The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-11-24
BY Mrs. Bertha Leiws

We are all aware tha, .or some
years past there has been an ever
increasing demand among educators
for better understanding OF things
from the things themselves by ac-
tual experience, instead OF merely
through book knowledge.
Songs and stories about nature,
for instance, though they are very
necessary and a very beautiful part
OF work with children, are not ma
ture study, but merely means OF
emphasizing the things which have
been observed by the child, and Of
aiding him to express his thoughts
OF these things in simple, beautiful
language, motion and rhythm. Each
new song or story about the object
under observation is the opening Of
new door into the world OF ma
turc and should lead to fresh OBJ
scrvations.
There is nothing more dear to a
child than preserved specimen. Ma
ture-Study deals with lie, and lie
appeals to the vitality in the child,
Ii a specimen is used. be sure it is
a live one or good picture (the
preserved specimen should be the
result OF tn elesson, not the basis
of iD.
We live in a world OF living ma
ture. What do we know OF the grass
under our feet the trees of forest
and plain, the insects whose apart
ment houses fill the dad tWigs, the
birds which nest in the woods and
fill the world with music, the stars
overhead, clouds, rain, hail, wind,
mist, dew, or the sun which shines
over all? The study OF nature has
to do with living things or things
that are doing something. The stars
are twinkling and making ligh'. The
snowflakes are falling, making pat
terms and bringing us messages
from fairyland.
The birds are hopping, flying sing
in building nests, laying eggs and |
feeding their young. The worm, are
crawling and ploughing the ground |
and so helping 20 make tngs grow.
Pussy is our pet; she is good com
pany and will play with us and purr
when happy. The dog is our friend;
he guards the house at night and |
will run, Jump and do tricks for us,
bark, growl howl and scratch. His
body must be made strong so he
can chase away big enemies al ours,
Jump for his food, bark for JOY,
growl when danger is near, and
scratch to dig holes il which TO
bury his bones. Why is his nose
so pointed and why are his eyes so
lar back? Where does he live:
How many legs, ears and eyes has
he?
The fruit, vegetables ard flowers
are al growing and vari-colored.
The fruit and vegetables are good to
eat and help us grow. The flowers
are frarant and beautiful.
Nature study will help the child )
to make simple, truthful observa-
ions upon the things about him, 70
lpreciate the beautiful in them. ard
o express his thoughts in his vari-
ous activities.
The habit Of accurate observation '
s very important. Some authority
las said that there are few errcrs
which arise from wifulness, COM
pared to those which arise from
want of care and eXactness in nOtlc- !
ng things quite easily noticeable. S
In the study OF nature
/. Do not try to teach too much i
n one lesson.
2. Let the child examine the OBJ II
ect if possible.
3. Lead him to notice first the T
characteristic features and qualities
f whatever is under discussion.
4. Remember that children are y
1ore interested in what things do !,
han in their form, Ii
Let the child examine a little
lant, seed-root and al. Lead him to I
bserve that it does something; 1t
ushes its roots down and its stem \