about care of animals, the service they render in the way of labor, 
food, and pleasure. Emphasize the cow and the hen. Emphasize 
cleanliness of cow-barn and chicken house. Sanitary milk and egg 
production. Create appreciation of the best in animal life. 
Wild animals. —Name such as may be found in the locality, rabbits, 
gophers, deer, bear, etc. Which are injurious to the farmer and how ? 
Means taken for extermination of enemies to plant and animal life on 
the farms. 
Birds. —What birds are present when school opens? What have 
gone? Which come with the rainy season? Which with the opening 
of spring? What ones stay all winter? Make a few simple observa¬ 
tions on two or three of the most common birds during the year. Find 
out what the children already know about birds, create in them a 
desire to know more about bird life, and leave to the other years a 
progressive study of details. 
Insect life. —Interest the children in watching grasshoppers, butter¬ 
flies, bees, etc. Do not make this first year an intensive study in 
economic entomology. Have them know what an insect is, if they do 
not know. Have them know in a general way about two or three 
common insects injurious to garden, field, and orchard. Detailed 
study in later years. 
4. Physical Phenomena and the Inorganic World 
Weather. —Effects of long, dry season, change of season, rain, 
clouds, winds, snow, ice, frost, etc. The weather calendar and use of 
the thermometer. 
The brook. —Action of running water, stones, pebbles, sand, 
erosion, gullevs, etc. 
Soil. —Appearance in dry season and in wet season. Dust, mud. 
