Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-17
Children Go to Groves and Fields to
Learn
TAKEN TO THEY GEOLOGICAL PARK
Visiting the Deds and Cages and
Studying the Animals.
AN AL FRESCO REVIEW

n,
in operation at the Mccormick public
school, opened most propitiously. the at
tendance being on the increase The chill
dren are notified on Friday of the program
of work outlined for each day of the follow
ing week, and in this way lively interest is
kept up in anticipation of coming events
Then, too, the older pupils, knowing the
subject in advance, will look up references
bearing on that subject.
There were several valuable and interest
ing features arranged and presented during
the past week. The scientific experiments
along the line of electricity were continued
in connection with work upon the telephone
The phones were put together and thor
oughly explained. They were placed at the
end of the lesson. connecting the two rooms,
there to remain for practical use by the
children. The messages between these
rooms are now sent by telephone
DR.. Johnson of the Eastern High School
performed a series of practical and inter-
esting experiments showing the relation of
physical phenomena to everyday life treat
lesson by DR.. w. ]. Hart. DR.. Hart
demonstrated how diseases are searched
for in the human system. This he showed
with and without instruments, the children
being used for subjects. experimenting the
regular music Miss Stutz related interest
ing facts about the lives of Wagner and
Beethoven. selections being played for the
children from these masters. Miss Stark
weather at odd times sketched the chill
dren, and the close resemblance of the
sketches to those posing was a marvel to
the youthful scholars. This work has de-
yeloped mania for sketching. and Miss
Starkweather Is kept busy and the boards
are kept filled with the attempts of the
amateur artists. Each day of the week
holds some particular interest for the pu-
pills, and it is hard to say on which day the
faces seem brightest.
A Trip to the Zoo.
If any day overtops another in interest
it is perhaps the field day. Tuesday Last
weeks outing was at Cleveland Park and
was a thoroughly profitable and enjoyable
one This weeks trip was to the Zoo. and
was even more enjoyable due in a great
measure to the increased knowledge of the
children since their last jaunt. When that
crowd of bright-faced. happy children
boarded the car for this excursion they
knew how that car rolled along they re-
lated to each other their knowledge of cleo
tricity and the motorman naturally became
the giant of the occasion, being the man
who made things move His theoretical
knowledge was tested, too, in answering
the multltudinous questions of the children
1t was pleasant to note the desire to tell
one another the directions in which the car
happened to be moving. and the exchange
of views and knowledge respecting the uses
of the various public buildings passed on
the way. The conduct of the children was
in every way worthy of praise The points
of interest so new to many of these little
ones, kept them thoroughly occupied
that the idea of misbefaving never occurred
to their minds. They were not, as far as
they knew, entirely without supervision,
and not once did any child have to be
spoken to.
Arriving at the Zoo. they were turned
loose to the animals Apropos Of their
recent Grecian history talks, the harry
eagle was seen with the bloody remnants
of a rabbit in his clutches. The influence
of Rosa Bonheur's and Landseer's pictures
was admirably displayed in the way the
children would exclaim, 'Dh. there's the
Stag at the Lake. ., or See, see! Look,
look! See the Monarch of the Glen There
are his great branching horns that caused
his DEATH" Whereupon these great pic
lures became the subject of discussion, and
many were the comparisons between their
work and that of Millet and other masters.
At Cleveland Park.
When the Zoo was thoroughly inspected
a tramp in order. The school made a
cross-cut to Cleveland Park the scene of
their last journey. Here, on the banks of a
stream. lunch was eaten and romp in
dulged in. Shoes and stockings came off.
and up and down the stream waded young
and old. Up the trees went the boys. One
boy followed a chipmunk half into hol-
low tree, and became very much disap-
pointed when the sharp-toothed rodent
gave him the slip. The tree and the Incl
dent made excellent material for an OBJ
jective lesson on the chipmunk's home. An
Interesting talk followed, and they all saw
the many entrances to the chipmunk's spa
cious abode. Another opportunity for les
son was given. A bees nest was trodden
upon, and, after mud plasters were applied
and tears dried up, a little knowledge was
impaired concerning the home of the lance
protected insect which so inhosptably
greeted our visit. When tired of playing
bean bag, of jumping rope, OF running,
climbing, wading all were gathered on the
banks of the stream and an impromptu re-
view INDUCED in.
A Review.
"How do we get to the Zoo?
what moves the cars?
What did you notice about the direc-
tons of the numbered streets?-of the let
tered streets?-of the avenues?
What public buildings did we pass?
What is the of this building?-of that?
OF what is that building made?
From where did the stone come? How
do they get it? Who pays for it? Where
does the government get the money to pay
for it?
How could you let the people at the Zoo
know you We're coming? Suppose you didn't
have time to send d letter? What do you
know about telephones? How far can you
telephone? Suppose you wanted to send
quick message farther than you could tele-
telegraph? How do people in other cities
know about our Zoo?
"How are papers printed? How else do
they know? How are books made? What
do you know about printing? Who did the
first printing? What kind of books were
first printed? How were the type made?
OF what use are books? Anything in these
books besides words?
How do they get pictures? Tell me some
little about photography? Are all pictures
photographs? What is the difference be
tween photography and, engraving? What
I'm what other way, then, does the gov
ernment get money except by land taxes?
Which is the giant 23anntal of the Zoo
and which the pigmy? What. does that put
you in mind of? Who wrote srhe. Pigmies?'
Hawthorne-yes. Wharelse has he written
that you have read? TN "a
Read any stories of animals? Tell me
one. Which animal was most like Ulysses
wooden horse? Tell me about Ulysses. How
did Circe charm Ulyssesp Well, let US sing.
and II your Ulysses ghost is roaming
around maybe we'll charm Him.
Then songs, voluminous, fellowed-sweet,
cheerful. Wed with the sweetness of the
cardinals merry songtsIt was a pleasing
sight to see these children stretched COM
fortabiy on the bank singing "Suwanee
River. "Rock-a-Bye, Lady. eof Hush-a-Bye
Land" Little John, Bottle john" and
other entertaining melodies