The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1919-02-22
NATURE-STUDY FOR CHILDREN
BY MRS. BERTHA LEWIS.

We are all aware that for some
years past there has been an ever-in-
creasing demand among educators for
a better understanding of things from
the things themselves by actual ex-
perience, instead of merely through
book knowledge.
Songs and other stories about ma
ture, for instance, though they are
very necessary and very beautiful
part of the work with children, are
not nature-study, but merely a means
of emphasizing the things which have
been observed by the child, and of aid
ing him to express his thoughts of
these things in simple, beautiful Ian
guage, motion and rhythm. Each new
song or story about the object under
observation is the opening of new
door into the world of nature and
should lead to fresh observations.
There is nothing more dead to a
child than q preserved specimen. Ma
ture-study deals with life, and life ap-
peals to the vitality in the child. If a
specimen is used, be sure it is live
one or good picture (the preserved
| specimen should be the result of the
lesson, not the basis of iD.
We live in world of living nature.
| What do we know of the grass under
our feet, the trees of forest and plain,
| the insects whose apartment houses
| fill the dead 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
light. The snowflakes are falling,
making patterns and bringing us mes
sages from fairyland.
About Birds and Animals.
The birds are hopping. flying, sing
| ing. building nests, laying eggs and
feeding their young. The worms are
crawling and blowing the ground and
/ so helping to make things grow. Pussy
is our pet; she is good company 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 tch. His body
must be made strong so he can chase
away his enemies or ours, jump for
his food, bark for joy, growl when
danger is near, and scratch to dig
holes in which to bury his bones. Why
is his nose so pointed and why are
his eyes so far back? Where does
J. "A
eyes has he?
The fruit, vegetables and flowers
are all growing and vari-colored The
fruit and vegetables are good to eat
and help us grow. The flowers are
fragrant and beautiful.
Nature-study will help the child to
make simple, truthful observations
upon the things about him, to appre-
ciate the beautiful in them, and to
express his thoughts in his various
activities
The habit of accurate observation is
very important. Some authority has
said that there are few errors which
arise from wilfulness, compared to
those which arise from want of care
and exactness in noticing things quite
easily noticeable.
How to Teach.
In the study of nature:
1. Do not try to teach too much in
one lesson.
2. Let the child examine the object
IL possible.
3.'Lead them to notice first the char
acteristic features and qualities Of
whatever Is under discussion.
4. Remember that children are
more interested in what things do
than In their form.
Let the child examine little plant.
seed-root and all. Lead him to OBJ
serve that it does something; it
pushes its roots down and its stem up;
il eats and drinks, breathes, sleeps
and wakes.
1t makes things: Leaves and flow
ers, seed and fruits. Incidentally, no.
tlce the form and color that these
activities give to each individual plant.
Nature-study need not be dull or
difficult; it provides plenty of life and
action. 1t is mostly our own interest
that is dead, or our senses that need
quickening.
Grasp a few fundamental principles
and nature-study in the home, in the
kindergarten and in the school Will
become the children's delight, the
teachers friend, and occupation for
the nursery to help start the young
sters in busy work as well as a daily
delight when walking out.