est children. They have also been greatly interested in learning the French words of a play, which is a useful exercise in pronunciation. I will give the words here:: L'ESTURGEON (Sturgeon). Commère Perche, Je vous salue ! Comment vous portez-vous? LA PERCHE (Perch). Je me porte très bien, et vous ? Fait de sole et de morue? LA SOLE ET LA MORUE (Sole and Cod). Commère Baleine, LA BALEINE (Whale). Très bien, et vous ? L'ESTURGEON. Pouvez-vous sauter en haut Comme moi, Au dessus de l'eau ? LA BALEINE. Je ne puis sauter si haut; L'ESTURGEON. Commère Hareng, je vous salue, LA HARENG (Herring). Je vais chez moi, chercher les jeunes, Commère truite, Je vous salue! Dites moi, je vous prie, LA TRUITE (Trout). Ah, par exemple, J'ai bien grand peur ; Voilà le brocheton Même si de bonne heure ! L'ESTURGEON. Commère Requin, Je vous salue! Que faites-vous là LE REQUIN (Shark). Je veux manger Le petit garçon, Qui pêche dans l'eau. Pour l'éperlan. L'EPERLAN (Smelt). Petit garçon, Je vous salue! Voilà la Requin Près de moi, et près de vous. (Tous les poissons se plongent.) The play consists in each fish being represented by a child; and the little boy also. As the Sturgeon asks her · questions, she jumps up and down, and as the fishes answer, they jump up and down, till all are in motion. But, before it is played, the whole must be learnt, - which is nearly a winter's work. CHAPTER XIII. GEOGRAPHY. MR. SHELDON, in his "Elementary Instruction," has shown the way in which we may begin to teach geography without books. To proceed in that way, up to the point of drawing all maps, is feasible in a Kindergarten, if the children stay long enough. My children learn a great deal about the geographical locality of animals, from the natural history lessons given over the blocks. A "Picturesque Geography," compiled by Mrs. Mann, from the most brilliant descriptions of travellers, may by and by be printed, and it would be a good book to read to children. It should be read slowly, requiring them to tell what it makes them see in their fancy. This comprises a great deal of physical geography, and is a desirable precursor of political geography, which will be studied to most advantage by and by, with history. (But history is altogether beyond the Kindergarten.) Children who have been educated in the Kindergarten thus far, will learn to draw maps. Mr. Sheldon proposes beginning with a map of the room, of the play-ground, and of the town. Guyot's Guyot's "Map-Drawing Cards," drawn by E. Sandoz, under the direction of Professor Arnold Guyot, and published by Charles Scribner, 124 Grand Street, New York, may here come in play. CHAPTER XIV. THE SECRET OF POWER. In the foregoing pages I have done what I can, to make a Kindergarten Guide; not only for the use of those who undertake the new education, but in order to give parents a definite idea of the value of the new education to their children, and how they may aid rather than hinder its legitimate effect. Parents who live in places so isolated as to make a Kindergarten impossible, may also get some hints how to supply the want in some measure, by becoming themselves the playmates of their children. I think it will be readily inferred, from what I have said, that the secret of power and success is gradualism. Any child can learn anything, if time and opportunity is given to go step by step. Then learning becomes as easy and agreeable as eating and drinking. Every degree of knowledge, also, must be practically used as soon as attained. It then becomes a power; makes the child a power in nature; and prepares him, when his spirit shall come into union with the God of Nature, and Father of Human Spirits, to become a power over Nature "for the glory of God and relief of man's estate." |