The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-01-11
The Primary Department.

who are six, seven and elgnt years |
of age.
The characteristics of children of |
this department differ very much |
from those in either the department |
proceeding or following this. These |
three years are years when the
child's brain is growing rapidly and |
is very susceptible to Impressions. |
The body is never more active. The |
children of this department go to
school and their vocabularies are
wonderfully increased yet their un-
derstanding of words is limited as
compared with children in the Jun
ior department. Their experience is
broadening as they come in contact
with outside life. They cannot long
| keep their attention on any subject
so the plan of work must be totally
| different from that of Juniors, yet
more memory work can be done than
| in the Beginners department. After
studying seriously the characteristics
and needs of primary children we
should see that our work meets those
needs.
The number of teachers in this
department will depend upon the
number of scholars. If the number
is small one person may act as
teacher and superintendent but
where the number is large there
should be a teacher for every six or
eight children as we'll as super
intendent in charge of the depart
ment.
A separate room for Primary
people is very helpful. If they are
in the main room they are continu-
ally seeing something in another
class which takes their attention
from the lesson--there is seldom
opportunity to use a blackboard or
pictures. Music and other exercises
suited to the age of the little ones
is not possible when other classes
are in the same room.
If your school does not have a
separate room, and few of our
schools do, provide the best sub
stitute. A vestibule or a room in
a neighbor's house may be used.
Perhaps the best substitute is the
screened corner of which we spoke
last week in our talk on the BE
ginners' Department" This room
, or corner should be made as attrac-
tive as possible. Small chairs are
best for little children. The floor
may be covered with carpet or mat
! ting and the walls and ceiling tint
| Gu VI pdpeTeu. "A musical luSlTu-
t ment is desirable though not an alb
solute necessity.
: A blackboard of some kind is
necessary. This may be stationed
on the wall or in movable frame, or
a piece of blackboard cloth may have
straight edge tackled at either
edge and be hung on the wall. Some
teachers hesitate about procuring a
blackboard feeling that if they had
one they would not be artists enough
| to use it, But it does not need an
artist. A person has the attention
; of child as soon as he has a piece
of chalk in his hand. You can put a
dot or a square on the board and
the child will clothe it in his imagi-
= nation and make of it a man, a
town, or any object you wish. Maps
on board may be used to great
+, advantage. Horace said; "Those
, things which enter the mind
e through the eye make a much more
l.. vivid impression than those which
S enter it through the ear" If this
! be true every teacher should have
:, and use a blackboard.
Pictures for each quarter will be
found helpful, and indeed, are al
most a necessity.
p Gle for the offering is needed.
A session program should be care
: fully planned and systematically car
ried out. 1t makes the work easier
, and makes the best use of time
Mrs. Baldwin, our State Elementary
>, Superintendent, gives the following
suggested program:
!, l. Soft music.
!. 2. Hand work.
n 3. Hymn of Praise.
: 4. Prayer service.
5. Fellowship service. Cradle Roll
Babies welcomed. Birthdays
noted, Little strangers wei
coined.
6. Offering service.
= 7. Supplemental work If Uniform
Lessons are used; not needed
, with Graded Lessons.
:, 8. Song.
u 8. Lesson story.
: 10. Closing song or prayer.
> IL. Distribution of papers.
IL. Teachers Conference.
70 The best lessons are the Primar!
u Graded Lessons. Write to your de
e nominational publishing house for in
D. formation in regard to them. Al
= teachers who want to do their bes
]
i Lessons.
If your school still uses Uniform
Lessons be sure to secure the Out
line for Supplemental Lessons to b
used in connection with the Uniform
n Lessons. Write to the Pennsylvani
N Sabbath School Association, Phila
ID delphia, Pa, for this Outline.
~ We give below list of books, an
rs of which will be helpful to the pri
H. mary teacher:
d. Practical Primary Plans $40
The Shepherds Psalm for
e. Children ................ 3
er Stories and Story Telling 49,. %
BIS Temperance Helps for Primary
Ill Teachers ........ ..... IS
ri Seven Laws of Teaching .... .5
1T A Study of Child Nature 49,. 10
Picture Work ............. L
le The Blackboard Glass. .... q
2 Songs of the Season. ... 2
O. Songs for Little People. ...... 6
le The King and His Wonderful
CaSIle ID
"a l.