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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:54:15 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:54:15 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/30676-8.txt b/30676-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee9a399 --- /dev/null +++ b/30676-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3500 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Primary Handwork, by Ella Victoria Dobbs + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Primary Handwork + + +Author: Ella Victoria Dobbs + + + +Release Date: December 14, 2009 [eBook #30676] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIMARY HANDWORK*** + + +E-text prepared by Stephanie Eason and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from digital material +generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries +(http://www.archive.org/details/americana) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 30676-h.htm or 30676-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30676/30676-h/30676-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30676/30676-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + http://www.archive.org/details/primaryhandwo00dobbrich + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + + Text in bold face is enclosed by equal signs (=bold=). + + + + +PRIMARY HANDWORK + + * * * * * * + + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + + NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO · DALLAS + ATLANTA · SAN FRANCISCO + + MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED + + LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA + MELBOURNE + + THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. + + TORONTO + + * * * * * * + + +[Illustration: HOUSE OF THE THREE BEARS + +Built by first-grade class. Columbia, Missouri. See page 58.] + + +PRIMARY HANDWORK + +by + +ELLA VICTORIA DOBBS, B.S., A.M. + +Assistant Professor of Manual Arts +University of Missouri + + + + + + + +New York +The Macmillan Company +1923 + +All rights reserved + +Copyright, 1914, +by The Macmillan Company. + +Set up and electrotyped. Published June, 1914. + +Norwood Press +J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. +Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. + + + + + DEDICATED TO + THE LITTLE CHILDREN OF AMERICA + WITH THE WISH + THAT ALL THEIR SCHOOL DAYS + MAY BE HAPPY DAYS + + + + +PREFACE + + +This book is the outgrowth of long experience as a teacher of primary +grades, followed by special study of handwork as a factor in elementary +education. It is written with three objects in view: + +First, to gather into a single volume various methods already in use in +the more progressive schools, and for which the best suggestions are +scattered through current periodicals: + +Second, to organize these methods and present them in a simple form for +the use of teachers who have had no special training in handwork +processes: + +Third, accepting conditions as they exist in the small town school and the +one-room country school, as a basis of organization, to offer suggestions +which may be easily adapted to the conditions of any school with a view to +bringing present practice into closer harmony with the best educational +ideals. + +No claim is laid to originality, beyond the small details in which one +person's interpretation of a large problem will differ from that of +another. + +The projects here outlined have been tested in the Public Schools of +Columbia, Missouri, under conditions which are common to towns of about +the same size. + +The point of view has been influenced chiefly by the educational +philosophy of Prof. John Dewey, especially as expressed in his essay "The +Child and the Curriculum." The author wishes here to make grateful +acknowledgement to Dr. Dewey, not only for the helpfulness of his +writings, but also for the inspiration of his teaching. + +Thanks are also due to Dr. Naomi Norsworthy of Teachers College, and to +Dean W. W. Charters of Missouri University, for encouragement in planning +the book and for criticism of the manuscript. Especial acknowledgment is +here made to Prof. R. W. Selvidge of Peabody College for Teachers, +formerly of this University, for hearty coöperation and helpful +suggestions in working out the problems described in this book, and to the +teachers of the Columbia Schools for their most efficient services in +testing these problems in their classrooms. + +E. V. D. + +UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, + +February, 1914. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I. INTRODUCTION 1 + + II. PAPER CUTTING AND POSTER MAKING 6 + + III. BOOKLETS 17 + + IV. CRITICISM AND STANDARDS OF WORKMANSHIP 24 + + V. THE HOUSE PROBLEM 27 + + VI. THE VILLAGE STREET 65 + + VII. SAND TABLES AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM 77 + + VIII. ANIMALS AND TOYS 102 + + IX. HOLIDAYS 112 + + X. GENERAL SUGGESTIONS AND SUMMARY 115 + + REFERENCES 123 + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + PAGE + + House of the Three Bears _Frontispiece_ + + 1. Paper Cutting. First Grade 7 + + 2. Paper Cutting. Second Grade 8 + + 3. Paper Cutting. Second Grade 10 + + 4. Paper Tearing 11 + + 5. Paper Cutting. Third Grade 13 + + 6. Paper Cutting. Fourth Grade 15 + + 7. Pamphlet Sewing 22 + + 8. Japanese Sewing 22 + + 9. House arranged on a Shelf 28 + + 10. A Medieval Castle 29 + + 11. House arranged on a Table--Front View 32 + + 12. House arranged on a Table--Side View 33 + + 13. House arranged on a Table--Back View 34 + + 14. House Plan 35 + + 15. Arrangement of Windows 36 + + 16. Detail of Hollow Square 38 + + 17. Borders 39 + + 18. Looms and Samples of Weaving 41 + + 19. Box House by Second Grade 43 + + 20. Detail for Paper Weaving 44 + + 21. Furniture from Wood Blocks 48 + + 22. Furniture from Wood Blocks 48 + + 23. Home of White Cloud, the Pueblo Girl 51 + + 24. Detail of Stairway 54 + + 25. Box House, showing Roof 55 + + 26. Detail of Gable 56 + + 27. Colonial Kitchen 56 + + 28. House of the Three Bears 59 + + 29. Cornstalk House 60 + + 30. A Flour Mill 62 + + 31. Box House and Stores 66 + + 32. A Village Street 68 + + 33. A Grocery. Fourth Grade 70 + + 34. A Grocery. Third Grade 73 + + 35. A Dry Goods Store 75 + + 36. Home in a Hot Country 76 + + 37. Home in a Cold Country 76 + + 38. A Sand-table Farm. First Grade 80 + + 39. A Sand-table Farm. Second Grade 80 + + 40. Detail of Chicken Fence 81 + + 41. Detail of Paper Tree 84 + + 42. Overall Boys' Farm 86 + + 43. An Apple Orchard 87 + + 44. Robinson Crusoe 89 + + 45. Pueblo Indian Village 90 + + 46. A Home in Switzerland 92 + + 47. Two Little Knights of Kentucky 94 + + 48. How Cedric became a Knight 94 + + 49. A Sugar Camp 95 + + 50. A Western Cattle Ranch 96 + + 51. The Story of Three Little Pigs 98 + + 52. A Japanese Tea Garden 99 + + 53. A Coal Mine 99 + + 54. A Chariot Race 102 + + 55. A Circus Parade 103 + + 56. Three-ply Wooden Animals 104 + + 57. Detail for Three-ply Wooden Animals + with Movable Parts 105 + + 58. Notched Rest for Animals 106 + + 59. Balancing Figures 107 + + 60. Some Simple Toys 108 + + 61. Adjusting Jumping-Jack in Frame 109 + + + + +PRIMARY HANDWORK + + + + +PRIMARY HANDWORK + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCTION + + +In setting forth the plan and purpose of this little book the author +wishes to lay equal emphasis on its limitations. The outlines and +suggestions which follow are designed for the use of grade teachers who +have had little or no training in handwork processes but who appreciate +the necessity of making worthy use of the child's natural activity and +desire to do. The outlines are arranged with reference to schools which +are not provided with special equipment and which have scant funds for +supplies. The projects require only such materials as empty goods boxes, +and odds and ends of cloth and paper, which are easily obtainable in any +community. No extra time is required for the work, and it may be +successfully carried out by any teacher who is willing to devote a little +study to the possibilities of things near at hand. + +These outlines do not form a course of study to be followed in regular +order nor in set lessons coming at a definite time. They are, rather, a +series of suggestions to be used wherever and whenever they will serve a +worthy purpose. They are not to be regarded as a _special_ subject, +having little or no connection with the regular class work, but rather as +an illustrative method of teaching the regular subject matter whenever the +teaching can be done more effectively by means of concrete illustrations. +It is proposed to make greater use of construction as a medium of +expression, and place _making_ more nearly on a par with talking, writing, +and drawing. + +Any of the projects outlined may be modified to suit varying conditions, +and the emphasis placed according to the needs of a particular class. All +the suggestions are given in very simple form, chiefly from the standpoint +of the first grade, for the reason that it is easier to add to the details +of a simple problem than to simplify one which is complex. + +It is not the purpose here to emphasize the training of the hand or the +development of technique in handwork processes to the extent commonly +expected of a course in manual arts, though considerable dexterity in the +use of tools and materials will undoubtedly be developed as the work +proceeds. While careless work is never to be tolerated in construction any +more than it would be tolerated in writing or drawing, the standard is to +be only such a degree of perfection as is possible through a child's +unaided efforts. It is proposed to provide him with things to do of such +interest to him that he will wish to do his best, and things of such a +nature that they will please him best when they are well done, and so +stimulate a genuine desire for good work. To this end the suggestions +relate to things of immediate value and use to the children themselves, +rather than to things commonly comprehended in a list of articles which +are useful from the adult point of view. + +The work is to be kept on a level with the child's experience and used as +a means of broadening his experience and lifting it to a higher level. It +must also be kept on the level of his constructive ability in order that +he may do things _by himself_, and develop independence through feeling +himself master of his tools. Neither patterns nor definite directions are +provided for the details of the projects outlined, for the reason that it +is desired to make every project a spontaneous expression of the child's +own ideas. To this end the outline serves only as a framework, to be +filled in as the worker desires. The ready-made pattern implies dictation +on the part of the teacher and mechanical imitation and repetition on the +part of the pupil,--a process almost fatal to spontaneous effort. While it +is possible through a method of dictation to secure results which seem, at +first, to be much better than the crude constructions which children are +able to work out for themselves, it is only a superficial advantage, and +one gained at the expense of the child's growth in power to think and act +independently. It is an advantage closely akin to the parrotlike +recitation of the pupil who catches a few glib phrases and gives them back +without thought, as compared with the recitation of the pupil who thinks +and expresses his thoughts in his own childish language. + +These outlines are intended not only to emphasize independence in +self-expression, but also to foster a social spirit through community +effort and develop a sense of responsibility through division of labor. A +child's shortcomings will be brought home to him much more vividly if he +fails to contribute some essential assigned to him in the construction of +a coöperative project, and thereby spoils the pleasure of the whole group, +than when his failure affects only his individual effort in a group of +duplicate projects. + +These outlines are intended also to suggest a method of opening up to the +children, in an attractive way, the great field of industry. Their deep +interest in playing store leads easily to a study of the source, use, and +value of various forms of merchandise and the essential features of +various trades and occupations. Problems of this sort are fascinating to +children in all the lower grades, are rich in valuable subject matter, and +suggest things to do which are both interesting and worth while. Without +attempting to exhaust any phase of the subject, they awaken an intelligent +interest in the industrial world and tend to stimulate thoughtful +observation. They help to give the children correct ideas about industrial +processes as far as their knowledge goes, and to create a desire for +further knowledge. This general information lays a good foundation for +later and more serious study of the industries and the choice of a +vocation. + +These outlines are offered as a means of bridging the gap between the +formal methods and outgrown courses of study still in use and the richer +curriculum and more vital methods toward which we are working. Much time +must be spent in study and experimentation before a satisfactory +reorganization of the curriculum can be worked out. Without waiting until +this work shall be wholly completed, it is possible at once to vitalize +the most formal course of study through the use of freer methods, which +permit and encourage self-directed activity on the part of the pupil. The +use of such methods will not only tend to create a deeper interest in +school work, but must also help toward the great problem of +reorganization, by throwing into stronger relief the strength and weakness +of our present common practice. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +PAPER CUTTING AND POSTER MAKING + + +Paper and scissors form a fascinating combination to all children, and +offer a very direct means of self-expression. In the language of a small +boy who attempted to tell how to do it, "You just think about something +and then cut out your _think_." The teacher is concerned chiefly with the +"think" and the way in which it is expressed. The children are interested +in paper cutting chiefly from the pleasure of the activity. Beyond the +immediate pleasure in the process, the cuttings are valuable only as they +indicate the clearness of the child's ideas and measure his ability to +express them. The process is educative only in so far as it helps the +small worker to "see with his mind's eye" and to give tangible shape to +what he thus sees. It is important, therefore, that the work be done in a +way that will emphasize the thinking rather than the finished product. + +The first question arising is, To what extent shall a pattern be used? +Shall the teacher cut out the object and bid the class follow her example? +Shall she display a silhouette or outline drawing of the object she +desires the children to cut, or shall they work without any external guide +to justify or modify the mental picture? Shall they be given a pattern and +be allowed to draw around it? + +All of the above methods are used to a greater or less extent. Long +experience seems to indicate that the first cutting of any object should +be unassisted by any external representation of it whatever, in order that +the attention of each child may be focused upon his own mental picture of +the object. When he has put forth his best effort from this standpoint, he +should compare his cutting with the real object or a good picture of it +and be led to see the chief defects in his own production and then allowed +to try again. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.--Story of Jack Horner on poster and sand table. +Snowflakes in background. First grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +For example, after telling the story of Mother Hubbard, the children may +be interested in cutting out dogs. No picture or other guide should be +used at first, since every child knows something about dogs. The first +cuttings are likely to be very poor, partly because the children have not +sufficient control over the scissors and largely because their ideas are +very vague. In a general comparison of work they will help each other with +such criticisms as, "This dog's head is too big." "That dog's legs are too +stiff." They are then ready to try again. Only when they have reached the +limit of their power to see flaws in their work do they need to compare it +with the real dog or its picture. Only after a child has attempted to +express his idea and has become conscious in ever so small a degree of the +imperfection of his expression will he really be able to see differences +between the real object and his representation of it, and thereby clarify +his mental picture. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.--Paper cutting. Second grade, Columbia.] + + +The child's imagination is so strong that he is apt to see his productions +not as they are but as he means them to be, and he is unable to +distinguish between the original and his copy of it. If the picture or +silhouette is presented at first, his work becomes to a large extent mere +copying rather than self-expression. If the teacher cuts out a dog and +displays it as a sample, the class will be apt to see that piece of paper +only and not a real dog. If the children are permitted to draw the outline +either freehand or around a pattern, still less mental effort is required, +and in cutting they see only the bit of line just ahead of the scissors +and not the object as a whole. + +Such methods (_i.e._ the use of outlines, silhouettes, etc.) will produce +better immediate results. It will be easier to distinguish dogs and cats +from cows and horses if a pattern is provided, but it will not produce +stronger children. Such methods only defeat the chief purpose of the work, +which is to stimulate the mental effort required to hold the mental image +of the object in the focus of attention during the time required to +reproduce it in the material form. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.--Paper cutting. Second grade.] + + +It is also often asked whether the children shall always cut directly and +without modification or whether they shall be permitted to trim off the +imperfections of their first attempts. While any rule must always be +interpreted in the light of immediate circumstances, it is generally best +to cut directly, and after noting the defects, cut again. It is then +possible to compare the several attempts and see if improvement has been +made. Attention should be directed to the most glaring defect only, and an +attempt made to correct it. For example, if the dog's head is too large, +do not trim down, but cut another dog and try for better proportions. +Compare the second attempt with the first, to measure improvement. Even +little children can be taught to work in this thoughtful way, looking for +the defects in their own work and making definite attempts to correct +them. To this end much cutting from an unlimited supply of newspaper or +scratch paper will accomplish more than a few exercises in better paper +which must be trimmed and worked over for the sake of economy. If little +children are allowed to trim off, they are apt, in the pure joy of +cutting, to trim too much and lose the idea with which they started--a +process which tends to vagueness rather than clearness. To prevent this it +is often helpful to preserve both pieces of paper, _i.e._ the cutting and +the hole. (See Fig. 4.) + +=Paper Tearing.=--Paper tearing serves many of the same purposes sought in +cutting, and has several strong points in its favor. Working directly with +the finger tips tends to develop a desirable dexterity of manipulation. +The nature of the process prevents the expression of small details and +tends to emphasize bold outlines and big general proportions. Working +directly with the fingers tends also to prevent a weak dependence upon +certain tools and tends to develop power to express an idea by whatever +means is at hand. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.--Paper tearing.] + + +=Posters.=--The term "poster" as here used includes all mounted pictures +made by children, such as cuttings, drawings, paintings, and scrap +pictures. + +A poster may be the work of one child or of a group. A single poster may +tell the whole story, or a series of posters may be made to show a +sequence of events. A series of posters may be bound together in book +form. For poster making single sheets of paper, medium weight and of +neutral tone, are needed. The sheets should be of uniform size for +individual use so that they could be bound together if desired. For +coöperative work and special problems larger sheets will be needed. + + +SUGGESTED PROBLEMS FOR PAPER WORK + +=Cutting out Pictures.=--This serves well for first effort with scissors. +The interest in the picture furnishes a motive, while the outline serves +as a guide and allows the attention to be given wholly to the control of +the scissors. + +_Free cutting of single objects_--such as animals, fruits, trees, +furniture, utensils, etc.--intensifies and clarifies mental pictures and +stimulates observation if the child is led to express his own ideas first +and then to compare his expression with the original and note his +deficiencies. As far as possible choose objects with strong bold outlines +for the first attempts. There should be some marked feature, such as +Bunny's long ears, which calls for emphasis. To cut a circular piece of +paper which might be an apple or a peach, a walnut or a tomato, will not +aid much in clarifying a mental picture, while Bunny's long ears, even +though crudely cut, will be more deeply impressed on the child's mind. + +=Illustrations for Stories.=--_Single Illustration._--After a story has +been read aloud and the characters and events freely discussed by the +class, each child may be encouraged to represent the part which has +appealed to him--_i.e._ "cut what he wants to cut." After the cuttings are +mounted they will probably form a series which will tell the whole story. +When several children illustrate the same feature, it offers opportunity +for comparison and judgment as to which ones have told the story most +effectively. For example, in the story of the Three Bears, the cuttings +may show the three bears in three relative sizes, the three chairs, the +three beds, the table, and the three bowls of porridge. (See notes on +Criticism.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 5.--Free cutting. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Series._--Let each child select the two or three most important events in +a story and illustrate these in a single poster or series of posters. + +_Community Poster._--A long story such as the "Old Woman and the Silver +Sixpence" may be illustrated by the class as a whole, each child cutting +some one feature. This requires attention to relative proportions so that +the parts may be in harmony when assembled. Such posters may be used for +wall decoration. + +=Charts.=--Poster making may also include the making of charts containing +samples of manufactured articles in various stages of development. For +example, a chart on cotton might show raw cotton, cord, thread, cloth of +various sorts, lace, paper, and other materials made from cotton. Such a +chart might also include pictures of cotton fields, spinning and weaving +machinery, and other related features. + +=Materials.=--Too much can scarcely be said in favor of much cutting from +an unlimited supply of common wrapping paper, newspaper, or other waste +paper, in which the children are entirely unhampered by such injunctions +as, "Be careful and get it just right the first time, because you can't +have another paper if you waste this piece." The possible danger of +cultivating wastefulness is less serious and more easily overcome than the +very probable danger of dwarfing and cramping the power of expression. +Here, if anywhere, the rule holds good that we learn to do by doing, and +abundant practice is essential to success. + +_Black silhouette_ or _poster_ paper is most effective when mounted, but +is too expensive for general use in large classes. + +_Brown kraft_ paper and _tailor's pattern_ paper serve well for both +cuttings and mounts. Both of these papers may be had by the roll at a low +cost. The tailor's paper comes in several dull colors, which make good +mounts for cuttings from white scratch paper or the fine print of +newspaper. + +_Bogus_ paper makes an excellent mount and is very inexpensive. + +=The Pasting Process.=--To a large number of teachers the pasting lesson +is a time to be dreaded and its results a cause of discouragement. +Especially is this true if the class is large and the teacher attempts to +have all the class pasting at one time. In many phases of school work it +is so much easier to control forty or fifty children if they all act in +unison that we are prone to use the method too often and apply it to forms +of work much better managed by groups. The process of teaching little +folks to paste is greatly simplified by the use of the group method. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 6.--Free cutting. Fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +If the room affords a large table at which a small group may work, the +teacher can easily supervise the work of the entire group. If there is no +table, the teacher can work with one or two rows at a time or have very +small groups come to her desk. The secret of the success of the group +method lies in having the rest of the class busy with some occupation +sufficiently interesting to prevent impatience while waiting for turns. +The command to "fold hands and sit still till your turn comes" is sure to +cause trouble, because children are physically unable to obey it. + +The most important factor in successful pasting is a liberal supply of +waste paper. Each child should be supplied with a number of single sheets +of newspaper torn to convenient size, to paste on, each sheet to be +discarded as soon as used. This decreases the danger of untidy work. With +the cutting laid upon the waste paper, the paste may be spread with brush, +thin wood, or thick paper, well out over the edges. As soon as the pasted +cutting is lifted the waste paper should be folded over to cover all wet +paste and lessen the possibility of accidents. After the cutting is placed +upon the mount, a clean piece of waste paper should be laid over it and +rubbed until the air is all pressed out and the cutting adheres firmly. +The waste paper overlay may be rubbed vigorously without harm, whereas a +light touch of sticky fingers directly upon the cutting will leave a +soiled spot, if it does not tear the moist paper. If children are +carefully taught in small groups to follow this method of pasting, in a +fairly short time all but the weakest members of the class will be able to +paste neatly without much supervision. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +BOOKLETS + + +The making of booklets forms a valuable accompaniment to almost every +phase of school work. Even simple exercises, when put into book form, take +on a dignity otherwise impossible and seem more worth while. It is +impossible to work with much enthusiasm and care on exercises which are +destined only for the wastebasket. + +The chief value in the making of booklets is lost when they are made for +display purposes only. Many difficulties are sure to arise when the +teacher, for the sake of her own reputation, sets an arbitrary standard +and tries to force every member of the class to meet it. Because of these +difficulties many teachers dread and avoid work of this sort, but the +trouble lies in our false standards and poor methods rather than in the +process itself. When the exhibit idea is uppermost, each page must be +examined with great care, done over again and again if need be, until the +standard is reached or the patience of both teacher and pupil exhausted. +In such a case the work practically ceases to be the child's own. Instead +of expressing an idea of his own in his own way, he tries to express the +teacher's idea in the teacher's way, and it is not surprising that he +fails so often. + +The booklet serves its best purpose when it combines both value and need; +that is, when it is something which seems worth while to the pupil and +when he feels responsible for its success. He should feel something akin +to the responsibility one feels in writing an important letter; that is, +that it must be right the first time because there is no opportunity to +try again and that he cannot afford to do less than his best because what +is done will stand. + +To "express his own idea in his own way" does not mean that his work is to +be undirected or that poor results are to be accepted. It does mean that +when an idea and a means of expressing it have been suggested to him, he +shall be allowed to do the best he can by himself, and that when he has +done his best, it shall be accepted even though imperfect. Under no +circumstances should his work be "touched up" by the teacher. If he is not +asked to do things which are too hard for him, he will not make many +serious errors. If these are wisely pointed out, they will not often be +repeated. If his attention is held to one or two important features at a +time, each effort will mean some gain. + +The making of a booklet in the primary grades should really consist in +making a cover to preserve pages already made or to receive pages on +certain topics as they are finished. The making of an animal book, for +example, might be a continuous process. Whenever a new animal is studied +and a cutting or drawing of it made, the new page may be added to the +book. + +The first books should be picture books only, collections of cuttings, +drawings, and mounted pictures. As the children learn to write they may +add first the name and then short descriptions of the pictures, the +development proceeding by easy stages until their composition work takes +the form of the illustrated story. + +Books which are a collection of single sheets are, as a rule, most +satisfactory in the primary school. The single sheet is much more +convenient to use, and there is always an inspiration in beginning with a +fresh sheet of paper. It is more difficult to paste cuttings into a book, +and if pages are spoiled, the book is spoiled. If separate sheets are +used, a poor one may be done over or discarded without affecting the rest. + +The making of booklets and posters offers an excellent opportunity for +developing artistic appreciation. It is not enough for the teacher to +provide only good colors from which the children may choose, and to +supervise the spacing of pictures and then flatter herself that because +the results are good that the children are developing good taste. Unless +they really want the good things, little real gain has been made. Unless +they see some reason for the arrangement of a page, other than that the +_teacher wants it that way_, little has been accomplished. + +The first attempts will show little or no idea of balance or good spacing. +The early color combinations are apt to be crude. If the best things they +do are praised and their attention is constantly directed to the good +points in things about them, they will begin to want those things. They +will begin gradually to feel a greater pleasure in a well-balanced page +than in one on which big and little pictures are stuck indiscriminately. +If they are given all possible freedom in matters of choice, it will be +possible to measure their real progress and to know what points need +emphasis. + +The more accustomed the children are to tasteful surroundings, the easier +will be their progress, but whether they come from tasteful homes or the +reverse, the process is the same. Real progress will undoubtedly be slow, +but it should be upon a sure foundation. + + +SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR BOOKLETS + +=Stories.=--Series of illustrations either cut or drawn for any of the +stories read by the class. + +_Animal Book._--Cuttings or sketches of animals. The name and short +statement of some characteristic may be added by children who are able to +write. Trees, flowers, fruits, etc., may be treated in the same way. + +_A. B. C. Book._--A page for each letter of the alphabet to be filled with +pictures and names of objects having the same initial letter. + +_House Book._--A page for each room, upon which may be mounted pictures of +things appropriate to the room. Newspaper advertisements and catalogs +furnish abundant material for this problem. The work not only helps the +children to classify present knowledge, but offers opportunity for +judgment as to arrangement and relative proportions. + +_How People Live._--A book of pictures of houses in different countries. + +_Famous Houses._--Pictures of famous buildings and homes of famous people. + +_What we Wear._--Pictures showing materials from which clothing is made, +the methods of production and manufacture. + +_What we Eat._--Vegetable foods may be grouped as roots, stalks, leaves, +seeds, etc. Animal foods may be classified according to the animal from +which they are obtained and the part of the animal from which they are +cut. Suggestions for cooking may be added. + +_How we Travel._--Pictures showing vehicles and conveyances of all sorts, +classified as ancient and modern, or according to the countries in which +they are used, or the motive power, as horses, electricity, steam, etc. + +In connection with elementary geography and history, booklets and posters +may be made up from pictures cut from discarded papers, catalogs, and +magazines, as well as original drawings. A great variety of topics may be +profitably illustrated in this way. As, for example, land and water forms, +famous mountains, lakes, rivers, etc., products and processes of +cultivation and manufacture, famous people, costumes and customs of other +times and places, utensils and weapons of earlier times. + +=Fastenings.=--The simplest method of binding single sheets is by means of +paper fasteners and eyelets. Though these are not expensive, some schools +cannot afford to buy them. Cords may be used in several ways and serve as +part of the decoration. + +_The Simple Tie._--Punch three holes in the margin, at least one half inch +from the edge to prevent tearing out. Insert the cord in the middle hole, +carry through one end hole, then through the other end hole, then back +through the middle and tie. (See Fig. 7.) + +_Japanese Sewing._--Punch holes at regular intervals, as one inch apart. +Sew through first hole twice, making a loop around the back,--repeat the +process until a loop has been made for each hole,--carry the cord in and +out through the holes back to the starting point, filling in the blank +places and making a continuous line, and tie ends together with a small +knot. (See Fig. 8.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 7.--Pamphlet sewing.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 8.--Japanese binding.] + + +=Decoration.=--Only the simplest decoration should be attempted. A plain +cover of good color tied with a cord of harmonious color will have +elements of beauty without further decoration. A single border line well +placed may be used and offers opportunity for developing a nice sense of +proportion by studying the results to see which borders are neither too +near the edge nor too far from it. + +A well-printed, well-placed title is often the most satisfactory +decoration. Printing should be introduced early, and the children +encouraged to make good plain letters. In order to get the title in good +proportion and well placed, it is helpful to cut a piece of paper the +desired size and lay it on the cover, moving it about to see where it +looks best. Until the children have learned to do fairly neat work it is +often helpful to print the title on a separate piece and paste it in +place. It is discouraging to spoil an otherwise good cover by a bad +letter, and this process lessens that danger. + +Before the children learn to print, a simple border or band across the +cover may take the place of the title. The border may be drawn in crayons +or be free-hand cuttings. + +Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the beauty of simplicity in +decoration. Children are inclined to think beauty means fanciness and that +beauty increases with the quantity of decoration. It is necessary to begin +early to develop a taste for good design. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CRITICISM AND STANDARDS OF WORKMANSHIP + + +=Criticism.=--An important feature of all self-directed activity is the +ability to judge one's efforts and intelligently measure one's success. +This ability is a matter of slow growth and must be cultivated. It is not +enough for the teacher to pass judgment upon a piece of work and grade its +quality. The worker himself must learn to find his own mistakes and how to +correct them. Class criticism offers the best means of developing this +power, but must be tactfully conducted. + +Little children are brutally frank in expressing their opinions and need +to be taught how to be truthful and yet not unkind. They need to be taught +what to look for and how to find it, and how to compare one thing with +another and discover why one pleases and another displeases. The first +essential in the training is emphasis on the good rather than the bad. It +is a gospel of "do" rather than of "don't." The earliest efforts of the +class may well be confined to comments upon the features they like and, if +possible, the reason for the liking. This will forestall any tendency to +call undue attention to the poor efforts of weak workers. At first many +children will scarcely discriminate between their admiration for a piece +of work and their love for the worker and will be apt to praise the work +of their special friends. This tendency will gradually disappear through +the development of a real basis of appreciation. + +The second essential concerns the improvement of the things which are not +good. Criticism which merely points out what is bad is of little value. +Helpful criticism must point out what is good and why, and what is weak +and how to make it stronger. If, for example, the class is considering the +success of their efforts to illustrate the story of the Three Bears, they +should be encouraged to make such comments as, "John's chairs look too +small for his table," "Mary's bowls are all about the same size." The +criticism should direct the thought to its possible remedy. It is +generally better to pass over defects for which no immediate remedy can be +suggested. + +=Standards of Workmanship.=--The standard of excellence by which acceptable +work is measured must always vary according to the ability of the class. +The best the child can do, alone and unaided, should be the only standard +of measurement, and his best efforts should always be accepted, no matter +how crude. In no other way can real growth be observed and genuine +progress made. + +In schools where arbitrary standards are set either by supervisors or by +the rivalry of teachers, the tendency to _help_ the children by doing part +of the work for them for the sake of the _apparent_ results, offers the +teacher's most serious temptation to selfishness. In a few cases it is +helpful for the teacher to add a few strokes to a drawing or adjust some +detail in construction, that the child may see the value of certain small +changes in the place where they will mean most to him. Such work should +not be exhibited as an example of the child's accomplishment, but should +be treated as practice work. As a rule the teacher's demonstration should +be made on other material and not on that used by the pupil. In no +particular are primary schools open to greater criticism than in the too +common habit of setting arbitrary standards of excellence and attempting +to force all children to reach them. Such standards are usually too high +for honest attainment and tempt or force the teacher to use methods which +cannot be defended by any sound principle of pedagogy. + +Values change with the purpose of the work. A thing is well made when it +serves its purpose adequately. Toys must be strong enough to permit +handling. Mechanical toys must work. Sewing must be strong as well as +neat. In illustrative problems, in which effect is the chief +consideration, technique needs little emphasis, and workmanship may be of +a temporary character. + +Each thing made should establish its own standard in a way to appeal to +the child's common sense. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE HOUSE PROBLEM + + +The making of a playhouse has long been an accepted feature of primary +work, but we have not always made it yield all of which it is capable, +either in the self-directed activity of the children or in correlated +subject matter. It has, in many cases, been only a bit of recreation from +the more serious work of the school. In a house prepared by the janitor or +older pupils the children have been allowed to arrange and rearrange +ready-made furniture contributed from their playthings at home, but little +creative work has been attempted. In other cases an elaborate house, +carefully planned by the teacher, has been built and furnished by the +children, but, because of the detailed planning, the children's part in it +became merely a mechanical following of directions. In some cases relative +proportions in rooms and furnishings have received scant attention; in +others, color harmonies have been all but ignored. These varying methods +of carrying out the house-building idea are not without value and may +often be justified by local conditions, but their results are meager +compared with the possible richness of the problem. + +Playing at house building and housekeeping appeals to an interest so +universal that children of all times and nations yield to its power. It +is therefore necessary to take account of its influence in their +development and to dignify it with the approval of the school. We must +refine and enrich it by our direction and suggestion without robbing it of +its simplicity and charm. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 9.--Box house, arranged on a shelf.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 10.--Medieval castle. Built by third grade. Franklin, +Indiana. + +An example of elaborate work which aroused the interest of pupils and +patrons and paved the way for freer work later.] + + +In the suggestions which follow, an attempt is made to utilize this +natural activity of children in an occupation which appeals to them as +worth while. At the same time it may furnish ample opportunity for the +general development and effective teaching of various phases of subject +matter which are incident to the occupation, _i.e._ number in connection +with measurements, art in the proportions and color combinations, language +through discussions and descriptions. + +The work is kept on the level of the children's experience by throwing +them constantly on their own responsibility in every possible detail, the +teacher never dictating the method of procedure and guiding the work with +as few suggestions as possible. The work, being on the level of their +experience, appeals to the children as very real and worth while. It is, +therefore, intensely interesting, and they work without urging. + +=General Plan.=--A house may be constructed from several empty goods boxes, +each box forming one room of the house. The boxes or rooms are arranged in +convenient order, but are not fastened together. Adjoining rooms are +connected by doors carefully cut in both boxes so that the holes match. +Windows are also sawed out where needed. The walls are papered, careful +attention being given to color schemes, border designs, and relative +proportions in spacing. Floors are provided with suitable coverings--woven +rugs, mattings, linoleums, tiles, according to the purpose of the room. + +Each step is discussed and more or less definitely outlined before the +actual making is begun, furnishing opportunity for oral language of a +vital sort. Completed parts are examined and criticized, furnishing +further opportunity for exercise in oral language while directing +attention to strong and weak points in the work. + +The materials needed are easily obtainable and inexpensive, consisting +chiefly of empty boxes and odds and ends of paper, cloth, and yarn, +together with carpenters' scraps. + +The tools needed are few, and in some cases may be brought from home by +the children for a few days, as needed. The necessary time is found by +making the incidental problems serve as subject matter for regular +lessons. Making designs for tiling, linoleum, and borders for wall paper, +planning relative proportions for doors, windows, and furnishings will +supply material for very practical lessons in art. The problems incident +to the measurement of doors and windows, tables and chairs, are number +work of a vital sort and may be legitimately used as a regular number +lesson. Discussions, descriptions, and definite statements of plans all +form vital language exercises if rightly used. + + +HOUSE PLANS IN DETAIL + +=Materials.=--_Empty Store Boxes of Soft Wood._--Sizes may vary, but where +several are grouped for a house, they should be near enough the same +height to make a fairly level ceiling. About 10 × 12 × 18 in. is a +convenient size. + +_Paper for Walls._--Scraps of ingrain wall papers may be had from dealers +for little or nothing. Cover paper in good colors may be purchased by the +sheet. Tailor's paper and brown wrapping paper serve well, and are sold +by the roll at a low price. + +_Pasteboard_ (strawboard or juteboard) may be used for the roof. + +_Weaving Materials._--Rugs may be made from carpet rags, rug yarns, +rovings, chenille, or jute; towels from crochet cotton; and hammocks from +macramé cord or carpet warp. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 11.--House arranged on a table. Front view. Built by +first grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Wood for Furniture._--Bass, white pine, poplar, or other soft wood. Box +tops, if of soft wood, may be made to serve nearly all needs. If possible, +provide thin wood (about 1/4 in. thick) in various widths, from one inch +to six inches, so that only one dimension need be measured. Provide also +thick pieces 1-1/2 in. or 2 in. square for beds and chairs; 1/2 in. square +for table legs. + +_Nails_ of various sizes, chiefly inch brads, are needed. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 12.--House arranged on a table. Side view. Built by +second grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +=Tools.=--The tools actually necessary are few. A class can _get along_ +with one saw and still do good work, though there will be times when +several saws will facilitate progress. Some tools are needed only for a +short time and sometimes may be borrowed from the homes. It is more +satisfactory to have the school provided with the essential tools whenever +possible. The essential tools include: + +_Brace and auger bit_, for boring holes in doors and windows. Needed for a +short time only. + +_Compass saw_, for sawing out doors and windows. + +_Crosscut saw_, for sawing off lumber. School should own at least one. + +_Miter box_, for holding lumber and guiding saw. An old one, good enough +for children's use, will frequently be contributed by a carpenter. The +miter box should be fastened firmly to a low table or box. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 13.--House arranged on a table. Back view. Built by +second grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Hammers_, several of medium size. + +_Try-square_, a very valuable tool for setting right angles, provided the +teacher and pupils know how to use it. + +=Arrangement of Rooms.=--The sort of house a man can build is governed by +his resources and his site. Considering the number of boxes as resources +and the table or shelf on which they are to stand as the site, the same +big factors which enter into any house-building problem control the size +and style of the schoolroom playhouse. What sort of house is desired? What +sort of house can be built from the materials at hand? What sort of house +can be built in the space at our disposal? + + +[Illustration: FIG. 14.--House plan.] + + +The boxes may be arranged on a shelf with all the open sides toward the +class, as in Fig. 9. This economizes space, and all of the rooms are +visible at once. A two-story house is easily built on this plan. If +economy of space is not necessary, the boxes may be placed on a table with +the open sides of the boxes toward the edges of the table, as in Figs. 11, +12, and 13. This permits a more artistic grouping of the rooms. (See Fig. +14.) + +The responsibility in grouping the boxes should be thrown as fully as +possible upon the children, the teacher merely suggesting where necessary. +It should be their house, not the teacher's. The planning should not be +hurried but time allowed to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of +different plans and reach an agreement. In trying to express individual +opinions convincingly their ideas will become clearer--a factor in the +development of the children which is much more important than any of the +actual details of the house itself. Whether the class decides to have one +or two bedrooms in the house is a matter of small consequence. Whether or +not they are growing in power to appreciate conditions and make an +intelligent decision is a matter of great consequence. Their decisions +when made may not always reach the high standard at which the teacher is +aiming, but if they have really made a decision, not merely followed the +teacher's suggestion, and if their independent selections from time to +time show a higher standard of appreciation and greater refinement of +taste in ever so small a degree, it is evidence of genuine growth upon a +sure foundation. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 15.--Arrangement of windows.] + + +=Doors and Windows.=--The size and arrangement of doors and windows should +be freely discussed. Various possible arrangements may be sketched upon +the blackboard by the children. For example, see Fig. 15, _a_ and _b_. +When a plan is adopted, the doors and windows should be carefully drawn on +the _outside_ of each box, using the try-square to get right angles. + +Bore holes in the corners of the doors and windows and saw out with +keyhole or compass saw. In order to avoid mistakes it is well, after +sawing out the opening for a door in one box, to place the two boxes +together and test the measurements before sawing out the second opening. A +mistake of this sort, however, is not fatal, but may prove the most +effective way of impressing the workers with the necessity of careful +measurement. + +=Walls.=--The decoration of the walls will furnish material for several +art lessons. The discussion should turn first to the suitability of +different styles for different purposes, such as tiling for kitchen and +bathroom walls, light papers for dark rooms, etc. The division of wall +space will be the next point to be settled, _i.e._ the height of the +tiling or wainscot, the width of a border, or the effect of horizontal and +vertical lines in breaking up wall space. These questions may be discussed +as far as the immediate circumstances and the development of the class +suggest. + +The question of color combinations demands special attention. Unless the +children come from refined homes their ideas of color will be very crude, +and if contributions of material have been asked for, some gaudy +impossibilities in flowered paper are apt to be presented. If so, it may +require considerable tact on the part of the teacher to secure a +satisfactory selection without casting any reflections on the taste of +somebody's mother. This difficulty may be avoided to a degree by providing +all the materials necessary. It is not enough, however, to cause the +children to select good combinations at the teacher's suggestion while in +their hearts they are longing for the gaudy thing she has frowned upon. It +is better to get an honest expression from them, even though it is very +crude, and endeavor to educate their taste to a love for better things, so +that each time they choose the choice may be on a higher level of +appreciation. Immediate results may not be as beautiful by this plan, and +apparent progress may be slow, but only by some such method can a real +appreciation be developed which will prevent the return to the crude +expression as soon as the teacher's influence is withdrawn. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 16.--Detail of hollow square.] + + +Plain papers generally give the most pleasing effects. Attractive borders +may be made by cutting simple units and repeating them at intervals. +Almost any motif may be used for the unit. Animals, birds, trees, flowers, +ships, etc., serve well. The process of making the border should be a +serious lesson in design. A good border is not merely the repetition of a +pretty figure. The units must not be too far apart nor too close together. +The shape of the figure used must be such that each unit seems to need the +next one. Little children will usually take greatest pleasure in working +from some nature motif, as flower or animal, but interesting work can be +done with simple geometric figures. Take, for example, the hollow square. +Fold a square of paper on both diagonals. (See Fig. 16.) Cut on dotted +line. Let each child cut several and lay them in order for a border or +mount them on a paper of different color. Let the work of the class be put +up for general criticism. (See notes on Criticism.) Several points which +very small children are able to appreciate will be found to enter into the +success or failure of their efforts. The hollow square itself may be cut +too wide and look clumsy, or cut too narrow and look frail. In the +arrangement they may be too close together and look crowded, or too far +apart and look scattered. A sensitiveness to good proportions comes +naturally to only a few people, but nearly all are capable of a higher +degree of appreciation if their attention is directed to the essential +elements which make things good or bad. The beginnings of this +appreciation lie in simple things which are easily understood by +first-grade children. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 17.--Borders using hollow square.] + + +=Floors.=--Many of the considerations which enter into the selection of +wall decorations are of equal importance in choosing floor coverings. What +will be suitable to the purpose of each room? Why do we use linoleum in +the kitchen and warm rugs in the bedroom? Shall we use small rugs or a +carpet? What colors must we have on the floor to harmonize with the colors +on the wall? What designs are possible and desirable for the materials we +have to use? + +_Rug Weaving Materials._--The market offers a wide variety of materials +prepared especially for school use. Among them the most satisfactory for +use with small workers are cotton rovings, loose twisted jute, and cotton +chenille. These, especially the first two, are coarse and work up rapidly, +and may be had in very desirable colors. Even the cheapest of them, +however, will prove an expensive item for the school with limited funds, +and ordinary carpet rags may be made to serve every purpose. Often these +will be contributed by members of the class. By a careful selection and +combination of colors very artistic results can be produced which are in +some respects more satisfactory than any obtained from the so-called +weaving materials, and have the added advantage of costing practically +nothing. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 18.--Looms and samples of weaving.] + + +_Looms._--The market also offers a great variety of looms for school use, +many of them quite simple in construction and moderate in price. In +schools where bench work is taught, the making of a loom is an excellent +problem either for the weavers themselves or for an older class working +for them. If the looms are made by the little weavers themselves, only the +simplest possible construction should be used, that the work may be +completed and the loom put to use before the worker loses sight of the +fact that the purpose is to provide carpet for the house. Children lose +interest in long-drawn-out processes, and for that reason it is better to +provide them with the necessary tools as far as possible while interest in +the house building is keen. Later, if considerable enthusiasm has been +aroused for weaving, individual looms may be made for home use. For the +school with scant funds a very satisfactory loom may be improvised by +driving nails one fourth inch apart in the ends of a shallow box of +convenient size and stretching the warp threads across the open top. + +For very small rugs a cardboard loom will serve. This may be made by +cutting notches or punching holes along opposite edges of a piece of +cardboard into which the warp may be strung. If a knitting needle is +inserted at each side, the cardboard will be stiffened and the edges of +the rug kept straight. Weaving needles may be purchased from supply +houses. Wooden needles cost 50 cents per dozen. Sack needles serve well +for small rugs and may be had at any hardware store for 10 cents per +dozen. + +_Weaves._--For first weaving the plain "over one, under one" on cotton +warp with rags or other coarse woof is generally best. Variety may be +introduced by weaving a stripe or border of a different tone near each end +of the rug. Vertical stripes serve well as another easy method of +variation and are produced by using two woof threads of different tones +and weaving first with one and then with the other. This weave is very +attractive as the body of the rug with a plain border at either end. + +As soon as the children have mastered the plain weave and have a fairly +clear idea of the possibilities in design through varying the colors in +the woof only, they may be initiated into the mysteries of the "gingham +weave" and allowed to experiment with the variations in warp as well as in +woof. Cotton rovings is an excellent material for weaves of this sort. +This weave may also be used with raffia to make matting for the +dining-room floor. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 19.--Box house by second grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +Paper mats may also be used as carpets with good effect. Weaving paper +strips is often an easier process to little children than weaving with +textiles, except where very coarse textile materials are used. For paper +mats select paper of suitable color and cut to the size desired for the +mat. Fold on the short diameter. Cut slashes from the folded edge, not +less than one half inch apart, to within one inch of edge of the paper +(See Fig. 20), leaving a margin on all four sides of the mat. For weavers, +cut from paper of harmonious tone, strips equal in width to the slashes in +the mat. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 20.--Detail of paper weaving.] + + +Variations of the simple over one, under one weave add interest to the +work and also give practice in number combinations such as over one, under +two, etc. Work of this sort is used in many schools as a method of +teaching number, the teacher dictating the combinations while the interest +of the children centers in the new pattern which develops under their +fingers. While such work has much to be said in its favor, it is open to +criticism, especially in the matter of dictation. All the children in any +one group will not work with equal speed. Some will undoubtedly "get +behind" and others will lose time while waiting for the slow ones. +Accidents are liable to happen in individual cases. + +Many of these undesirable features may be eliminated while still retaining +the valuable part of the work by writing the directions on the board +instead of dictating them to the children. It then becomes a lesson in +reading as well as in number. Each child is thrown more completely upon +his own responsibility and can proceed as rapidly and as steadily as his +capacity permits. His rate of progress will often be a fair measure of his +ability for independent thought and action, which is the real measure for +successful teaching. + +As the hardest feature in this method is in keeping the right line and not +repeating or omitting any direction, a social spirit may be encouraged by +allowing the children to work in groups and take turns in _keeping the +place_ while the others work. In one first grade where this plan was in +vogue the children discovered a book on the teacher's desk which contained +numerous designs, many of them much more intricate than she would have +attempted to use as classwork. Their instinct for exploration led them to +struggle with the directions until they had worked out some designs which +would have proved dismal failures had they been attempted as class +lessons. In this instance those who belonged to the persevering group were +happy in a new-found sense of strength and independence, while the others +had accomplished as much as any would have done under the dictation +method. + +=Furniture.=--The problem of furniture for the school playhouse has been +discussed in numerous publications, and nearly every writer on the subject +of primary handwork offers suggestions on this topic. The suggestions +include a range in materials and processes from very simple foldings in +paper to quite complex processes in reeds and raffia and methodical +construction in wood. + +Among the various materials and styles in common use, folded paper +furniture has the advantage of being quickly made. The process is of +sufficient interest to little children to hold their attention, and in +order to secure the desired result they must hear the directions +intelligently and obey them promptly. These are desirable habits to form. +It is quite possible, however, for the work to be done in a very formal, +mechanical way, in which the children merely follow directions, often +blindly, without any clear purpose and very little thought. Success or +failure is due largely to chance; for, if by accident even a good worker +"loses out" on a direction, his work is at a standstill until special help +is given. He is unable to proceed because he does not know what to do +next. There is very little opportunity in such a process for independent +thought or action. It is not self-directed activity. + +A second objection to paper furniture is its lack of stability. Paper +which is pliable enough to fold readily will not hold its own weight long +when made into furniture, and very soon becomes wobbly. To overcome this +tendency to wobble, heavier papers are often used and new complications +arise. Heavy papers do not fold readily without scoring. Scoring demands +considerable accuracy of measurement--often to a degree beyond the power +of a six-year-old. The stiff papers, being hard pressed, are harder to +paste, and neat work is often an impossibility, unless considerable +assistance is given. + +It is possible to make satisfactory furniture in a great variety of styles +from stiff paper, and the processes involve some excellent practice in +measurement and design. The processes necessary to obtain these +satisfactory results are, however, beyond the ability of children in the +lower grades. Even fairly satisfactory results are impossible unless an +undue amount of assistance is given by the teacher. In actual practice, +where stiff paper is used a few of the best workers in the class are +helped to make the few pieces needed in the playhouse and the unhappy +failures of the rest of the class are promptly consigned to the +wastebasket. + +Very pretty furniture may be made from reeds and raffia, but the processes +are too difficult to be successfully performed by small children. The +reeds do not lend themselves readily to constructions small enough to suit +the average playhouse, and the larger pieces are out of proportion to the +other features of the house. + +The use of wood overcomes the most serious of the objections to be made to +other materials, besides being the material most commonly used in "real" +furniture. Wooden furniture is stable, and a great variety of processes in +construction are possible without introducing complications which prevent +independent work on the part of the little people. + +The processes necessary to the construction of very simple yet +satisfactory wooden furniture may be reduced to measuring one dimension, +sawing off, and nailing on. Measuring one dimension is quite within the +powers of six-year-olds. _Sawing off_ is not difficult if soft lumber is +used, and it becomes very simple by the help of the miter box. _Nailing +on_ is difficult if the nails must be driven into the edges of thin +boards, but if thin boards are nailed to thick boards, nails may "go +crooked" without serious consequences, and the process becomes quite easy. +These processes have the advantage of being particularly fascinating to +small boys, in contrast to the girlish character of many forms of primary +handwork. (See Figs. 21 and 22.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 21.--Furniture from wood blocks.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 22.--Furniture from wood blocks.] + + +_Processes._--For the sake of convenience and clearness in these +directions it will be assumed that the class is provided with pieces of +wood two inches square which will be referred to as 2 × 2. Also with thin +wood in a variety of widths from 1 in. to 6 in. Material of other +dimensions would serve the purpose equally well, and for many of the parts +odd pieces from the scrap box will answer every purpose. The directions +are intended only to suggest how to proceed, and it is left to the teacher +to adapt them to the material and conditions with which she works. + +(1) _To make a chair._ + +Use 2 × 2 for seat and thin wood 2 in. wide for back. Children should +measure and decide how much to saw off from strip of 2 × 2 in order to +make a square block or cube for the seat. They should estimate the length +of the back of the chair, then measure and saw off the thin wood needed. +Nail the back piece to the cube and finish with a coat of water-color +paint or color with crayon. An armchair may be made by the addition of +shorter pieces of thin wood to the sides of the chair. + +(2) _To make table with pedestal._ + +Use 2 × 2 for pedestal. Use thin wood 6 in. wide for top. Use thin wood 4 +in. wide for base. Measure and saw off 3 in. of 2 × 2 for pedestal. +Measure _enough_ of the 6 in. wood to make a square top and _enough_ of +the 4 in. wood to make a square base. Do not tell the children what they +can discover for themselves. They should decide how high the table ought +to be and how large to suit the size of the room. Nail the square pieces +to the two ends of the pedestal. Finish by same method used for chairs. + +(3) _For ordinary table._ + +Use thin wood for top. Use 1/2 × 1/2 for legs. Measure and saw off pieces +needed. Measure places for legs about one inch from corner of top in order +to allow an overhang. Children frequently put the legs flush with the edge +of the table, which gives a clumsy appearance. Nail through the top with a +comparatively long nail. + +(4) _To make a double bed._ + +Use wood 1/2 to 1 in. thick for body. Use thin wood of corresponding width +for head and foot boards. Class or individual workers should decide on +dimensions for different parts and height of body of bed from the floor. + +(5) _For single bed._ + +Proceed as for double bed, using narrow pieces of wood, or use six or +seven inches of 2 × 2 for body of bed and make head and foot boards after +the style of chair back. + +(6) _Dressing table._ + +Decide upon dimensions needed. Use 2 × 2 for body. Use thin wood of equal +width for back. Use tinfoil for mirror. Indicate drawers with pencil +lines. + +(7) _Couch._ + +Use piece of 2 × 2 of desired length and make couch cover of appropriate +material, or add back and arms of thin wood to piece of 2 × 2 and finish +to match other furniture. + +(8) _Piano._ + +Use wood 3/4 or 1 in. thick for body. Nail on piece 1/2 × 1/2 for +keyboard. Draw keys on paper and paste on keyboard. + +(9) _Kitchen stove._ + +Use 2 × 4 or any scrap or empty box of appropriate size and shape. Color +black with crayon. Add chalk marks or bits of tinfoil to indicate doors +and lids. Make hot-water tank of paper. Pieces of reed, wire, or twigs +covered with tinfoil make good water pipes. Macaroni sticks and lemonade +straws have served this purpose. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 23.--Home of White Cloud, the Pueblo girl. Second +grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +=Clay Furnishings.=--For such articles as the kitchen sink, the bathtub, +and other bathroom fittings clay is a satisfactory material. These +articles may be modeled by the children, in as good an imitation of the +real fittings as they are able to make. Various methods may be used for +holding the kitchen sink and the bathroom basin in place, and it is much +better for the children to evolve one of their own than to follow the +teacher's dictation from the start. If they meet serious difficulties, a +suggestion from her may help clear the way. Two long nails driven into the +wall will give a satisfactory bracket on which the sink may rest. Two +short nails may be driven through the back while the clay is moist and may +serve also as a foundation for faucets. The basin, bathtub, and stool may +each be built solid to the floor. + +The teakettle and other stove furniture may be modeled in clay. Electric +light bulbs of clay suspended by cords from the ceiling have a realistic +air. Paper shades of appropriate color add to the general effect. + +=Miscellaneous furnishings.= + +_Bedding._--Paper or cloth may be used for bedding, as circumstances +suggest. If interest in _real_ things is strong, the making of the sheets +and pillow cases offers an opportunity for some practice with the needle. +If time is limited, paper may be used. + +_Curtains._--Curtains also may be made from either paper or regular +curtain material. If paper is used, it should be very soft, such as plain +Japanese napkins. Scraps of plain net or scrim are most desirable. Some +child is apt to contribute a piece of large-patterned lace curtain, but +the tactful teacher will avoid using it if possible, and direct the +children's thoughts toward a better taste in draperies. + +_Portières_ may be made of cloth, of knotted cords, or chenille. + +_Couch pillows_ may be made from cloth or may be woven on a small card. + +_Towels_ for the bathroom may be woven from crochet cotton. + +_The fireplace_ may be made of cardboard marked off and colored to +represent brick. A shallow box may be made to serve the purpose. Cut out +the opening for the grate and lay real sticks on andirons made from soft +wire; or draw a picture of blazing fire and put inside. The fireplace may +also be made of clay. Pebbles may be pressed into the clay if a stone +fireplace is desired. If clay is used, several small nails should be +driven into the wall before the fireplace is built up, to hold the clay in +place after it dries. + +_Bookcases_ may be made of cardboard, using a box construction, and glued +to the wall. Or a block of wood about one inch thick may be used. In +either case mark off the shelves and books with pencil lines, and color +the backs of the books with crayon. + +=The Stairway.=--In a two-story house the hardest problem will usually be +the stairs. Some good work in number may be done while finding out how +many steps will be needed and where the stairway must begin in order to +reach the second floor in comfort. Even quite small children can deal with +this problem if presented in a simple way. For example, if the box or room +is ten inches high, how many steps 1 in. wide and 1 in. high will be +needed, and how far out into the room will they come? The children can +work out the plan on the blackboard. Measurements may be modified to suit +the ability of the class and the needs of the room. + +The variety of possible constructions in building the staircase +corresponds to the varying ability of classes. A strip of paper may be +folded back and forth and made to serve with least mature classes. This +paper stair will sag unless it rests on a board or piece of stiff +pasteboard. A substantial stairway may be made by sawing two thin boards +for supports, as in Fig. 24, and nailing on steps of thin wood or +cardboard. There is usually one boy in every first grade who is capable of +as difficult a piece of handwork as this. He is apt, also, to be the boy +who takes least interest in the general work of the class, and often it is +possible to arouse him to special effort through some such problem. The +stairway may be made of heavy cardboard with a construction similar to +that just described, but this requires pasting instead of nailing and is +much more difficult for little children. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 24.--Detail of stairway.] + + +=The Roof.=--The making of the roof is another part of the house building +which may often be given into the special care of the two or three +over-age pupils who need special problems. The plan which they evolve from +their study of the needs of the case will usually be of greater value to +them, even though it may not be the best that could be suggested. + +The roof may be made of wood as a base, with either wood or cardboard +shingles tacked on in proper fashion; or it may be made of cardboard with +the shingles merely indicated by lines made with crayon. If the wood base +is used, wood gables may be made for sides or ends of the house. To +these, long boards may be nailed to form a solid roof. Shingles two inches +long by about one inch wide may be cut from cardboard or very thin wood +and tacked to the boards. The children should be spurred to study the +roofs of houses and find out how the shingles are arranged, and discover +for themselves, if possible, the secret of successful shingling. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 25.--Box house, showing roof. Built by summer class, +Teachers College, New York.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 26.--Detail of gable.] + + +A cardboard roof is in many ways easier to build. In a house similar to +the one shown in Fig. 25 two gables are used, and the roof slopes to front +and back. The framework can be very simply made. At the two gable ends +place uprights made of two pieces of wood joined in the form of an +inverted T. (See Fig. 26.) These should be nailed to the box. A ridgepole +may then be nailed to the upper ends of the uprights. If the house is not +large, no other framework will be necessary. If the slope of the roof is +long enough to allow the cardboard to sag, light strips of wood extending +from the ridgepole to the outer edge of the box may be added. If a single +piece of cardboard of sufficient size is available, it may be scored[1] +and bent at the proper place and laid over the ridgepole, with the edges +extending beyond the box to form the eaves. Or, two pieces may be used, +one for each slope of the roof, each piece being tacked to the ridgepole. +Chimneys may be made from paper and colored to represent bricks or stone. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 27.--Colonial kitchen. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +The outside of the house may be treated in several ways. It may be sided +after the manner of frame houses by tacking on strips of paper or +cardboard lapped in the proper fashion. It may be covered with paper +marked in horizontal lines to represent siding, in irregular spaces to +represent stone, or in regular spaces to represent brick, and finished in +the appropriate color. Or, a coat of paint or stain may be applied +directly to the box. + + +VARIATIONS IN HOUSE PROBLEM + +A playhouse for its own sake is a justifiable project for primary children +and one which may be repeated several times without exhausting its +possibilities. Each time it is repeated the emphasis will fall on some new +feature, and the children will wish to do more accurate work. + +In the lowest grades very simple houses of one or two rooms may be built +for story-book friends, such as the "Three Bears" or "Little Red Riding +Hood," with only such furniture as the story suggests. In intermediate +grades the house may have an historical motive and illustrate home life in +primitive times or in foreign countries, such as a colonial kitchen in New +England, a pioneer cabin on the Western prairies, a Dutch home, a Japanese +home, etc. In upper grades it may become a serious study in house +decoration. + +As the motive for making the house changes, the character and quality of +its furnishings will change. The block furniture described above will give +way to more accurate models in either wood or paper. Some excellent +suggestions for paper furniture for advanced work may be found in the +_Manual Training Magazine_. + +As skill in construction increases, a wish for something more realistic +than the box construction will arise, and the elements of house framing +will be studied with great eagerness. + +=The House of the Three Bears.= (See Fig. 28.)--This house was made early +in the year by a class of first-grade children. The walls were papered in +plain brown paper. The carpets were woven mats of paper. The chairs, +table, and beds were made according to the methods already described in +the playhouse outline. The stove and the doll were contributed. The bears +were modeled in clay. The children played with the house and its contents +throughout the year. The bears were broken and made over many times--a +process which not only afforded great pleasure, but also developed +considerable skill in modeling. + +=Another Bears' House.=--This house, shown in Frontispiece, was made in +the spring, near the end of the school year, by a class of first-grade +children all of whom were under seven and many of whom were very immature. + +The story of the Three Bears was taken up after Christmas, told and +retold, read, and dramatized by the children. Teddy bears were brought to +school. Many bears were modeled in clay, each child making the set of +three many times. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 28.--House for the Three Bears. First grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +The children laid off spaces on the table for individual Bears' houses and +made furniture for these as their fancy prompted. The furniture was made +of wood after the general style described above. Later, carpets were +woven for these individual playhouses. Each carpet was woven to a given +dimension, making it necessary to use the rule. This was their +introduction to the rule as a tool for measuring. Every child in a class +of forty made one or more pieces of furniture and wove one or more small +carpets from rags. Nearly all made some bedding. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 29.--Cornstalk house. Built by second-grade class. +Franklin, Indiana.] + + +Later, four boxes were secured and arranged as a house. The openings for +doors were marked off during school time, but were sawed out by a few +children who remained during the noon intermission. This is the only part +of the work which was not done during regular class time. The papering was +done by two or three of the most capable children, while the rest were +deeply absorbed in weaving. All made borders. Certain borders were +selected for the house, and several children worked together to make +enough of the same pattern for one room. Selections were then made from +the carpets and furniture already made by the children. + +The roof was made chiefly by one boy who "knew a good way to make it." The +porches were also individual projects by pupils who had ideas on the +subject and were allowed to work them out. + +The children became very familiar with every phase of the story and +attacked any expression of it with the feeling, "That's easy." They wrote +stories, _i.e._ sentences about bears. Each child at the close of the year +could write on the blackboard a story of two or more sentences. They made +pictures of bears in all sorts of postures with colored crayon and from +free-hand cuttings. They modeled the bears in clay over and over again, +keeping up a large family in spite of many accidents. + +=Coöperative Building.=--Figures 11, 12, and 13 show three rooms of a +four-room house built by the first and second grades working together. The +living room and bedroom were furnished by first-grade children. The dining +room, kitchen, and bath were furnished by the second grade. Four boxes +were used. (See diagram, page 35, Fig. 14.) Each room, except the bath, +was a separate box. After a general plan had been agreed upon by the +teachers, the boxes were carried to the several rooms and each class +worked quite independently. When the rooms were finished, they were +assembled on a table in the hall and the roof put on. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 30.--A flour mill. Built by fourth grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +=The Flour Mill.=--The flour mill, shown in Fig. 30, was built in +connection with a study of the general subject of milling by a +fourth-grade class. The class visited a flour mill. They were shown the +various machines, and the function of each was explained to them. They +made hasty sketches of the machines and a rough diagram of their +arrangement on the floors. They got the dimensions of the floors and +height of the ceiling. An empty box was remodeled to approximate the +dimensions of the building. Small representations of the machines were +made and placed in the proper relation to each other. No attempt was made +to show more than the external proportions in the small representation. +The work served its best purpose in keeping the children thinking +definitely about what they had seen. The attempt to express their thoughts +in tangible form deepened the mental impression, even though the tangible +results were crude and lacked many details. + +The conveyer being of special interest, two boys worked out a larger model +which illustrated the band-bucket process. This is shown in Fig. 30, at +the right of the mill. Small cups were made of soft tin and fastened to a +leather strap. The strap was fastened around two rods, placed one above +the other. The lower rod was turned by a crank fastened on the outside of +the box. Two or three brads driven into the lower rod caught into holes in +the strap and prevented slipping. The machine successfully hoisted grain +from the lower box to one fastened higher up, but not shown in the +picture. The model was very crude in its workmanship, but it showed the +ability of fourth-grade boys to successfully apply an important principle +in mechanics, and it gave opportunity for their ingenuity to express +itself. The work was done with such tools and materials as the boys could +provide for themselves, and without assistance other than encouraging +suggestions from the teacher. This bit of construction accompanied a broad +study of the subject of milling, including the source and character of the +raw materials, the processes involved, the finished products and their +value. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE VILLAGE STREET + + +Playing store is a game of universal interest. Making a play store is a +fascinating occupation. These are factors which cannot be overlooked in +any scheme of education which seeks to make use of the natural activities +of children. + +The downtown store stands to the children as the source of all good things +which are to be bought with pennies. It is usually the first place outside +the home with which they become familiar, and its processes are sure to be +imitated in their play. In their play they not only repeat the processes +of buying and selling, but try to reproduce in miniature what they regard +as the essential features of the real store. + +If they are allowed to play this fascinating game in school, it may, by +the teacher's help, become at once more interesting and more worth while. +Curiosity may be aroused through questions concerning what is in the +store, where it came from, how it got there, what was done to make it +usable, how it is measured, and what it is worth. In seeking answers to +these questions, the fields of geography, history, and arithmetic may be +explored as extensively as circumstances warrant and a whole curriculum +is built up in a natural way. After such study, stores cease to be the +_source_ of the good things they offer for sale. The various kinds of +merchandise take on a new interest when the purchaser knows something of +their history, and a new value when he knows something of the labor which +has gone into their manufacture. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 31.--Box house and stores. Grades one, three, and two. +Columbia, Missouri.] + + +Being a subject of universal interest, it may be adapted to the conditions +of the various grades. It being also impossible to exhaust the +possibilities of the subject in any single presentation, it may profitably +be repeated with a change of emphasis to suit the development of the +class. For example, in the second grade, the study of the street is +chiefly a classification of the various commodities which are essential to +our daily life, and a few of the main facts of interest concerning their +origin. Those a little older are interested in the processes of +manufacture and the geography of their sources. In playing store, weights +and measures, the changing of money, and the making of bills take on an +interest impossible in the old-fashioned method of presenting these phases +of arithmetic. Discussions and narratives supply oral language work, and +descriptions, letters, and notes provide material for written exercises. + +The class may be divided into groups, each group contributing one store to +the street, or the attention of the whole class may be centered on one +store at a time, as the immediate conditions suggest. If the former method +is used, as each store is finished it may be used as subject matter for +the entire class, while the important facts concerning it are considered. +The first permits a broader scope; the second a more exhaustive study. In +either case visits to the real stores studied are important supplements +to the work. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 32.--A village street. Third grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +=General Directions.=--Discuss the stores on a village street. Which are +most important? Why? Decide how many stores the class can build, and +choose those most necessary to a community. + +If self-organized groups[2] are allowed to choose the part they are to +work out, both interest and harmony are promoted and leadership +stimulated. + +Use a box for each store. Each group is usually able to provide its own +box. Paper inside of box with clean paper, or put on a coat of fresh +paint. Make appropriate shelving and counters of thin wood. + +Stock the store with samples of appropriate merchandise as far as +possible. Supplement with the best representations the children can make. +They should be left to work out the problem for themselves to a large +extent, the teacher giving a suggestion only when they show a lack of +ideas. + +=Suggestions for Details of Representation.=--_Clay Modeling._--Clay may +be used to model fruits and vegetables, bottles and jugs for the grocery; +bread, cake, and pies for the bakery; different cuts of meat for the +butcher shop; horses for the blacksmith shop and for delivery wagons. Clay +representations may be made very realistic by coloring with crayon. + +_Canned Goods._--Paper cylinders on which labels are drawn before pasting +serve well for canned goods. Cylindrical blocks may be cut from broom +sticks or dowel rods and wrapped in appropriately labeled covers. + +_Cloth._--Rolls of various kinds of cloth should be collected for the dry +goods store. Figures may be cut from fashion plates and mounted for the +"Ready to Wear" department. + +_Hats._--Hats may be made for the millinery store from any of the +materials commonly used. This is a good way for girls to develop their +ingenuity and resourcefulness. + +_The Store Front._--The front of each store may be made of either wood or +cardboard, the spaces for doors and windows being left open that the +merchandise may be conveniently handled. Brick or stone fronts, +second-story windows, offices, etc., may all be indicated as artistically +as the capacity of the class permits by the use of colored crayons. The +sign is an important feature and should stimulate an interest in well-made +lettering. + +=Additional Projects.=--In addition to representations of retail shops, +various industries, such as the carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, flour +mill, ice plant, and other familiar industries, may be represented. +Coöperative institutions, such as the post office and fire department, +should be included in the study. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 33.--A grocery. Fourth grade.] + + +=Excursions.=--Wherever possible, the plant should be visited by the class. +Before making the visit, the class should discuss what they expect to see, +and go prepared to find out definite things. Each child should have at +least one question which he is to ask, or one item of information for +which he is to be responsible to the class on the return. Often the visit +is more worth while to the class after they have tried to make a +representation from what they already know and from what they can read on +the subject. They are then more conscious of their needs and more alive to +the important elements than when they are merely seeing a new thing which +is to a great extent foreign to their experience. If they make the visit +first, they are apt to feel the need of another when they attempt to work +out their representation. If they make a representation first, they are +quite sure to be dissatisfied with it and want to make another after they +have made the visit. In either case their consciousness of need is a +measure of growth. + +=Correlation.=--While the building of a store is in progress the study of +the sources and processes of manufacture of the various articles of +merchandise will supply valuable subject matter in several fields. + +_English._--Books containing information on the subject will be read with +a definite purpose and more than ordinary interest. Especially if the +group method is used, will the members of a group be proud to bring to the +class interesting items concerning their particular part of the work. +These narratives and descriptions may be made excellent practice in either +oral or written English and will be of the sort Dewey characterizes as +"having something to say rather than having to say something." + +_Geography._--This study may also enter as deeply into the field of +geography as the development of the class warrants. It will be geography +of a vital sort. How these things are brought to us touches the field of +transportation, creating an interest in ships and railroad trains, pack +mules and express wagons. + +_History._--The study of the process of manufacture opens up the field of +industrial history, and in this, as in the geography, the study is limited +only by the capacity of the class. + +_Number._--In the field of number the possibilities are also unlimited, in +studying the weights and measures used for different commodities, the +actual prices paid for these things, and the usual quantities purchased. + +Playing store will involve the making of bills, the changing of money, and +the measuring of merchandise. Different pupils may take turns acting as +salesmen or cashier. The common practices of business life should be +followed as closely as possible, only in this case each purchaser should +make out his own bills. Actual purchase slips may be brought from home and +used in number lessons. + +An inventory of the stock may be taken and will supply excellent practice +in addition and multiplication. After the example of _real_ stores, a +stock-taking sale at reduced rates may be advertised. The writer answered +such an advertisement by a third grade and asked how much could be +purchased for one dollar. Pencils were busy at once, and a variety of +combinations suggested. One pupil was quickly called to account by his +mates for offering only ninety-five cents' worth of merchandise for the +dollar. By these and numerous other exercises which will suggest +themselves to lively children and wide-awake teachers a vast amount of +vital subject matter may be dealt with in a natural way, quite on the +level of the child's experience and interest. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 34.--A grocery. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Art._--The art side also may receive due attention in the general +proportioning and arrangement of the stores, in the modeling of certain +features from clay, as enumerated above, in the making of labels for boxes +and cans, in the writing of signs and advertisements, and in the color +combinations. These features are to a great extent incidental to other +problems just as the use of good taste is incidental to all the affairs +of life and should receive corresponding emphasis. + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Figure 32 shows about half the stores built by one third-grade class. Some +of the subject matter drawn from the various stories was as follows: in +connection with the grocery, a study of the source of various articles of +food with oral and written descriptions of processes of manufacture; the +common measures used in the grocery, and ordinary amounts purchased. + +In connection with the meat market, the names of various kinds of meat, +the animals from which they are obtained, and the part of the animal which +furnishes certain cuts; as, for example, ham, bacon, chops. The current +prices and approximate quantity needed for a meal made practical number +work. + +The bakery called for an investigation of the processes of bread making +and a study of the material used. In all of the processes the teacher had +opportunity to stress the necessity for proper sanitation. + +In connection with the dry goods store, the distinguishing characteristics +of cotton, wool, linen, and silk were emphasized and illustrated by the +samples collected for the store and by the clothing worn by the children. +Common problems in measuring cloth enlivened the number lessons. + +The millinery store disclosed considerable ingenuity in the field of hat +manufacture, and a lively business in doll hats was carried on for some +time. + +In connection with the post office, registered letters, dead letters, +money orders, rural free delivery, etc., were discussed, and the +advantages of coöperation touched upon. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 35.--A dry goods store. Third grade.] + + +The other stores of the village street offer further opportunity for +becoming better acquainted with the common things which lie close at hand +and touch our daily lives. + + + + +[Illustration: FIG. 36.--Home in a hot country.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 37.--Home in a cold country.] + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAND TABLES AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM + + +A sand table should be considered one of the indispensable furnishings of +every schoolroom. Its possibilities are many and varied. It may be used +merely as a means of recreation and the children allowed to play in the +sand, digging and building as fancy suggests. Or it may be used as the +foundation for elaborate representations, carefully planned by the +teacher, laboriously worked out by the children, and extravagantly admired +by the parents on visitors' day. While both of these uses may serve worthy +ends on certain occasions, the most valuable function of the sand table +strikes a happy medium between the two, as means of illustrating and +emphasizing various features of the daily lessons. In this capacity the +laborious efforts of the show problem on the one hand and purposeless play +of the other are both avoided. In this capacity the work on the sand table +goes along hand in hand with the regular work in geography, history, +language, or any subject in which it is possible through an illustration +to teach more effectively. + +The purpose of this work is not so much to produce fine representations as +to help the children to clarify and strengthen their ideas through the +effort to express them in concrete form. The value lies in the +development which comes to the children while they work. The technique of +processes of construction is of secondary importance, though careless work +ought never to be permitted. The completed project has little value after +it has served its purpose as an illustration and may be quickly destroyed +to make way for the next project. For this reason emphasis is laid on the +general effect rather than the detail of construction. The work should be +done well enough to serve the purpose, but time should not be spent on +unnecessary details which do not add to the value as an illustration. In +most cases speed is an important element. The project should be completed +while the subject it illustrates is under discussion, if it is to be of +most service. The first essential is that the work shall be done wholly by +the children. The teacher may by skillful questions help them to build up +in imagination the project they intend to work out, so that they may work +with a definite purpose. She may sometimes suggest improved methods of +working out various features when the improvements will add to the value +of the illustration, but she should seldom, if ever, plan a project +definitely or dictate the method of procedure. + +Not least among the possible benefits to be derived from work of this kind +is the development of resourcefulness. The necessity for expressing an +idea in concrete form with whatever materials are at hand often calls for +considerable ingenuity. Ability of this sort will show itself only when +the children are expressing their ideas with utmost freedom and feel the +responsibility for the success of their work. The more earnestly the +children try to express their ideas, the greater will be their +development. The teacher should feel that she is hindering the growth of +the children and defrauding them of their legitimate opportunity for +development when she allows an over-anxiety for tangible and showy results +to make her take the responsibility upon herself. + +The details of method are best presented through a detailed description of +typical illustrations actually worked out in the classroom. + + +A SAND-TABLE FARM--HOME LIFE IN THE COUNTRY + +The study of home life as a general subject will include "our home" and +the homes of other people who live under different conditions. To the town +child the country will often be somewhat familiar and hold the second +place in his interest. In the country school the farm may often be the +best place to begin. + +Various questions will arise as soon as it is decided to make a sand-table +farm, the answers to which will be governed by the habits of the locality. +What sort of farm shall we have? Shall we raise stock, fruit, corn, wheat, +vegetables, or a little of everything? What shall we need to plant in each +case, and in what proportion? How much pasture land shall we need? What +buildings? What machinery? + + +[Illustration: FIG. 38.--A sand-table farm. First grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 39.--A sand-table farm. Second grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +=Fences.=--As soon as the question of crops and the division of the table +into fields is settled, the problem of fencing presents itself. What sort +of fence is needed, wire, boards, pickets, rails, or hedge? How far apart +shall the posts be set, how tall should they be, and how many will be +needed? How many boards? How wide? How long? How many wires? + +The making of the fencing will supply material for one or more number +lessons. Various materials may be used. + +_Twigs_ may be cut to given lengths and set in concrete (clay) posts. + +_For wire fence_, cut posts from small wooden sticks. Drive small tacks in +each post--one for each wire. Use fine spool wire or wire raveled from fly +screen. Twist wires once around each tack, or drive the tacks in firmly so +that the wire is held by the head of the tack. This is not an easy fence +for very little children to make. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 40.--Detail of chicken fence.] + + +_To make board fence._ Cut posts required length, and decide upon distance +between posts. Make boards of thin strips of wood or of pasteboard. Nail +boards to posts with tacks or small brads. This is a very easy fence to +make and gives some good exercise in measuring. + +_Rail fences_ may be made from toothpicks or burnt matches. + +_Picket fence_ for the dooryard may be made on wooden foundation with +cardboard pickets. + +_Hedge fence_ should be made from some fine-leafed plant. Cedar twigs +serve well. + +_Chicken fence_ may be cut from paper as per illustration. Fold paper +several times, lengthwise. Cut across the fold as indicated by arrows. +Stretch lengthwise as shown in Fig. 40, _a_ and _b_. + +=Buildings.=--The class should decide on the buildings needed. Each +building should be assigned to a group of two or three workers. Each group +should be held responsible for its contribution and should work out its +problem with as little help as possible. If the children are able to plan +a barn and make it, even though it is a very crude affair, more has been +accomplished than if a very cunning structure had been made after plans, +dictated and closely supervised by the teacher. + +_Wood_ is the best building material for general use. + +_Pasteboard_ serves well, but it is less substantial. It is also harder to +cut and paste heavy cardboard than it is to saw and nail thin wood. + +_Clay_ may be used for all buildings which are commonly made of concrete. + +=Stock.=--The different kinds of animals needed on the farm and the number +of each will furnish profitable subject matter for class discussion. The +animals may be modeled from clay. While the animals will of necessity be +very large in proportion to the acreage of the farm, attention should be +directed to the relative proportions between horses and hogs, cattle and +sheep. Differences of this sort do not trouble little people, as their +work is sure to show. The point should be stressed only sufficiently to +help them to see a little more clearly and express their ideas a little +more adequately each time they try. The accuracy of the result is +important only as an index that the children are steadily developing in +power to see and do, and gaining self-reliance. + +_The Modeling Process._--The best method seems to be simply to _begin_, +and, for example, model as good a horse as possible; then discuss the +results, note a few serious defects, and try again, endeavoring to correct +them. Encourage rapid work which gives the general proportions of the +animal in the rough. Beginners are apt to waste time in a purposeless +smoothing of the clay, in mere tactual enjoyment. Discourage the tendency +to finish the details of a horse's head, for example, before the body has +been modeled. Repeat the process as often as time and the interest of the +children warrant, but be satisfied if the children are doing the best they +can, even though the results are crude and not so good as some other class +has produced. The children should always feel that the work is their own. +For this reason the teacher's help in clay modeling should be through +demonstration rather than by finishing touches to the child's work. +Imitation is a strong instinct in little children, and watching the +teacher model a better horse than he can make will help a child to improve +his own. One thing to be especially avoided is the attempt to bring every +class to a uniform degree of excellence according to adult standards. Such +an ideal encourages the giving of help in a way which hinders real +development though it may produce immediate results. + +=Trees.=--This topic will call out a discussion of the uses of trees; +which trees are shade trees, which are cultivated for their fruit, the +distinguishing characteristics of the different varieties, and the ones +best suited to this particular farm. + +Twigs from the real tree should be used wherever possible. In other cases +the trees may be cut from paper. If a good green paper is not at hand, use +drawing paper and color with crayons. A realistic effect is gained by +cutting the tree from folded paper. (See Fig. 41.) Cut three pieces for +each tree and paste together at the fold, then open out. Make the trunk +long enough to be driven an inch or more into the sand. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 41.--Detail of paper tree.] + + +The making of the trees will furnish material for both art and nature +study lessons. As far as circumstances permit the real trees should be +studied, giving the children first-hand experience whether it be much or +little. They should test the trees they cut by comparing them with real +trees of the same variety. If this is impossible, the best pictures +available should be used. (See notes on paper cutting.) + +=Crops.=--When the various parts of the farm are about ready, the fields +may be sown. The sand should be made very wet before the seed is put in +and sprinkled frequently (twice a day), as the top dries off very quickly. +After the seeds have germinated little sprinkling need be done, as the +roots will find enough moisture in the wet sand underneath, and it is +desirable to retard rather than hasten growth. If carefully managed, a +table can be kept green for several weeks. + +For corn, check holes well into the sand and drop one grain into each +hole. See that rows are straight and holes evenly spaced. + +Sow wheat, oats, barley, etc., _very thickly_, cover lightly with dry +sand, and sprinkle. + +Timothy serves well for meadow and lawn, as it puts up a fine blade. Blue +grass sends up a fine blade, but is very slow in germination. Clover does +not make a velvety lawn, but a little in the pasture will make an +interesting contrast. + +Vegetables may be planted in the garden. They will not develop to any +great extent, but will serve to emphasize different habits in germination; +as, for example, the contrast between beans and corn. + +=Correlation.=--The opportunity for nature study afforded by the farm +problem will prove one of its most interesting and valuable features as +the progress in plant growth is noted from day to day. The farm problem +combines well with both language and art work in supplying vital material +for both. In addition to the interesting discussions which naturally arise +concerning the building and planting, a diary may be kept by each child. + +_Keeping a Diary._--The date of planting may be noted and the date when +each variety of seed first appears above ground. With the larger seeds, as +corn and beans, a seed may be dug up each day and examined, so that the +children may appreciate what is going on below ground. Drawings may be +made of the seeds, showing the changes in appearance from day to day. +After the seed leaves appear the daily growth may be measured and noted in +the diary. After a few days seeds may be dug up again that the roots may +be examined. At various stages of growth different varieties of seeds may +be dug up, laid upon a paper, and sketched by the children. The facts they +note may be stated in simple, well-formed sentences, either oral or +written or both. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 42.--An Eskimo village and The Overall Boys' Farm. +First grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Art._--The sketching will serve well as the day's art lesson, though its +chief value is in helping the children to see clearly. Their efforts will +be crude but the teacher should constantly keep in mind that the chief aim +is not to obtain fine sketches. Its purpose is to help the children to a +better appreciation of the plant through the effort put forth in making +the sketch. The technique of the drawing should be emphasized only so far +as it will help them express better what they see, and not to the point +where they attempt to copy the teacher's strokes. The teacher should be +satisfied if every child is doing his best and making steady progress, +even though that best may be crude and not up to the standard reached by +the teacher who struggles for fine results. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 43.--An apple orchard. First grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +_English._--For children who are able to write the diary offers a natural +means of gaining experience in the use of common forms of punctuation; as, +for example, the writing of dates and the use of a comma in a series, as +well as the punctuation of simple statements, in such entries as the +following: + + April 15, 1912. + + We planted the seeds on our farm to-day. + + We planted corn, wheat, oats, and beans. + + +In all work of this sort it is difficult to overestimate the advantage of +separate sheets of paper over a notebook with sewed leaves, in the hands +of the children. With the fresh sheet always comes an inspiration, no +matter what failures have gone before. Poor pages can be done over when +necessary, but do not haunt the workers with their discouraging +suggestions, as in the use of a notebook. The leaves may be gathered +together into a binding of some sort. Even covers of plain brown wrapping +paper can be made artistic with a simple border line well placed or a +design cut from a paper of a different tone. Written work which culminates +in an attractive booklet, however simple, seems more worth while than +exercises written into a commonplace notebook or on scratch paper which +goes to the wastebasket soon after the mistakes have been commented on. + +_Number._--The farm problem also supplies abundant opportunity for gaining +experience with number. In addition to the actual measurement of the +materials used for fences and buildings, the scope may be widened, where +conditions warrant, to include estimates and calculations of the amount of +the material used. + +For example, how many inches or feet of wire will be needed to make a +three-wire fence of given length? How large a piece of cardboard will be +needed to cut boards one fourth or one half inch wide for a four-board +fence fifteen inches long? + +These estimates may be translated, _as far as the children are able to +appreciate the connection_, into quantities and values of the same +material in real problems connected with real farms. It is important, +however, to be careful not to carry work of this sort so far beyond the +experience of the children that it becomes wholly foreign and abstract to +them. We are too apt to forget that it is _experience_ and not _objects_, +which is the vital factor in concreteness. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 44.--Robinson Crusoe. Third grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +In connection with the nature study a variety of number exercises grow out +of the questions which the situation prompts. As, for example, in +connection with the corn crop: How many seeds were planted? In how many +rows? How many seeds in a row? How many came up? How many failed to +germinate? How many more came up than failed? If each good seed should +produce two ears of corn, how many would we have? What would they be +worth at a given price? etc. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 45.--Pueblo Indian village. Second grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +In an ungraded school, while the younger children might confine their +efforts to counting as above, the older children might answer the same +questions in terms of percentage and in the probable quantities on a real +farm. The stock farm may be treated in the same way. How many cows? How +much milk will they give? What will it be worth? How much butter would it +make? What will it cost to keep the cows? What is the farmer's profit? +These and many other questions will suggest themselves to both teacher and +pupils, once the subject is opened up. They will be _practical questions +in so far as they touch the experience of the children_ in such a way as +to appeal to them as real questions. Each individual teacher must decide +how far and into what field it is worth while to lead any particular +class. + +=The Sand Table.=--The various types of sand tables range all the way from +the hardwood, zinc-lined article, provided with a drainpipe, down to the +homemade structure evolved from a goods box. + +The quality of the table does not greatly affect the quality of the work +to be done on it, but there are several points which affect the +convenience of the workers. The height of the table should allow the +children to work comfortably when standing beside it. A long, narrow table +is seldom as satisfactory as one more nearly square, but it should never +be too wide for the children to reach the center easily. Any table with +tight joints in the top and four- or five-inch boards fitted tightly +around the edge will serve the purpose. The inside of the box should be +painted to prevent warping and leaking. An "ocean blue" is a good color, +as it makes a good background for islands. + +If no table is available, a goods box may be turned on its side, the top +covered with oilcloth, and a frame, made from the cover of the box, fitted +around the edge. The inside of the box may be used as a closet in which to +store tools and materials, and a neat appearance given to the whole by a +curtain of denim or other plain, heavy material. + + +ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS + +One of the most valuable uses of the sand table is in making illustrations +for stories, historical events, and similar topics in which the relations +between people and places is important. No definite rules can be laid +down for working out such illustrations. The conditions under which they +are made, the time to be devoted to the work, the importance of the +subject, all affect both the nature and the quality of the work. Any +material which lends itself to the purpose should be called into service. + +The method of procedure is best set forth by describing several problems +as actually worked out by children. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 46.--A home in Switzerland. Second grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +(1) =Story of Columbus=--_First Grade._ + +_Materials Used._--Paper for cutting and folding, twigs for forests, +acorns for tents, large piece of glass for ocean. + +_Details of Illustration._--The piece of glass was imbedded in sand in the +middle of the table; one end of the table represented Spain, the other, +America. The representation of Spain included: + +"Castles in Spain" being large houses with many + windows in which the king and queen lived. They were cut from paper. + +Many people, cut from paper, including kings and queens and the + friends of Mr. Columbus who came to tell him "good-by." The kings and + queens were distinguished by royal purple robes and golden crowns and + necklaces, produced by the use of colored crayon. + +The three ships made from folded paper. In one of them sat Mr. + Columbus. + +Fishes, of paper, inhabited the hollow space underneath the glass. + +The forest primeval was shown on the American side by green twigs of + trees set very close together. On pulling apart the leaves and + peering into the depths of this forest, one found it inhabited by + bears and other wild beasts, also cut from paper. + +The Indians lived in a village of acorn tents set up in a little + clearing on the shore. + +Flags.--The Spanish region was identified by a Spanish flag, while + the stars and stripes waved above the Indian village. + +_Values._--The project being on the level of the children's experience, +they worked freely and with intense interest. The characters in the story +were all very real to them. They literally swarmed about the table +whenever opportunity was given, moving the figures about as they told the +story over and over again. Mr. Columbus sailed across the sea many times. +Many boats were made and named for one of the three, according to the +preference of the maker. They peeped into the forest and shuddered in +delightful fear "lest a bear get me." They made and remade the scene as +new ideas suggested themselves during several days of Columbus week. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 47.--Two little knights of Kentucky. Fourth grade. +Columbia, Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 48.--How Cedric became a knight. Fourth grade. +Columbia, Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 49.--A sugar camp. Built late in the spring by a +third-grade class. They enjoyed the green grass, though it suggests an +overlate season.] + + +Several discrepancies existed which are mentioned here because they +troubled some overconscientious visitors. The stars and stripes did not +come into existence until centuries after Columbus died and therefore +never waved over the Indian village which he found. But chronology does +not trouble the first grader very much, while "my country" and "my flag" +are ideas which are developing together. And when he is singing, "Columbus +sailed across the sea, To find a land for you and me," the red, white, and +blue forms the most fitting symbol in his representation of that land. The +wild animals which infested the sand-table forest are not all mentioned in +the histories as found on San Salvador, but they did exist in the child's +idea of the wild country which the white men found on this side of the +Atlantic. The children having truthfully expressed their ideas, the +teacher had a basis from which to develop, correct, and emphasize such +points as were of real importance, while the unimportant features would +fade out for lack of emphasis. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 50.--A western cattle ranch.] + + +On the occasion of the supervisor's visit the members of the class vied +with each other in telling the story and explaining the significance of +the various illustrations. The supervisor expressed a wish to own some of +the cuttings, whereupon, at a hint from the teacher, the class which had +gathered about the sand table scampered joyfully (but quietly) back to +their seats. Scissors and paper were quickly distributed, and in about +five minutes an empty shoe box was required to hold the collection of "Mr. +Columbuses," kings and queens in royal purple, gold crowns, and necklaces, +ships, fishes, etc., that were showered upon the guest. Needless to say +many scraps of paper had fallen to the floor. The teacher remarked that +it was time for the brownies to come. Down went all the heads for a sleepy +time. The teacher slipped about, tapping here and there a child, who +quickly began gathering up the scraps as joyously as he had helped to make +them. + +The supervisor bade them good-by, with a wish that all children might +begin their school life under such happy and wholesome influences. + +(2) =Story of Jack Horner=[3]--_First Grade._--As the story was read the +different characters were subjects for free paper-cutting exercises. An +abundance of paper (scratch paper and newspaper) was supplied, and each +child allowed to cut each figure many times, very quickly. + +The story was also dramatized and acted out over and over again. Figure 1 +shows the result of an hour's work in assembling the various characters +and telling the whole story on the sand table and in a poster. The +different figures to be cut were assigned to or chosen by the different +children, the teacher taking care that no characters were omitted. Having +cut figures of the various characters as they were met in the story, all +were eager to reproduce the part called for, and in a few minutes more +than enough cuttings were made to supply both sand table and poster with +ample material. Two groups of children, one for the poster and one for the +sand table, were assigned the work of placing the figures. The teacher +superintended both projects, giving a few suggestions as needed, but +throwing the responsibility upon the children as much as possible. + +This problem was worked out by the same class which made the Columbus +illustration just described. The Jack Horner story was illustrated in the +spring, after much work of this sort had been done. The quality of the +cuttings showed an interesting improvement over the cuttings made for the +Columbus story, which came during the third week of the school year. + +(3) =Story of Three Little Pigs.=--This is a long story, and three weeks +were occupied in reading it and dramatizing it. During this time there +were frequent discussions about how it was to be worked out on the sand +table. Contributions in great variety were brought in: straw for the straw +house, twigs for the house of sticks, bags of brick dust to make a roadway +different from the sand, rose hips to be tied to a small branch to +represent the apple tree, and various other articles. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 51.--The story of Three Little Pigs. First grade. +Columbia, Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 52.--A Japanese tea garden. Third grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 53.--A coal mine. Fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +The houses were built as suggested by the pictures in the reader. The pig +and wolf were modeled in clay, each being shown in the several different +positions described in the story. Over and over a little clay pig rolled +down the hill in a paper churn and frightened a clay wolf. One group, not +having wherewithal to build a brick house, used a wooden one made by +another group. Another class made the brick house out of blocks, and built +in a fireplace with its kettle ready to hold the hot water whenever the +wolf should start for the chimney. (See Fig. 51.) + +(4) =Japanese Tea Garden.=--A third-grade class used the sand table to +illustrate what they had gleaned from reading several stories and +descriptions of life in Japan, in connection with elementary geography. +The sand-table representation included a tiny bridge across a small stream +of "real" water. The "real river" was secured by ingenious use of a +leaking tin can which was hidden behind a clump of trees (twigs). A thin +layer of cement in the bed of the river kept the water from sinking into +the sand. A shallow pan imbedded in the sand formed a lake into which the +river poured its waters. (See Fig. 52.) + +(5) =A Coal Mine.=--The sand table shown in Fig. 53 was worked out by a +fourth-grade class in connection with the geography of the western states. +Descriptions and pictures were studied with great earnestness to find out +how to fix it, and the children made it as they thought it ought to be. +The actual making occupied very little time, the various parts being +contributed by different pupils. + +Problems of this sort develop leadership. There is usually one whose ideas +take definite shape promptly and whose suggestions are willingly followed +by his group. If there is one pupil in the class whose ability to lead is +so strong that the others are overshadowed, it is sometimes well to let +the work be done by small groups who use the table turn about. This plan +stimulates a wholesome rivalry and discourages dawdling. + +(6) =Stories.=--Illustrations for two stories are shown on page 94. In the +first (Fig. 47) part of the class made a representation on the sand table +while the rest prepared a poster from paper cuttings. In the second (Fig. +48) empty shoe boxes were used in making the castle. Very little time was +spent on either project. + + + + +[Illustration: FIG. 54.--A chariot race. Second grade. Pasadena, +California.] + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ANIMALS AND TOYS + + +The circus and the zoölogical garden are always centers of interest to +little children and may be used to great advantage to furnish the point of +departure in the study of animal life. Making the animals in some form +crystallizes the interest in the animals represented, and awakens interest +in their habits and home. + +The handwork may be used as an illustrative factor connected with +geography and nature study, or the making of the circus may be the +starting point, and incidentally furnish subject matter in several fields. +For example, geography and nature study grow out of the search for facts +concerning the animals themselves, _i.e._ size, color, food, home, value, +etc. The desire for such information gives purpose to reading. Oral and +written descriptions supply subject matter for practice in English. +Reducing the actual proportions of animals to a definite scale and +problems relating to their commercial value make practical use of the +knowledge of number. Art enters into the making of free-hand sketches, +cuttings, and patterns for wooden models. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 55.--A circus parade.] + + +A good circus or "zoo" may be worked out in a variety of materials. Paper, +cardboard, clay, and wood all serve well. + +To get the best value from the problem it should be as free as possible +from copy work. The children should consult the best sources of +information at their disposal, which may range all the way from ordinary +picture books to natural history and encyclopedia descriptions. They +should find out, unaided, as much as possible concerning the animal in +question: his size, color, food, home, values, etc.,--the teacher +supplementing with interesting and necessary items not at the disposal of +the class. + +Free-hand cuttings and pencil sketches should be compared with the best +pictures obtainable and the real animal whenever possible. Such patterns +as are needed should be made by the children themselves. Ready-made +patterns will produce better proportioned animals, but more dependent, +less observant children also. + + +METHODS IN DETAIL + +=Realistic Animals in Three-ply Wood.=--Secure necessary items of +measurement and decide upon scale. One inch for each foot is best for +younger children. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 56.--Three-ply wooden animals.] + + +Draw rectangle proportioned to the extreme length and height of the +animal. Draw into the rectangle a _profile_ sketch of the animal, being +careful that it comes to the line on each side. _All four feet must_ touch +the base line. Considerable practice may be needed before a good sketch +can be drawn. The animal may be represented as standing, walking, or +running, but must be drawn in profile. + +Cut out the sketch and make by it three patterns: one of the head, body, +and tail; one of the body and right legs; one of the body and left legs. +Care must be taken to get good lines at shoulder and rump. (See Fig. 56.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 57.--Detail of three-ply animals with movable parts.] + + +Lay the pattern on the wood so that the grain runs lengthwise of the legs +and other frail parts and draw outline carefully. Use basswood one fourth +inch thick, or other soft wood. + +Saw out the parts with a coping saw. Be careful in sawing to keep the +blade in a vertical position in order that the edges may be true. + +Nail or glue the parts together. If the animal does not stand perfectly, +rub the feet on a piece of sandpaper. Use water color or crayon to give +proper color. + +_Three-ply Animals with Movable Parts._--To make the head movable, saw the +part from the body on a curved line, as shown in Fig. 57. Fasten with a +single nail through the shoulder. The curved line must be a part of a +circle and the nail must be at the center. The edges should be smooth to +allow easy action. The tail may be adjusted by a similar plan. The parts +may be made to move automatically by suspending a weight on cords which +are attached to the movable parts, as shown in Fig. 57. If the weight is +to be used, cut off the body part on the double dotted line to allow room +for the cords to swing. + +A figure of this sort must be fastened on a pedestal or platform which +will extend over the edge of the table. A slot must be cut in the pedestal +wide enough to allow the cords to swing freely. (See Fig. 56.) The +pedestal may be a long board or piece of heavy cardboard which can be +tacked to the table or held firm by a clamp, or it may be a thin board +fastened to a U-shaped block which is held firm on the edge of the table +by a wedge. + +=Cardboard and Paper Animals that Stand.=--For younger children who cannot +handle the saw easily cardboard or stiff paper may be used. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 58.--Notched rest for animals.] + + +To make the animal stand the feet may be tacked to a small piece of wood +about one inch square on the end and as long as needed, or a cardboard +brace, such as is used on easels, may be glued to the back. A realistic +effect is given if the animal is cut with two legs and the brace made to +represent the other two, or a piece of cardboard cut as in Fig. 58 may be +used as a brace, the body of the animal fitting into the notch. + +_Clay_ makes an excellent medium, but it requires more skill in clay than +in wood to get an equally good effect. Clay animals should be modeled with +a pedestal, and the separations between the two forelegs and the two hind +legs merely indicated. If each leg is modeled separately, the figure is +likely to be frail. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 59.--Balancing figures.] + + +=Balancing Figures.=--Design such figures as a prancing horse or dancing +bear and saw from a single piece of wood. A little below the center of the +figure insert a curved wire, on the other end of which is a ball of clay +or other weight. The wire must be fastened firmly so that it cannot turn. +Adjust so that the figure balances. + +Figures of people in foreign costumes, children running and jumping, as +well as all sorts of animals, are very fascinating problems of this sort. +(See Fig. 59.) + +=Seesaw Figures.=--Such groups as two boys chopping wood, two chickens +drinking, two dogs tugging at a string, wrestling boys, and similar groups +are interesting problems of the seesaw type. (See Fig. 60.) + +_Detail._--Cut the figures from cardboard. Make with a long pedestal. +Color with crayon or water color. Use two light sticks for the seesaw, to +which tack one figure in a vertical position and the other on a slant. +Fasten to each stick with one tack. If a central figure is used, tack +firmly to lower stick. Work the figure by moving the upper stick while the +lower one is held firm. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 60.--Some simple toys.] + + +=Toys.=--A box of carpenter's scraps of soft wood will supply material for +a variety of toys which may be made by the children themselves, thereby +more than doubling the fun. A few suggestions are given in detail. The +making of these will suggest others. (See Fig. 60.) + +_Doll's Swing._--A heavy block for a base, two tall uprights, and a +crosspiece will make the frame. Make a seat from cardboard or use the end +of a small box and suspend from crossbar. + +_Doll's Teeter._--Use a heavy block for a base. Two uprights with +double-pointed tacks or notches in the top. Drive two double-pointed tacks +in lower side of teeter board at center. Slip a small rod through the +tacks and rest in the notches on the uprights. Suspend a weight by cords +from the lower side of the board, adjust until the board balances. The +ends of the board should be provided with box seats for the doll's +comfort. + +_Railroad Train._--For cars, saw pieces from a square stick. For engine, +use pieces of broomstick or other cylinder. Soft wood is better if +obtainable. For wheels, use pieces of small broomstick or dowel rod. (See +Fig. 56.) + +Let the children study real trains and make the best imitation they can +work out. + +_Jumping Jacks._--Cut the figure from light weight cardboard. Make head +and body in one piece. Cut two arms long enough to reach well above the +head. Make the hands very large. Cut two legs either with or without a +joint at the knee. Color with crayon or water color. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 61.--Adjusting jumping jack in frame.] + + +Fasten the legs and arms to the body with a string tied loosely to allow +free movements. Make a frame of two light stiff sticks and a crosspiece +fastened between them near the lower end of the sticks. Fasten with a +single nail at either end of the crosspiece. Cut notches near the upper +ends of the sticks. Fasten the figure to the frame by a stout thread. Use +a coarse needle and carry the thread through the hands twice, leaving a +loop on each side to slip over the ends of the sticks into the notches. A +small block or folded bit of cardboard between the hands to keep them +apart will improve the movement of the toy. Adjust the figure so that the +threads are parallel when the figure hangs below the inverted frame. (See +Fig. 61.) When the frame is held upright, the figure will hang between the +sticks and the threads will be crossed. Press the lower ends of the frame +together to make the jumping jack perform. + +_Merry-go-round._--Use a heavy block for a base. Bore a hole in the center +and insert a square stick, about 10 in. long. For arms, use two pieces +about 3/8 in. thick and 10 in. long. Fasten these together in the form of +a cross and nail to the top of the upright with a single nail. An awl may +be used to make the hole a little larger than the nail so that the arms +will revolve easily. Suspend a box seat of wood or cardboard from each arm +to complete the toy. (See Fig. 59.) + +=Games.=--_Ring Toss._--Use two square pieces of board at least 1/2 in. +thick, one piece larger than the other. Bore a hole in the center of the +smaller piece with a 1/2-in. auger bit. + +For the upright use a stick 1/2 in. square and about 12 in. long. Whittle +the corners of the stick until it fits firmly into the hole in the small +board. Nail the small board to the large one. + +For the rings use reeds, venetian iron, or hoops from small buckets or +cart wheels. Wrap the rings with raffia or yarn. Make at least three rings +of varying sizes. (See Fig. 60.) + +Playing ring toss and keeping tally makes an excellent number game. + +_Ten Pins._--From bogus or other heavy paper roll and paste cylinders +about three inches in diameter and about twelve inches long. These may be +set on end, and any of the common ten pin games played with the help of a +soft rubber ball. Keeping tally gives excellent practice in number. + +_Bean Bag Game._--Draw three circles of different sizes on a large sheet +of heavy cardboard. Carefully cut out the circles with a sharp-pointed +knife. Mount a picture of some animal on each piece cut out. + +Fasten the pieces back in place by a single cloth hinge pasted on the +back, and at the lowest part of the circle. + +Tack the sheet of cardboard to a light wooden frame to keep it from +bending. + +Let the frame rest against the wall at a slight angle. Bean bags thrown at +the animals will knock them down as they go through the holes. The bean +bags should be made by the children. Various number games may be played +with bean bags. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOLIDAYS + + +The various holidays which come during the year mean so much to little +children that they should receive special notice and should suggest the +form of handwork to be done at the time. + +=Thanksgiving= suggests attention to harvest products, to be modeled in +clay, cut from paper, or drawn with crayon; the making of sand-table +scenes showing early New England life in various phases; the making of +various utensils and commodities of the primitive home which differ from +our own; as, for example, the making of candles, the hour glass, and the +sundial. + +=Christmas= suggests the making of toys and all sorts of things suitable +for gifts. If the work centers around the Christmas tree, it offers +opportunity for coöperation in making trimming such as paper chains, +pop-corn strings, etc., as well as individual gifts. If a tree is not +obtainable, a box may be dressed up in imitation of Santa's sleigh drawn +by cardboard reindeer. Whatever else is done in honor of the visit of St. +Nicholas, the spirit of giving should be cultivated by making gifts to +some younger or less fortunate groups. Picture books may be made for sick +children, doll furniture and other toys for the orphans' home or some +family of unfortunates. A sack might arrive a week or two before +Christmas accompanied by a telegram from Santa requesting contributions +to help him out in some specific way and stating that it would be called +for at a certain time. When a "real Santa" calls for the sack, he may +leave in its place another containing some unexpected treat for the +children themselves. The gifts which the children contribute should be of +their own making, that they may have a full sense of real giving and not +merely the pleasure of delivering the parcels mother has provided. + +=Valentine's Day= offers an opportunity for developing appreciation of a +higher form of art than the shop windows frequently offer, and also +investing with pure, sweet sentiment a day which means, in some quarters, +only vulgar sentimentality and coarse jests. + +=Easter= offers a similar opportunity for emphasis on the fine things in +color and subjects for greeting cards. The season also suggests emphasis +on study of budding plants and young animal life by means of cutting, +painting, and modeling. + +=Hero days= suggest a variety of forms of handwork, such as picture making +with crayons or cuttings, or pictures in three dimensions on the sand +table, for intensifying important phases of the hero's life; illustrated +stories in booklet form; and the making of "properties" for dramatic +representations. These things offer a welcome change from the stereotyped +"Speaking day," and stimulate originality and self-reliance. + +So much has been written and so many suggestions are constantly being +offered in school journals that specific suggestions for _things to make_ +seem superfluous here. + +=Individual Problems.=--While community problems must form a large part of +the handwork in the lower grades, it is desirable to have, from time to +time, projects which seek a definite result from each pupil. In the +community problem it is possible for the strong pupil to monopolize the +values of the work by imposing his ideas upon his fellows and by doing all +the work while the slower pupils are getting ready to begin. In the same +way it is possible for the lazy pupil to shirk much of his responsibility +through the eagerness of his companions. It is therefore necessary to +maintain a balance by the use of individual problems of a more definite +type. These may often be specific parts of the community problem, but this +will not meet all the needs of the case. The special days offer excellent +occasion for work of this sort in addition to the coöperative problems +which are undertaken by the class as a whole. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +GENERAL SUGGESTIONS AND SUMMARY + + +=Modification of Outlines.=--All the projects outlined in the foregoing +pages are capable of modification and adaptation to the needs of several +grades. For this reason, in nearly every problem, many more suggestions +are offered than will often be applicable in any one instance of its +development. The directions are, for the most part, given from the +standpoint of the first grade, on the principle that it is easier to add +to the detail of a problem than to simplify it. On the other hand, the +directions are not generally specific in detail, in order to prevent as +far as possible a mechanical copying of any project. + +=Emphasis on Self-expression.=--It is desired to place special emphasis +upon the point that each project undertaken, if it is to reach its highest +value, must come as fully as possible from the children themselves and be +to the very fullest extent _their self-expression_. + +_Not any house described in this book, nor any house seen in another +schoolroom, nor even the house which I, as teacher, plan in detail, will +be most valuable to my class_; but rather _our house_, which _we, teacher +and pupils_ working together, evolve to suit our own needs and fancies, +using suggestions gathered from every available source, but adapting them +to our own needs. + +=Self-directed Activity and Discipline.=--The terms "self-directed +activity" and "self-expression" must not be confounded with the idea of +letting the children do as they please in any random and purposeless +fashion. If one were to start out to escort a group of children to a +certain hilltop, it is quite probable that some of them would run part of +the way. Others would walk in twos and threes, and these would change +about. They would halt to look at things that attracted their attention. +The leader would halt them to observe some interesting point which they +might otherwise miss. Should any of them wander from the right path the +leader would call them back, and any frail child would be helped over the +hard places. Yet with all this freedom the group might move steadily +forward and reach the hilltop in due time. + +All progress up the hill of knowledge should follow a similar plan. The +teacher should have a very definite idea of the end to be attained. The +children should work with a purpose, and that purpose should be of such +immediate interest to them that they would be anxious to attain it. They +would then work earnestly, and discipline would settle itself. Handwork +projects should be sufficiently simple to allow each worker to see his way +through, or at least find his way without waiting for directions at each +step. Instead of a blind following of such directions the worker should at +all times feel himself the master of his tools and materials and be able +to make them obey his impulse and express his idea. This attitude toward +work can be secured only when the work is kept quite down to the level of +the child's ability and appreciation. Only by this means can we hope to +establish the inspiring and strengthening "habit of success." + +=Introduction of New Methods.=--The question arises, How shall work of +this sort be adapted to a course of study which is already full and does +not provide time for handwork? Handwork takes more time than bookwork, and +children evolve plans but slowly. If the teacher waits for the children to +evolve plans and then carry them out on their own responsibility, the +quantity of work produced will be small and the quality poor compared with +the results gained by other methods. + +The freer method must be justified, not by its tangible results, but by +its value as a means of individual development. If it is true that + + "One good idea known to be thine own + Is worth a thousand gleaned from fields by others sown," + +then it follows that a small quantity of crude work may often represent +greater genuine growth than a larger quantity of nicely finished work, if +the latter has been accomplished by such careful dictation that individual +thought on the part of the pupils was unnecessary. + +Common sense is the best guide in introducing a new method of work. Any +sudden transition is likely to be disastrous. Responsibility in new fields +should be shifted from teacher to pupils as rapidly as they are able to +carry it, but it should never be transferred in wholesale fashion. This is +especially true of a class that is accustomed to wait for the teacher's +permission or command in all the small details of schoolroom life, such as +speaking, moving about the room, etc. + +The freer methods may be introduced by either of two plans. In carrying +through the first sand-table project, for example, the teacher may plan +the details quite as definitely as is her custom in general work, assign +each part to a particular pupil, and guide his execution of it as far as +necessary. With each succeeding project more and more freedom may be +granted, as the children become accustomed to community work and learn how +to use the materials involved. Or, the work may be introduced by allowing +two or three very trustworthy pupils to work out, quite alone, some simple +project which will appeal to the entire class as very desirable. Other +projects may be worked out by other pupils as they show themselves worthy +of trust. Such a plan sets a premium upon independence and ability to +direct one's own actions, and has a beneficial effect upon general +discipline. Each individual teacher must follow the plan which best +accords with her individual habits and the conditions under which she +works. No rule can be rated as best under any and all circumstances. + +=New and Different Projects.=--Teachers frequently spend time and nerve +force seeking new projects supposedly to stimulate the interest of the +children. Often a careful examination into the true motives back of the +search would prove that it is not so much to stimulate the interest of the +children as to call forth the admiration of other teachers. Because a +house was built last year does not hinder the building of another this +year. If the children are allowed ample freedom, the houses will not be +alike. If the teacher is centering her interest in the development of the +children and not in the things the children make, the projects will always +be new because worked out in a new way by a different group of children. +Monotony comes about through the teacher's attempt to plan out details and +impose them upon the children, a process quite similar to the use of +predigested foods. + +=Quality of Work.=--Methods such as outlined above are sometimes criticized +because of the crudity of the results. It is sometimes argued that the +crude work establishes low standards and that better finished work of a +more useful type is more desirable in school projects. Certainly +everything which is done in school should be useful. School years are too +precious to be wasted, in any degree, on a thing which is useless. But it +is important to have a right standard for measuring the usefulness of a +project. Since it is the child's interest and effort which are to be +stimulated, his work must be useful from his point of view. The things +that he works upon must be valuable to him personally. It is not enough +for the teacher to be satisfied with the value of the subject matter. It +must, as far as possible, be self-evident to the child himself. + +In the growing period a child is always anxious to excel himself and +attain a higher level, nearer the adult standards. He measures his growth, +not only in inches, but in ability to run faster, jump farther, count +higher, and so on. So long as he is stimulated by an interesting motive he +puts forth his best effort. It is only when we set him tasks and demand +blind obedience that he lags. If his crude work represents his best +effort, honestly put forth, he will, and he does, desire to do something +better each time he tries. If he is permitted to work freely upon projects +of immediate interest to him, he not only becomes familiar with various +materials and the purposes they may serve, but he also begins to realize +his inability to make them always obey his impulse. As soon as he +discovers that there are better and easier ways of working which bring +about more satisfactory results, he is anxious to learn the tricks of the +trade; and he comes to the later, more technical courses in handwork, not +only with more intelligence, but also with an appreciation of their value +which is reflected in the quality of his work. + +=Summary.=--The last word, as the first in this little book, would stress +the fact that it is always possible to improve present conditions. + +Activity is an essential factor in a child's development in school as well +as out. Handwork is an important phase of this necessary activity. Neither +lack of time, scarcity of material, nor lack of training on the part of +the teacher is a sufficient excuse for failure to use some handwork in +every school. Much can be accomplished with materials which are to be +found anywhere, without using more time than is ordinarily devoted to the +subject, and with better results, if we will but realize that educative +handwork is not confined to the making of a few books, boxes, mats, or +baskets after a prescribed pattern, however good in themselves these may +be, but is also a means through which we may teach other subject matter. + +We not only learn to do by doing, but we come to _know_ through trying to +_do_. And we often learn more through our failures than through our +successes. We defraud the children if we deprive them of this important +factor in their development. Any teacher who is willing to begin with what +she has and _let the children do_ the best they can with it, will find +unexpected resources and greater opportunities at every hand. + +Let us not allow ourselves to grow disheartened through vain wishes for +the impossible or for the advantages of some other field, but attack our +own with vigor and determination; for + + "The common problem, yours, mine, every one's + Is--not to fancy what were fair in life + Provided it could be--but, finding first + What may be, then find how to make it fair + Up to our means." + + + + +REFERENCES + + +DEWEY--The School and the Child; School and Society; The Child and the +Curriculum. + +O'SHEA--Dynamic Factors in Education. + +SCOTT--Social Education. + +DOPP--The Place of Industries in Elementary Education. + +BONE--The Service of the Hand in the School. + +SARGENT--Fine and Industrial Arts. + +ROW--The Educational Meaning of Manual Arts and Industries. + +CHARTERS--Methods of Teaching. + +BAGLEY--The Educative Process. + +RUSSELL--The School and Industrial Life. Educational Review, Dec. 1909. + +SYKES AND BONSER--Industrial Education. Teachers College Record, Sept. +1911. + +BENNETT--The Place of Manual Arts in Education. Educational Review, Oct. +1911. + +RICHARDS--Handwork in the Primary School. Manual Training Magazine, Oct. +1901. + + +REFERENCES FOR CLASSROOM USE + +Coping Saw Work JOHNSTON + +School Drawing DANIELS + +Little Folks Handy Book BEARD + +World at Work Series DUTTON + +Big People and Little People of Other Lands SHAW + +How We Are Fed CHAMBERLAIN + +How We Are Clothed CHAMBERLAIN + +How We Are Sheltered CHAMBERLAIN + +Continents and their People CHAMBERLAIN + +How the World is Fed CARPENTER + +How the World is Clothed CARPENTER + +How the World is Housed CARPENTER + +Around the World Series TOLMAN + +Youth's Companion Series LANE + +The Bird Woman CHANDLER + +The Tree Dwellers DOPP + +The Early Cave Men DOPP + +The Later Cave Men DOPP + + +Printed in the United States of America. + + + + +Footnotes: + +[1] In scoring cardboard cut about halfway through the board on the +_outside_ of the fold. + +[2] See Scott's "Social Education." + +[3] See Riverside Primer. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Additional spacing after some of the quotes is intentional to indicate +both the end of a quotation and the beginning of a new paragraph as +presented in the original text. + +Printer's inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIMARY HANDWORK*** + + +******* This file should be named 30676-8.txt or 30676-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/6/7/30676 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Primary Handwork</p> +<p>Author: Ella Victoria Dobbs</p> +<p>Release Date: December 14, 2009 [eBook #30676]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIMARY HANDWORK***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Stephanie Eason<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net/c/">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from digital material generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive/American Libraries<br /> + (<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/americana">http://www.archive.org/details/americana</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/primaryhandwo00dobbrich"> + http://www.archive.org/details/primaryhandwo00dobbrich</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>PRIMARY HANDWORK</h1> + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<h4>THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</h4> +<h4>NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO · DALLAS<br /> +ATLANTA · SAN FRANCISCO</h4> +<p> </p> +<h4>MACMILLAN & CO., <span class="smcap">Limited</span><br /> +LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA<br /> +MELBOURNE</h4> +<h4>THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, <span class="smcap">Ltd.</span><br /> +TORONTO</h4> + + +<p> </p><p><a name="front" id="front"></a></p><p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i004.jpg" alt="House of the Three Bears" /></div> +<p class="center"><b>HOUSE OF THE THREE BEARS</b><br /> +Built by first-grade class. Columbia, Missouri. See <a href="#Page_58">page 58</a>.</p> +<p> </p><p> </p> + + +<h1>PRIMARY HANDWORK</h1> +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>ELLA VICTORIA DOBBS, B.S., A.M.</h2> +<h4>ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MANUAL ARTS<br />UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI</h4> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h5>New York<br /> +THE MACMILLAN COMPANY<br /> +1923</h5> +<h5><i>All rights reserved</i></h5> + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<h5><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1914,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By</span> THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.</h5> +<p> </p> +<h5>Set up and electrotyped. Published June, 1914.</h5> +<p> </p> +<h5>Norwood Press<br /> +J. S. Cushing Co.—Berwick & Smith Co.<br /> +Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.</h5> + +<p> </p><p> </p> + +<h4>DEDICATED TO<br /> +THE LITTLE CHILDREN OF AMERICA<br /> +WITH THE WISH<br /> +THAT ALL THEIR SCHOOL DAYS<br /> +MAY BE HAPPY DAYS</h4> + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + +<p>This book is the outgrowth of long experience as a teacher of primary +grades, followed by special study of handwork as a factor in elementary +education. It is written with three objects in view:</p> + +<p>First, to gather into a single volume various methods already in use in +the more progressive schools, and for which the best suggestions are +scattered through current periodicals:</p> + +<p>Second, to organize these methods and present them in a simple form for +the use of teachers who have had no special training in handwork +processes:</p> + +<p>Third, accepting conditions as they exist in the small town school and the +one-room country school, as a basis of organization, to offer suggestions +which may be easily adapted to the conditions of any school with a view to +bringing present practice into closer harmony with the best educational +ideals.</p> + +<p>No claim is laid to originality, beyond the small details in which one +person's interpretation of a large problem will differ from that of +another.</p> + +<p>The projects here outlined have been tested in the Public Schools of +Columbia, Missouri, under conditions which are common to towns of about +the same size.</p> + +<p>The point of view has been influenced chiefly by the educational +philosophy of Prof. John Dewey, especially as expressed in his essay "The +Child and the Curriculum." The author wishes here to make grateful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> +acknowledgement to Dr. Dewey, not only for the helpfulness of his +writings, but also for the inspiration of his teaching.</p> + +<p>Thanks are also due to Dr. Naomi Norsworthy of Teachers College, and to +Dean W. W. Charters of Missouri University, for encouragement in planning +the book and for criticism of the manuscript. Especial acknowledgment is +here made to Prof. R. W. Selvidge of Peabody College for Teachers, +formerly of this University, for hearty coöperation and helpful +suggestions in working out the problems described in this book, and to the +teachers of the Columbia Schools for their most efficient services in +testing these problems in their classrooms.</p> + +<p class="right">E. V. D.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">University of Missouri</span>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">February, 1914.</span></p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align="right"><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td><td> </td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Paper Cutting and Poster Making</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_6">6</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Booklets</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Criticism and Standards of Workmanship</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The House Problem</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">The Village Street</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Sand Tables and What To Do With Them</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Animals and Toys</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">Holidays</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X.</a></td><td><span class="smcap">General Suggestions and Summary</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td><a href="#REFERENCES">REFERENCES</a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr></table> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td> </td><td> </td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td>House of the Three Bears</td><td align="right"><a href="#front"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">1.</td><td>Paper Cutting. First Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig1">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">2.</td><td>Paper Cutting. Second Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig2">8</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">3.</td><td>Paper Cutting. Second Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig3">10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">4.</td><td>Paper Tearing</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig4">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">5.</td><td>Paper Cutting. Third Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig5">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">6.</td><td>Paper Cutting. Fourth Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig6">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">7.</td><td>Pamphlet Sewing</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig7">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">8.</td><td>Japanese Sewing</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig8">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">9.</td><td>House arranged on a Shelf</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig9">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">10.</td><td>A Medieval Castle</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig10">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">11.</td><td>House arranged on a Table—Front View</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig11">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">12.</td><td>House arranged on a Table—Side View</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig12">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">13.</td><td>House arranged on a Table—Back View</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig13">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">14.</td><td>House Plan</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig14">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">15.</td><td>Arrangement of Windows</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig15">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">16.</td><td>Detail of Hollow Square</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig16">38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">17.</td><td>Borders</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig17">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">18.</td><td>Looms and Samples of Weaving</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig18">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">19.</td><td>Box House by Second Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig19">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">20.</td><td>Detail for Paper Weaving</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig20">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">21.</td><td>Furniture from Wood Blocks</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig21">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">22.</td><td>Furniture from Wood Blocks</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig22">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">23.</td><td>Home of White Cloud, the Pueblo Girl</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig23">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">24.</td><td>Detail of Stairway</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig24">54</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">25.</td><td>Box House, showing Roof</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig25">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">26.</td><td>Detail of Gable</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig26">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">27.</td><td>Colonial Kitchen</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig27">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">28.</td><td>House of the Three Bears</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig28">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">29.</td><td>Cornstalk House</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig29">60</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">30.</td><td>A Flour Mill</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig30">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">31.</td><td>Box House and Stores</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig31">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><span class='pagenum'>[Pg xii]</span>32.</td><td>A Village Street</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig32">68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">33.</td><td>A Grocery. Fourth Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig33">70</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">34.</td><td>A Grocery. Third Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig34">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">35.</td><td>A Dry Goods Store</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig35">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">36.</td><td>Home in a Hot Country</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig36">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">37.</td><td>Home in a Cold Country</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig37">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">38.</td><td>A Sand-table Farm. First Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig38">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">39.</td><td>A Sand-table Farm. Second Grade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig39">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">40.</td><td>Detail of Chicken Fence</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig40">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">41.</td><td>Detail of Paper Tree</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig41">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">42.</td><td>Overall Boys' Farm</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig42">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">43.</td><td>An Apple Orchard</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig43">87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">44.</td><td>Robinson Crusoe</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig44">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">45.</td><td>Pueblo Indian Village</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig45">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">46.</td><td>A Home in Switzerland</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig46">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">47.</td><td>Two Little Knights of Kentucky</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig47">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">48.</td><td>How Cedric became a Knight</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig48">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">49.</td><td>A Sugar Camp</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig49">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">50.</td><td>A Western Cattle Ranch</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig50">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">51.</td><td>The Story of Three Little Pigs</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig51">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">52.</td><td>A Japanese Tea Garden</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig52">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">53.</td><td>A Coal Mine</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig53">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">54.</td><td>A Chariot Race</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig54">102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">55.</td><td>A Circus Parade</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig55">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">56.</td><td>Three-ply Wooden Animals</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig56">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">57.</td><td>Detail for Three-ply Wooden Animals with Movable Parts</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig57">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">58.</td><td>Notched Rest for Animals</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig58">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">59.</td><td>Balancing Figures</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig59">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">60.</td><td>Some Simple Toys</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig60">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">61.</td><td>Adjusting Jumping-Jack in Frame</td><td align="right"><a href="#fig61">109</a></td></tr></table> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>PRIMARY HANDWORK</h1> +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>PRIMARY HANDWORK</h2> +<p> </p> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>INTRODUCTION</h3> + +<p>In setting forth the plan and purpose of this little book the author +wishes to lay equal emphasis on its limitations. The outlines and +suggestions which follow are designed for the use of grade teachers who +have had little or no training in handwork processes but who appreciate +the necessity of making worthy use of the child's natural activity and +desire to do. The outlines are arranged with reference to schools which +are not provided with special equipment and which have scant funds for +supplies. The projects require only such materials as empty goods boxes, +and odds and ends of cloth and paper, which are easily obtainable in any +community. No extra time is required for the work, and it may be +successfully carried out by any teacher who is willing to devote a little +study to the possibilities of things near at hand.</p> + +<p>These outlines do not form a course of study to be followed in regular +order nor in set lessons coming at a definite time. They are, rather, a +series of suggestions to be used wherever and whenever they will serve a +worthy purpose. They are not to be regarded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> as a <i>special</i> subject, +having little or no connection with the regular class work, but rather as +an illustrative method of teaching the regular subject matter whenever the +teaching can be done more effectively by means of concrete illustrations. +It is proposed to make greater use of construction as a medium of +expression, and place <i>making</i> more nearly on a par with talking, writing, +and drawing.</p> + +<p>Any of the projects outlined may be modified to suit varying conditions, +and the emphasis placed according to the needs of a particular class. All +the suggestions are given in very simple form, chiefly from the standpoint +of the first grade, for the reason that it is easier to add to the details +of a simple problem than to simplify one which is complex.</p> + +<p>It is not the purpose here to emphasize the training of the hand or the +development of technique in handwork processes to the extent commonly +expected of a course in manual arts, though considerable dexterity in the +use of tools and materials will undoubtedly be developed as the work +proceeds. While careless work is never to be tolerated in construction any +more than it would be tolerated in writing or drawing, the standard is to +be only such a degree of perfection as is possible through a child's +unaided efforts. It is proposed to provide him with things to do of such +interest to him that he will wish to do his best, and things of such a +nature that they will please him best when they are well done, and so +stimulate a genuine desire for good work. To this end the suggestions +relate to things of immediate value and use to the children<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> themselves, +rather than to things commonly comprehended in a list of articles which +are useful from the adult point of view.</p> + +<p>The work is to be kept on a level with the child's experience and used as +a means of broadening his experience and lifting it to a higher level. It +must also be kept on the level of his constructive ability in order that +he may do things <i>by himself</i>, and develop independence through feeling +himself master of his tools. Neither patterns nor definite directions are +provided for the details of the projects outlined, for the reason that it +is desired to make every project a spontaneous expression of the child's +own ideas. To this end the outline serves only as a framework, to be +filled in as the worker desires. The ready-made pattern implies dictation +on the part of the teacher and mechanical imitation and repetition on the +part of the pupil,—a process almost fatal to spontaneous effort. While it +is possible through a method of dictation to secure results which seem, at +first, to be much better than the crude constructions which children are +able to work out for themselves, it is only a superficial advantage, and +one gained at the expense of the child's growth in power to think and act +independently. It is an advantage closely akin to the parrotlike +recitation of the pupil who catches a few glib phrases and gives them back +without thought, as compared with the recitation of the pupil who thinks +and expresses his thoughts in his own childish language.</p> + +<p>These outlines are intended not only to emphasize independence in +self-expression, but also to foster a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> social spirit through community +effort and develop a sense of responsibility through division of labor. A +child's shortcomings will be brought home to him much more vividly if he +fails to contribute some essential assigned to him in the construction of +a coöperative project, and thereby spoils the pleasure of the whole group, +than when his failure affects only his individual effort in a group of +duplicate projects.</p> + +<p>These outlines are intended also to suggest a method of opening up to the +children, in an attractive way, the great field of industry. Their deep +interest in playing store leads easily to a study of the source, use, and +value of various forms of merchandise and the essential features of +various trades and occupations. Problems of this sort are fascinating to +children in all the lower grades, are rich in valuable subject matter, and +suggest things to do which are both interesting and worth while. Without +attempting to exhaust any phase of the subject, they awaken an intelligent +interest in the industrial world and tend to stimulate thoughtful +observation. They help to give the children correct ideas about industrial +processes as far as their knowledge goes, and to create a desire for +further knowledge. This general information lays a good foundation for +later and more serious study of the industries and the choice of a +vocation.</p> + +<p>These outlines are offered as a means of bridging the gap between the +formal methods and outgrown courses of study still in use and the richer +curriculum and more vital methods toward which we are working. Much time +must be spent in study and experimentation before a satisfactory +reorganization of the curriculum can be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> worked out. Without waiting until +this work shall be wholly completed, it is possible at once to vitalize +the most formal course of study through the use of freer methods, which +permit and encourage self-directed activity on the part of the pupil. The +use of such methods will not only tend to create a deeper interest in +school work, but must also help toward the great problem of +reorganization, by throwing into stronger relief the strength and weakness +of our present common practice.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>PAPER CUTTING AND POSTER MAKING</h3> + +<p>Paper and scissors form a fascinating combination to all children, and +offer a very direct means of self-expression. In the language of a small +boy who attempted to tell how to do it, "You just think about something +and then cut out your <i>think</i>." The teacher is concerned chiefly with the +"think" and the way in which it is expressed. The children are interested +in paper cutting chiefly from the pleasure of the activity. Beyond the +immediate pleasure in the process, the cuttings are valuable only as they +indicate the clearness of the child's ideas and measure his ability to +express them. The process is educative only in so far as it helps the +small worker to "see with his mind's eye" and to give tangible shape to +what he thus sees. It is important, therefore, that the work be done in a +way that will emphasize the thinking rather than the finished product.</p> + +<p>The first question arising is, To what extent shall a pattern be used? +Shall the teacher cut out the object and bid the class follow her example? +Shall she display a silhouette or outline drawing of the object she +desires the children to cut, or shall they work without any external guide +to justify or modify the mental picture? Shall they be given a pattern and +be allowed to draw around it?</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>All of the above methods are used to a greater or less extent. Long +experience seems to indicate that the first cutting of any object should +be unassisted by any external representation of it whatever, in order that +the attention of each child may be focused upon his own mental picture of +the object. When he has put forth his best effort from this standpoint, he +should compare his cutting with the real object or a good picture of it +and be led to see the chief defects in his own production and then allowed +to try again.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig1" id="fig1"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i023.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 1.</span>—Story of Jack Horner on poster and sand table.<br />Snowflakes in background. First grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>For example, after telling the story of Mother Hubbard, the children may +be interested in cutting out dogs. No picture or other guide should be +used at first, since every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> child knows something about dogs. The first +cuttings are likely to be very poor, partly because the children have not +sufficient control over the scissors and largely because their ideas are +very vague. In a general comparison of work they will help each other with +such criticisms as, "This dog's head is too big." "That dog's legs are too +stiff." They are then ready to try again. Only when they have reached the +limit of their power to see flaws in their work do they need to compare it +with the real dog or its picture. Only after a child has attempted to +express his idea and has become conscious in ever so small a degree of the +imperfection of his expression will he really be able to see differences +between the real object and his representation of it, and thereby clarify +his mental picture.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig2" id="fig2"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i024.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 2.</span>—Paper cutting. Second grade, Columbia.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>The child's imagination is so strong that he is apt to see his productions +not as they are but as he means them to be, and he is unable to +distinguish between the original and his copy of it. If the picture or +silhouette is presented at first, his work becomes to a large extent mere +copying rather than self-expression. If the teacher cuts out a dog and +displays it as a sample, the class will be apt to see that piece of paper +only and not a real dog. If the children are permitted to draw the outline +either freehand or around a pattern, still less mental effort is required, +and in cutting they see only the bit of line just ahead of the scissors +and not the object as a whole.</p> + +<p>Such methods (<i>i.e.</i> the use of outlines, silhouettes, etc.) will produce +better immediate results. It will be easier to distinguish dogs and cats +from cows and horses if a pattern is provided, but it will not produce +stronger children. Such methods only defeat the chief purpose of the work, +which is to stimulate the mental effort required to hold the mental image +of the object in the focus of attention during the time required to +reproduce it in the material form.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig3" id="fig3"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i026.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 3.</span>—Paper cutting. Second grade.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>It is also often asked whether the children shall always cut directly and +without modification or whether they shall be permitted to trim off the +imperfections of their first attempts. While any rule must always be +interpreted in the light of immediate circumstances, it is generally best +to cut directly, and after noting the defects, cut again. It is then +possible to compare the several attempts and see if improvement has been +made. Attention should be directed to the most glaring defect only, and an +attempt made to correct it. For example, if the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> dog's head is too large, +do not trim down, but cut another dog and try for better proportions. +Compare the second attempt with the first, to measure improvement. Even +little children can be taught to work in this thoughtful way, looking for +the defects in their own work and making definite attempts to correct +them. To this end much cutting from an unlimited supply of newspaper or +scratch paper will accomplish more than a few exercises in better paper +which must be trimmed and worked over for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> sake of economy. If little +children are allowed to trim off, they are apt, in the pure joy of +cutting, to trim too much and lose the idea with which they started—a +process which tends to vagueness rather than clearness. To prevent this it +is often helpful to preserve both pieces of paper, <i>i.e.</i> the cutting and +the hole. (See <a href="#fig4">Fig. 4</a>.)</p> + +<p><b>Paper Tearing.</b>—Paper tearing serves many of the same purposes sought in +cutting, and has several strong points in its favor. Working directly with +the finger tips tends to develop a desirable dexterity of manipulation. +The nature of the process prevents the expression of small details and +tends to emphasize bold outlines and big general proportions. Working +directly with the fingers tends also to prevent a weak dependence upon +certain tools and tends to develop power to express an idea by whatever +means is at hand.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig4" id="fig4"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i027.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 4.</span>—Paper tearing.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Posters.</b>—The term "poster" as here used includes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> all mounted pictures +made by children, such as cuttings, drawings, paintings, and scrap +pictures.</p> + +<p>A poster may be the work of one child or of a group. A single poster may +tell the whole story, or a series of posters may be made to show a +sequence of events. A series of posters may be bound together in book +form. For poster making single sheets of paper, medium weight and of +neutral tone, are needed. The sheets should be of uniform size for +individual use so that they could be bound together if desired. For +coöperative work and special problems larger sheets will be needed.</p> + + +<h3>SUGGESTED PROBLEMS FOR PAPER WORK</h3> + +<p><b>Cutting out Pictures.</b>—This serves well for first effort with scissors. +The interest in the picture furnishes a motive, while the outline serves +as a guide and allows the attention to be given wholly to the control of +the scissors.</p> + +<p><i>Free cutting of single objects</i>—such as animals, fruits, trees, +furniture, utensils, etc.—intensifies and clarifies mental pictures and +stimulates observation if the child is led to express his own ideas first +and then to compare his expression with the original and note his +deficiencies. As far as possible choose objects with strong bold outlines +for the first attempts. There should be some marked feature, such as +Bunny's long ears, which calls for emphasis. To cut a circular piece of +paper which might be an apple or a peach, a walnut or a tomato, will not +aid much in clarifying a mental picture, while Bunny's long ears, even +though crudely cut, will be more deeply impressed on the child's mind.</p> + +<p><b>Illustrations for Stories.</b>—<i>Single Illustration.</i>—After<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> a story has +been read aloud and the characters and events freely discussed by the +class, each child may be encouraged to represent the part which has +appealed to him—<i>i.e.</i> "cut what he wants to cut." After the cuttings are +mounted they will probably form a series which will tell the whole story. +When several children illustrate the same feature, it offers opportunity +for comparison and judgment as to which ones have told the story most +effectively. For example, in the story of the Three Bears, the cuttings +may show the three bears in three relative sizes, the three chairs, the +three beds, the table, and the three bowls of porridge. (See notes on +Criticism.)</p> + +<p> <a name="fig5" id="fig5"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i029.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 5.</span>—Free cutting. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><i>Series.</i>—Let each child select the two or three most important events in +a story and illustrate these in a single poster or series of posters.</p> + +<p><i>Community Poster.</i>—A long story such as the "Old Woman and the Silver +Sixpence" may be illustrated by the class as a whole, each child cutting +some one feature. This requires attention to relative proportions so that +the parts may be in harmony when assembled. Such posters may be used for +wall decoration.</p> + +<p><b>Charts.</b>—Poster making may also include the making of charts containing +samples of manufactured articles in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> various stages of development. For +example, a chart on cotton might show raw cotton, cord, thread, cloth of +various sorts, lace, paper, and other materials made from cotton. Such a +chart might also include pictures of cotton fields, spinning and weaving +machinery, and other related features.</p> + +<p><b>Materials.</b>—Too much can scarcely be said in favor of much cutting from an +unlimited supply of common wrapping paper, newspaper, or other waste +paper, in which the children are entirely unhampered by such injunctions +as, "Be careful and get it just right the first time, because you can't +have another paper if you waste this piece." The possible danger of +cultivating wastefulness is less serious and more easily overcome than the +very probable danger of dwarfing and cramping the power of expression. +Here, if anywhere, the rule holds good that we learn to do by doing, and +abundant practice is essential to success.</p> + +<p><i>Black silhouette</i> or <i>poster</i> paper is most effective when mounted, but +is too expensive for general use in large classes.</p> + +<p><i>Brown kraft</i> paper and <i>tailor's pattern</i> paper serve well for both +cuttings and mounts. Both of these papers may be had by the roll at a low +cost. The tailor's paper comes in several dull colors, which make good +mounts for cuttings from white scratch paper or the fine print of +newspaper.</p> + +<p><i>Bogus</i> paper makes an excellent mount and is very inexpensive.</p> + +<p><b>The Pasting Process.</b>—To a large number of teachers the pasting lesson is +a time to be dreaded and its results<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> a cause of discouragement. +Especially is this true if the class is large and the teacher attempts to +have all the class pasting at one time. In many phases of school work it +is so much easier to control forty or fifty children if they all act in +unison that we are prone to use the method too often and apply it to forms +of work much better managed by groups. The process of teaching little +folks to paste is greatly simplified by the use of the group method.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig6" id="fig6"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i031.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 6.</span>—Free cutting. Fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>If the room affords a large table at which a small group may work, the +teacher can easily supervise the work of the entire group. If there is no +table, the teacher can work with one or two rows at a time or have very +small groups come to her desk. The secret of the success of the group +method lies in having the rest of the class busy with some occupation +sufficiently interesting to prevent impatience while waiting for turns. +The command to "fold hands and sit still till your turn comes" is sure to +cause trouble, because children are physically unable to obey it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>The most important factor in successful pasting is a liberal supply of +waste paper. Each child should be supplied with a number of single sheets +of newspaper torn to convenient size, to paste on, each sheet to be +discarded as soon as used. This decreases the danger of untidy work. With +the cutting laid upon the waste paper, the paste may be spread with brush, +thin wood, or thick paper, well out over the edges. As soon as the pasted +cutting is lifted the waste paper should be folded over to cover all wet +paste and lessen the possibility of accidents. After the cutting is placed +upon the mount, a clean piece of waste paper should be laid over it and +rubbed until the air is all pressed out and the cutting adheres firmly. +The waste paper overlay may be rubbed vigorously without harm, whereas a +light touch of sticky fingers directly upon the cutting will leave a +soiled spot, if it does not tear the moist paper. If children are +carefully taught in small groups to follow this method of pasting, in a +fairly short time all but the weakest members of the class will be able to +paste neatly without much supervision.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>BOOKLETS</h3> + +<p>The making of booklets forms a valuable accompaniment to almost every +phase of school work. Even simple exercises, when put into book form, take +on a dignity otherwise impossible and seem more worth while. It is +impossible to work with much enthusiasm and care on exercises which are +destined only for the wastebasket.</p> + +<p>The chief value in the making of booklets is lost when they are made for +display purposes only. Many difficulties are sure to arise when the +teacher, for the sake of her own reputation, sets an arbitrary standard +and tries to force every member of the class to meet it. Because of these +difficulties many teachers dread and avoid work of this sort, but the +trouble lies in our false standards and poor methods rather than in the +process itself. When the exhibit idea is uppermost, each page must be +examined with great care, done over again and again if need be, until the +standard is reached or the patience of both teacher and pupil exhausted. +In such a case the work practically ceases to be the child's own. Instead +of expressing an idea of his own in his own way, he tries to express the +teacher's idea in the teacher's way, and it is not surprising that he +fails so often.</p> + +<p>The booklet serves its best purpose when it combines<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> both value and need; +that is, when it is something which seems worth while to the pupil and +when he feels responsible for its success. He should feel something akin +to the responsibility one feels in writing an important letter; that is, +that it must be right the first time because there is no opportunity to +try again and that he cannot afford to do less than his best because what +is done will stand.</p> + +<p>To "express his own idea in his own way" does not mean that his work is to +be undirected or that poor results are to be accepted. It does mean that +when an idea and a means of expressing it have been suggested to him, he +shall be allowed to do the best he can by himself, and that when he has +done his best, it shall be accepted even though imperfect. Under no +circumstances should his work be "touched up" by the teacher. If he is not +asked to do things which are too hard for him, he will not make many +serious errors. If these are wisely pointed out, they will not often be +repeated. If his attention is held to one or two important features at a +time, each effort will mean some gain.</p> + +<p>The making of a booklet in the primary grades should really consist in +making a cover to preserve pages already made or to receive pages on +certain topics as they are finished. The making of an animal book, for +example, might be a continuous process. Whenever a new animal is studied +and a cutting or drawing of it made, the new page may be added to the +book.</p> + +<p>The first books should be picture books only, collections of cuttings, +drawings, and mounted pictures. As the children learn to write they may +add first the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> name and then short descriptions of the pictures, the +development proceeding by easy stages until their composition work takes +the form of the illustrated story.</p> + +<p>Books which are a collection of single sheets are, as a rule, most +satisfactory in the primary school. The single sheet is much more +convenient to use, and there is always an inspiration in beginning with a +fresh sheet of paper. It is more difficult to paste cuttings into a book, +and if pages are spoiled, the book is spoiled. If separate sheets are +used, a poor one may be done over or discarded without affecting the rest.</p> + +<p>The making of booklets and posters offers an excellent opportunity for +developing artistic appreciation. It is not enough for the teacher to +provide only good colors from which the children may choose, and to +supervise the spacing of pictures and then flatter herself that because +the results are good that the children are developing good taste. Unless +they really want the good things, little real gain has been made. Unless +they see some reason for the arrangement of a page, other than that the +<i>teacher wants it that way</i>, little has been accomplished.</p> + +<p>The first attempts will show little or no idea of balance or good spacing. +The early color combinations are apt to be crude. If the best things they +do are praised and their attention is constantly directed to the good +points in things about them, they will begin to want those things. They +will begin gradually to feel a greater pleasure in a well-balanced page +than in one on which big and little pictures are stuck indiscriminately. +If they are given all possible freedom in matters of choice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> it will be +possible to measure their real progress and to know what points need +emphasis.</p> + +<p>The more accustomed the children are to tasteful surroundings, the easier +will be their progress, but whether they come from tasteful homes or the +reverse, the process is the same. Real progress will undoubtedly be slow, +but it should be upon a sure foundation.</p> + + +<h3>SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR BOOKLETS</h3> + +<p><b>Stories.</b>—Series of illustrations either cut or drawn for any of the +stories read by the class.</p> + +<p><i>Animal Book.</i>—Cuttings or sketches of animals. The name and short +statement of some characteristic may be added by children who are able to +write. Trees, flowers, fruits, etc., may be treated in the same way.</p> + +<p><i>A. B. C. Book.</i>—A page for each letter of the alphabet to be filled with +pictures and names of objects having the same initial letter.</p> + +<p><i>House Book.</i>—A page for each room, upon which may be mounted pictures of +things appropriate to the room. Newspaper advertisements and catalogs +furnish abundant material for this problem. The work not only helps the +children to classify present knowledge, but offers opportunity for +judgment as to arrangement and relative proportions.</p> + +<p><i>How People Live.</i>—A book of pictures of houses in different countries.</p> + +<p><i>Famous Houses.</i>—Pictures of famous buildings and homes of famous people.</p> + +<p><i>What we Wear.</i>—Pictures showing materials from which clothing is made, +the methods of production and manufacture.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span><i>What we Eat.</i>—Vegetable foods may be grouped as roots, stalks, leaves, +seeds, etc. Animal foods may be classified according to the animal from +which they are obtained and the part of the animal from which they are +cut. Suggestions for cooking may be added.</p> + +<p><i>How we Travel.</i>—Pictures showing vehicles and conveyances of all sorts, +classified as ancient and modern, or according to the countries in which +they are used, or the motive power, as horses, electricity, steam, etc.</p> + +<p>In connection with elementary geography and history, booklets and posters +may be made up from pictures cut from discarded papers, catalogs, and +magazines, as well as original drawings. A great variety of topics may be +profitably illustrated in this way. As, for example, land and water forms, +famous mountains, lakes, rivers, etc., products and processes of +cultivation and manufacture, famous people, costumes and customs of other +times and places, utensils and weapons of earlier times.</p> + +<p><b>Fastenings.</b>—The simplest method of binding single sheets is by means of +paper fasteners and eyelets. Though these are not expensive, some schools +cannot afford to buy them. Cords may be used in several ways and serve as +part of the decoration.</p> + +<p><i>The Simple Tie.</i>—Punch three holes in the margin, at least one half inch +from the edge to prevent tearing out. Insert the cord in the middle hole, +carry through one end hole, then through the other end hole, then back +through the middle and tie. (See <a href="#fig7">Fig. 7</a>.)</p> + +<p><i>Japanese Sewing.</i>—Punch holes at regular intervals, as one inch apart. +Sew through first hole twice, making<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> a loop around the back,—repeat the +process until a loop has been made for each hole,—carry the cord in and +out through the holes back to the starting point, filling in the blank +places and making a continuous line, and tie ends together with a small +knot. (See <a href="#fig8">Fig. 8</a>.)</p> + +<p> <a name="fig7" id="fig7"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i038a.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 7.</span>—Pamphlet sewing.</p> +<p> <a name="fig8" id="fig8"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i038b.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 8.</span>—Japanese binding.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span><b>Decoration.</b>—Only the simplest decoration should be attempted. A plain +cover of good color tied with a cord of harmonious color will have +elements of beauty without further decoration. A single border line well +placed may be used and offers opportunity for developing a nice sense of +proportion by studying the results to see which borders are neither too +near the edge nor too far from it.</p> + +<p>A well-printed, well-placed title is often the most satisfactory +decoration. Printing should be introduced early, and the children +encouraged to make good plain letters. In order to get the title in good +proportion and well placed, it is helpful to cut a piece of paper the +desired size and lay it on the cover, moving it about to see where it +looks best. Until the children have learned to do fairly neat work it is +often helpful to print the title on a separate piece and paste it in +place. It is discouraging to spoil an otherwise good cover by a bad +letter, and this process lessens that danger.</p> + +<p>Before the children learn to print, a simple border or band across the +cover may take the place of the title. The border may be drawn in crayons +or be free-hand cuttings.</p> + +<p>Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the beauty of simplicity in +decoration. Children are inclined to think beauty means fanciness and that +beauty increases with the quantity of decoration. It is necessary to begin +early to develop a taste for good design.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>CRITICISM AND STANDARDS OF WORKMANSHIP</h3> + +<p><b>Criticism.</b>—An important feature of all self-directed activity is the +ability to judge one's efforts and intelligently measure one's success. +This ability is a matter of slow growth and must be cultivated. It is not +enough for the teacher to pass judgment upon a piece of work and grade its +quality. The worker himself must learn to find his own mistakes and how to +correct them. Class criticism offers the best means of developing this +power, but must be tactfully conducted.</p> + +<p>Little children are brutally frank in expressing their opinions and need +to be taught how to be truthful and yet not unkind. They need to be taught +what to look for and how to find it, and how to compare one thing with +another and discover why one pleases and another displeases. The first +essential in the training is emphasis on the good rather than the bad. It +is a gospel of "do" rather than of "don't." The earliest efforts of the +class may well be confined to comments upon the features they like and, if +possible, the reason for the liking. This will forestall any tendency to +call undue attention to the poor efforts of weak workers. At first many +children will scarcely discriminate between their admiration for a piece +of work and their love for the worker and will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> apt to praise the work +of their special friends. This tendency will gradually disappear through +the development of a real basis of appreciation.</p> + +<p>The second essential concerns the improvement of the things which are not +good. Criticism which merely points out what is bad is of little value. +Helpful criticism must point out what is good and why, and what is weak +and how to make it stronger. If, for example, the class is considering the +success of their efforts to illustrate the story of the Three Bears, they +should be encouraged to make such comments as, "John's chairs look too +small for his table," "Mary's bowls are all about the same size." The +criticism should direct the thought to its possible remedy. It is +generally better to pass over defects for which no immediate remedy can be +suggested.</p> + +<p><b>Standards of Workmanship.</b>—The standard of excellence by which acceptable +work is measured must always vary according to the ability of the class. +The best the child can do, alone and unaided, should be the only standard +of measurement, and his best efforts should always be accepted, no matter +how crude. In no other way can real growth be observed and genuine +progress made.</p> + +<p>In schools where arbitrary standards are set either by supervisors or by +the rivalry of teachers, the tendency to <i>help</i> the children by doing part +of the work for them for the sake of the <i>apparent</i> results, offers the +teacher's most serious temptation to selfishness. In a few cases it is +helpful for the teacher to add a few strokes to a drawing or adjust some +detail in construction, that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> child may see the value of certain small +changes in the place where they will mean most to him. Such work should +not be exhibited as an example of the child's accomplishment, but should +be treated as practice work. As a rule the teacher's demonstration should +be made on other material and not on that used by the pupil. In no +particular are primary schools open to greater criticism than in the too +common habit of setting arbitrary standards of excellence and attempting +to force all children to reach them. Such standards are usually too high +for honest attainment and tempt or force the teacher to use methods which +cannot be defended by any sound principle of pedagogy.</p> + +<p>Values change with the purpose of the work. A thing is well made when it +serves its purpose adequately. Toys must be strong enough to permit +handling. Mechanical toys must work. Sewing must be strong as well as +neat. In illustrative problems, in which effect is the chief +consideration, technique needs little emphasis, and workmanship may be of +a temporary character.</p> + +<p>Each thing made should establish its own standard in a way to appeal to +the child's common sense.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>THE HOUSE PROBLEM</h3> + +<p>The making of a playhouse has long been an accepted feature of primary +work, but we have not always made it yield all of which it is capable, +either in the self-directed activity of the children or in correlated +subject matter. It has, in many cases, been only a bit of recreation from +the more serious work of the school. In a house prepared by the janitor or +older pupils the children have been allowed to arrange and rearrange +ready-made furniture contributed from their playthings at home, but little +creative work has been attempted. In other cases an elaborate house, +carefully planned by the teacher, has been built and furnished by the +children, but, because of the detailed planning, the children's part in it +became merely a mechanical following of directions. In some cases relative +proportions in rooms and furnishings have received scant attention; in +others, color harmonies have been all but ignored. These varying methods +of carrying out the house-building idea are not without value and may +often be justified by local conditions, but their results are meager +compared with the possible richness of the problem.</p> + +<p>Playing at house building and housekeeping appeals to an interest so +universal that children of all times and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> nations yield to its power. It +is therefore necessary to take account of its influence in their +development and to dignify it with the approval of the school. We must +refine and enrich it by our direction and suggestion without robbing it of +its simplicity and charm.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig9" id="fig9"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i044.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 9.</span>—Box house, arranged on a shelf.</p> +<p> <a name="fig10" id="fig10"></a></p><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i045.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 10.</span>—Medieval castle. Built by third grade. Franklin, Indiana.<br /> +<br />An example of elaborate work which aroused the interest of pupils and patrons and paved the way for freer work later.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>In the suggestions which follow, an attempt is made to utilize this +natural activity of children in an occupation which appeals to them as +worth while. At the same time it may furnish ample opportunity for the +general development and effective teaching of various phases of subject +matter which are incident to the occupation, <i>i.e.</i> number in connection +with measurements, art in the proportions and color combinations, language +through discussions and descriptions.</p> + +<p>The work is kept on the level of the children's experience by throwing +them constantly on their own responsibility in every possible detail, the +teacher never dictating the method of procedure and guiding the work with +as few suggestions as possible. The work, being on the level of their +experience, appeals to the children as very real and worth while. It is, +therefore, intensely interesting, and they work without urging.</p> + +<p><b>General Plan.</b>—A house may be constructed from several empty goods boxes, +each box forming one room of the house. The boxes or rooms are arranged in +convenient order, but are not fastened together. Adjoining rooms are +connected by doors carefully cut in both boxes so that the holes match. +Windows are also sawed out where needed. The walls are papered, careful +attention being given to color schemes, border designs, and relative +proportions in spacing. Floors are provided with suitable coverings—woven +rugs, mattings, linoleums, tiles, according to the purpose of the room.</p> + +<p>Each step is discussed and more or less definitely outlined before the +actual making is begun, furnishing opportunity for oral language of a +vital sort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> Completed parts are examined and criticized, furnishing +further opportunity for exercise in oral language while directing +attention to strong and weak points in the work.</p> + +<p>The materials needed are easily obtainable and inexpensive, consisting +chiefly of empty boxes and odds and ends of paper, cloth, and yarn, +together with carpenters' scraps.</p> + +<p>The tools needed are few, and in some cases may be brought from home by +the children for a few days, as needed. The necessary time is found by +making the incidental problems serve as subject matter for regular +lessons. Making designs for tiling, linoleum, and borders for wall paper, +planning relative proportions for doors, windows, and furnishings will +supply material for very practical lessons in art. The problems incident +to the measurement of doors and windows, tables and chairs, are number +work of a vital sort and may be legitimately used as a regular number +lesson. Discussions, descriptions, and definite statements of plans all +form vital language exercises if rightly used.</p> + + +<h3>HOUSE PLANS IN DETAIL</h3> + +<p><b>Materials.</b>—<i>Empty Store Boxes of Soft Wood.</i>—Sizes may vary, but where +several are grouped for a house, they should be near enough the same +height to make a fairly level ceiling. About 10 × 12 × 18 in. is a +convenient size.</p> + +<p><i>Paper for Walls.</i>—Scraps of ingrain wall papers may be had from dealers +for little or nothing. Cover paper in good colors may be purchased by the +sheet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> Tailor's paper and brown wrapping paper serve well, and are sold +by the roll at a low price.</p> + +<p><i>Pasteboard</i> (strawboard or juteboard) may be used for the roof.</p> + +<p><i>Weaving Materials.</i>—Rugs may be made from carpet rags, rug yarns, +rovings, chenille, or jute; towels from crochet cotton; and hammocks from +macramé cord or carpet warp.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig11" id="fig11"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i048.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 11.</span>—House arranged on a table. Front view. Built by first grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><i>Wood for Furniture.</i>—Bass, white pine, poplar, or other soft wood. Box +tops, if of soft wood, may be made to serve nearly all needs. If possible, +provide thin wood (about ¼ in. thick) in various widths, from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> one inch +to six inches, so that only one dimension need be measured. Provide also +thick pieces 1½ in. or 2 in. square for beds and chairs; ½ in. square +for table legs.</p> + +<p><i>Nails</i> of various sizes, chiefly inch brads, are needed.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig12" id="fig12"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i049.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 12.</span>—House arranged on a table. Side view. Built by second grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Tools.</b>—The tools actually necessary are few. A class can <i>get along</i> with +one saw and still do good work, though there will be times when several +saws will facilitate progress. Some tools are needed only for a short time +and sometimes may be borrowed from the homes. It is more satisfactory to +have the school provided with the essential tools whenever possible. The +essential tools include:</p> + +<p><i>Brace and auger bit</i>, for boring holes in doors and windows. Needed for a +short time only.</p> + +<p><i>Compass saw</i>, for sawing out doors and windows.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span><i>Crosscut saw</i>, for sawing off lumber. School should own at least one.</p> + +<p><i>Miter box</i>, for holding lumber and guiding saw. An old one, good enough +for children's use, will frequently be contributed by a carpenter. The +miter box should be fastened firmly to a low table or box.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig13" id="fig13"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i050.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 13.</span>—House arranged on a table. Back view. Built by second grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><i>Hammers</i>, several of medium size.</p> + +<p><i>Try-square</i>, a very valuable tool for setting right angles, provided the +teacher and pupils know how to use it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span><a name="fig14" id="fig14"></a></p> +<div class="figright"><img src="images/i051.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 14.</span>—House plan.</p></div> +<p><b>Arrangement of Rooms.</b>—The sort of house a man can build is governed by +his resources and his site. Considering the number of boxes as resources +and the table or shelf on which they are to stand as the site, the same +big factors which enter into any house-building problem control the size +and style of the schoolroom playhouse. What sort of house is desired? What +sort of house can be built from the materials at hand? What sort of house +can be built in the space at our disposal?</p> + +<p>The boxes may be arranged on a shelf with all the open sides toward the +class, as in <a href="#fig9">Fig. 9</a>. This economizes space, and all of the rooms are +visible at once. A two-story house is easily built on this plan. If +economy of space is not necessary, the boxes may be placed on a table with +the open sides of the boxes toward the edges of the table, as in <a href="#fig11">Figs. 11</a>, +<a href="#fig12">12</a>, and <a href="#fig13">13</a>. This permits a more artistic grouping of the rooms. (See <a href="#fig14">Fig. 14</a>.)</p> + +<p>The responsibility in grouping the boxes should be thrown as fully as +possible upon the children, the teacher merely suggesting where necessary. +It should be their house, not the teacher's. The planning should not be +hurried but time allowed to discuss the advantages and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> disadvantages of +different plans and reach an agreement. In trying to express individual +opinions convincingly their ideas will become clearer—a factor in the +development of the children which is much more important than any of the +actual details of the house itself. Whether the class decides to have one +or two bedrooms in the house is a matter of small consequence. Whether or +not they are growing in power to appreciate conditions and make an +intelligent decision is a matter of great consequence. Their decisions +when made may not always reach the high standard at which the teacher is +aiming, but if they have really made a decision, not merely followed the +teacher's suggestion, and if their independent selections from time to +time show a higher standard of appreciation and greater refinement of +taste in ever so small a degree, it is evidence of genuine growth upon a +sure foundation.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig15" id="fig15"></a></p> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i052.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 15.—Arrangement of windows.</p></div> + +<p><b>Doors and Windows.</b>—The size and arrangement of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> doors and windows should +be freely discussed. Various possible arrangements may be sketched upon +the blackboard by the children. For example, see <a href="#fig15">Fig. 15</a>, <i>a</i> and <i>b</i>. +When a plan is adopted, the doors and windows should be carefully drawn on +the <i>outside</i> of each box, using the try-square to get right angles.</p> + +<p>Bore holes in the corners of the doors and windows and saw out with +keyhole or compass saw. In order to avoid mistakes it is well, after +sawing out the opening for a door in one box, to place the two boxes +together and test the measurements before sawing out the second opening. A +mistake of this sort, however, is not fatal, but may prove the most +effective way of impressing the workers with the necessity of careful +measurement.</p> + +<p><b>Walls.</b>—The decoration of the walls will furnish material for several art +lessons. The discussion should turn first to the suitability of different +styles for different purposes, such as tiling for kitchen and bathroom +walls, light papers for dark rooms, etc. The division of wall space will +be the next point to be settled, <i>i.e.</i> the height of the tiling or +wainscot, the width of a border, or the effect of horizontal and vertical +lines in breaking up wall space. These questions may be discussed as far +as the immediate circumstances and the development of the class suggest.</p> + +<p>The question of color combinations demands special attention. Unless the +children come from refined homes their ideas of color will be very crude, +and if contributions of material have been asked for, some gaudy +impossibilities in flowered paper are apt to be presented. If so, it may +require considerable tact on the part of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> teacher to secure a +satisfactory selection without casting any reflections on the taste of +somebody's mother. This difficulty may be avoided to a degree by providing +all the materials necessary. It is not enough, however, to cause the +children to select good combinations at the teacher's suggestion while in +their hearts they are longing for the gaudy thing she has frowned upon. It +is better to get an honest expression from them, even though it is very +crude, and endeavor to educate their taste to a love for better things, so +that each time they choose the choice may be on a higher level of +appreciation. Immediate results may not be as beautiful by this plan, and +apparent progress may be slow, but only by some such method can a real +appreciation be developed which will prevent the return to the crude +expression as soon as the teacher's influence is withdrawn.</p> + +<p><a name="fig16" id="fig16"></a></p> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i054.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 16.</span>—Detail of hollow square.</p></div> + +<p>Plain papers generally give the most pleasing effects. Attractive borders +may be made by cutting simple units and repeating them at intervals. +Almost any motif may be used for the unit. Animals, birds, trees, flowers, +ships, etc., serve well. The process of making the border should be a +serious lesson in design. A good border is not merely the repetition of a +pretty figure. The units must not be too far apart nor too close together. +The shape of the figure used must be such that each unit seems to need the +next one. Little children will usually take greatest pleasure in working +from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> some nature motif, as flower or animal, but interesting work can be +done with simple geometric figures. Take, for example, the hollow square. +Fold a square of paper on both diagonals. (See <a href="#fig16">Fig. 16</a>.) Cut on dotted +line. Let each child cut several and lay them in order for a border or +mount them on a paper of different color. Let the work of the class be put +up for general criticism. (See notes on Criticism.) Several points which +very small children are able to appreciate will be found to enter into the +success or failure of their efforts. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> hollow square itself may be cut +too wide and look clumsy, or cut too narrow and look frail. In the +arrangement they may be too close together and look crowded, or too far +apart and look scattered. A sensitiveness to good proportions comes +naturally to only a few people, but nearly all are capable of a higher +degree of appreciation if their attention is directed to the essential +elements which make things good or bad. The beginnings of this +appreciation lie in simple things which are easily understood by +first-grade children.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig17" id="fig17"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i055.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 17.—Borders using hollow square.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Floors.</b>—Many of the considerations which enter into the selection of wall +decorations are of equal importance in choosing floor coverings. What will +be suitable to the purpose of each room? Why do we use linoleum in the +kitchen and warm rugs in the bedroom? Shall we use small rugs or a carpet? +What colors must we have on the floor to harmonize with the colors on the +wall? What designs are possible and desirable for the materials we have to +use?</p> + +<p><i>Rug Weaving Materials.</i>—The market offers a wide variety of materials +prepared especially for school use. Among them the most satisfactory for +use with small workers are cotton rovings, loose twisted jute, and cotton +chenille. These, especially the first two, are coarse and work up rapidly, +and may be had in very desirable colors. Even the cheapest of them, +however, will prove an expensive item for the school with limited funds, +and ordinary carpet rags may be made to serve every purpose. Often these +will be contributed by members of the class. By a careful selection and +combination of colors very artistic results can be produced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> which are in +some respects more satisfactory than any obtained from the so-called +weaving materials, and have the added advantage of costing practically +nothing.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig18" id="fig18"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i057.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 18.</span>—Looms and samples of weaving.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><i>Looms.</i>—The market also offers a great variety of looms for school use, +many of them quite simple in construction and moderate in price. In +schools where bench work is taught, the making of a loom is an excellent +problem either for the weavers themselves or for an older class working +for them. If the looms are made by the little weavers themselves, only the +simplest possible construction should be used, that the work may be +completed and the loom put to use before the worker loses sight of the +fact that the purpose is to provide carpet for the house. Children lose +interest in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>long-drawn-out processes, and for that reason it is better to +provide them with the necessary tools as far as possible while interest in +the house building is keen. Later, if considerable enthusiasm has been +aroused for weaving, individual looms may be made for home use. For the +school with scant funds a very satisfactory loom may be improvised by +driving nails one fourth inch apart in the ends of a shallow box of +convenient size and stretching the warp threads across the open top.</p> + +<p>For very small rugs a cardboard loom will serve. This may be made by +cutting notches or punching holes along opposite edges of a piece of +cardboard into which the warp may be strung. If a knitting needle is +inserted at each side, the cardboard will be stiffened and the edges of +the rug kept straight. Weaving needles may be purchased from supply +houses. Wooden needles cost 50 cents per dozen. Sack needles serve well +for small rugs and may be had at any hardware store for 10 cents per +dozen.</p> + +<p><i>Weaves.</i>—For first weaving the plain "over one, under one" on cotton +warp with rags or other coarse woof is generally best. Variety may be +introduced by weaving a stripe or border of a different tone near each end +of the rug. Vertical stripes serve well as another easy method of +variation and are produced by using two woof threads of different tones +and weaving first with one and then with the other. This weave is very +attractive as the body of the rug with a plain border at either end.</p> + +<p>As soon as the children have mastered the plain weave and have a fairly +clear idea of the possibilities in design<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> through varying the colors in +the woof only, they may be initiated into the mysteries of the "gingham +weave" and allowed to experiment with the variations in warp as well as in +woof. Cotton rovings is an excellent material for weaves of this sort. +This weave may also be used with raffia to make matting for the +dining-room floor.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig19" id="fig19"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i059.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 19.</span>—Box house by second grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>Paper mats may also be used as carpets with good effect. Weaving paper +strips is often an easier process to little children than weaving with +textiles, except where very coarse textile materials are used. For paper +mats select paper of suitable color and cut to the size desired<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> for the +mat. Fold on the short diameter. Cut slashes from the folded edge, not +less than one half inch apart, to within one inch of edge of the paper +(See <a href="#fig20">Fig. 20</a>), leaving a margin on all four sides of the mat. For weavers, +cut from paper of harmonious tone, strips equal in width to the slashes in +the mat.</p> + +<p><a name="fig20" id="fig20"></a></p> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i060.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 20.—Detail of paper weaving.</p></div> + +<p>Variations of the simple over one, under one weave add interest to the +work and also give practice in number combinations such as over one, under +two, etc. Work of this sort is used in many schools as a method of +teaching number, the teacher dictating the combinations while the interest +of the children centers in the new pattern which develops under their +fingers. While such work has much to be said in its favor, it is open to +criticism, especially in the matter of dictation. All the children in any +one group will not work with equal speed. Some will undoubtedly "get +behind" and others will lose time while waiting for the slow ones. +Accidents are liable to happen in individual cases.</p> + +<p>Many of these undesirable features may be eliminated while still retaining +the valuable part of the work by writing the directions on the board +instead of dictating them to the children. It then becomes a lesson in +reading as well as in number. Each child is thrown more completely upon +his own responsibility and can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> proceed as rapidly and as steadily as his +capacity permits. His rate of progress will often be a fair measure of his +ability for independent thought and action, which is the real measure for +successful teaching.</p> + +<p>As the hardest feature in this method is in keeping the right line and not +repeating or omitting any direction, a social spirit may be encouraged by +allowing the children to work in groups and take turns in <i>keeping the +place</i> while the others work. In one first grade where this plan was in +vogue the children discovered a book on the teacher's desk which contained +numerous designs, many of them much more intricate than she would have +attempted to use as classwork. Their instinct for exploration led them to +struggle with the directions until they had worked out some designs which +would have proved dismal failures had they been attempted as class +lessons. In this instance those who belonged to the persevering group were +happy in a new-found sense of strength and independence, while the others +had accomplished as much as any would have done under the dictation +method.</p> + +<p><b>Furniture.</b>—The problem of furniture for the school playhouse has been +discussed in numerous publications, and nearly every writer on the subject +of primary handwork offers suggestions on this topic. The suggestions +include a range in materials and processes from very simple foldings in +paper to quite complex processes in reeds and raffia and methodical +construction in wood.</p> + +<p>Among the various materials and styles in common use, folded paper +furniture has the advantage of being quickly made. The process is of +sufficient interest to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> little children to hold their attention, and in +order to secure the desired result they must hear the directions +intelligently and obey them promptly. These are desirable habits to form. +It is quite possible, however, for the work to be done in a very formal, +mechanical way, in which the children merely follow directions, often +blindly, without any clear purpose and very little thought. Success or +failure is due largely to chance; for, if by accident even a good worker +"loses out" on a direction, his work is at a standstill until special help +is given. He is unable to proceed because he does not know what to do +next. There is very little opportunity in such a process for independent +thought or action. It is not self-directed activity.</p> + +<p>A second objection to paper furniture is its lack of stability. Paper +which is pliable enough to fold readily will not hold its own weight long +when made into furniture, and very soon becomes wobbly. To overcome this +tendency to wobble, heavier papers are often used and new complications +arise. Heavy papers do not fold readily without scoring. Scoring demands +considerable accuracy of measurement—often to a degree beyond the power +of a six-year-old. The stiff papers, being hard pressed, are harder to +paste, and neat work is often an impossibility, unless considerable +assistance is given.</p> + +<p>It is possible to make satisfactory furniture in a great variety of styles +from stiff paper, and the processes involve some excellent practice in +measurement and design. The processes necessary to obtain these +satisfactory results are, however, beyond the ability of children in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> the +lower grades. Even fairly satisfactory results are impossible unless an +undue amount of assistance is given by the teacher. In actual practice, +where stiff paper is used a few of the best workers in the class are +helped to make the few pieces needed in the playhouse and the unhappy +failures of the rest of the class are promptly consigned to the +wastebasket.</p> + +<p>Very pretty furniture may be made from reeds and raffia, but the processes +are too difficult to be successfully performed by small children. The +reeds do not lend themselves readily to constructions small enough to suit +the average playhouse, and the larger pieces are out of proportion to the +other features of the house.</p> + +<p>The use of wood overcomes the most serious of the objections to be made to +other materials, besides being the material most commonly used in "real" +furniture. Wooden furniture is stable, and a great variety of processes in +construction are possible without introducing complications which prevent +independent work on the part of the little people.</p> + +<p>The processes necessary to the construction of very simple yet +satisfactory wooden furniture may be reduced to measuring one dimension, +sawing off, and nailing on. Measuring one dimension is quite within the +powers of six-year-olds. <i>Sawing off</i> is not difficult if soft lumber is +used, and it becomes very simple by the help of the miter box. <i>Nailing +on</i> is difficult if the nails must be driven into the edges of thin +boards, but if thin boards are nailed to thick boards, nails may "go +crooked" without serious consequences, and the process becomes quite easy. +These processes have the advantage of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> being particularly fascinating to +small boys, in contrast to the girlish character of many forms of primary +handwork. (See <a href="#fig21">Figs. 21</a> and <a href="#fig22">22</a>.)</p> + +<p> <a name="fig21" id="fig21"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i064a.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 21.—Furniture from wood blocks.</p> +<p> <a name="fig22" id="fig22"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i064b.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 22.—Furniture from wood blocks.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><i>Processes.</i>—For the sake of convenience and clearness in these +directions it will be assumed that the class is provided with pieces of +wood two inches square<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> which will be referred to as 2 × 2. Also with thin +wood in a variety of widths from 1 in. to 6 in. Material of other +dimensions would serve the purpose equally well, and for many of the parts +odd pieces from the scrap box will answer every purpose. The directions +are intended only to suggest how to proceed, and it is left to the teacher +to adapt them to the material and conditions with which she works.</p> + +<p>(1) <i>To make a chair.</i></p> + +<p>Use 2 × 2 for seat and thin wood 2 in. wide for back. Children should +measure and decide how much to saw off from strip of 2 × 2 in order to +make a square block or cube for the seat. They should estimate the length +of the back of the chair, then measure and saw off the thin wood needed. +Nail the back piece to the cube and finish with a coat of water-color +paint or color with crayon. An armchair may be made by the addition of +shorter pieces of thin wood to the sides of the chair.</p> + +<p>(2) <i>To make table with pedestal.</i></p> + +<p>Use 2 × 2 for pedestal. Use thin wood 6 in. wide for top. Use thin wood 4 +in. wide for base. Measure and saw off 3 in. of 2 × 2 for pedestal. +Measure <i>enough</i> of the 6 in. wood to make a square top and <i>enough</i> of +the 4 in. wood to make a square base. Do not tell the children what they +can discover for themselves. They should decide how high the table ought +to be and how large to suit the size of the room. Nail the square pieces +to the two ends of the pedestal. Finish by same method used for chairs.</p> + +<p>(3) <i>For ordinary table.</i>.</p> + +<p>Use thin wood for top. Use ½ × ½ for legs. Measure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> and saw off pieces +needed. Measure places for legs about one inch from corner of top in order +to allow an overhang. Children frequently put the legs flush with the edge +of the table, which gives a clumsy appearance. Nail through the top with a +comparatively long nail.</p> + +<p>(4) <i>To make a double bed.</i></p> + +<p>Use wood ½ to 1 in. thick for body. Use thin wood of corresponding width +for head and foot boards. Class or individual workers should decide on +dimensions for different parts and height of body of bed from the floor.</p> + +<p>(5) <i>For single bed.</i></p> + +<p>Proceed as for double bed, using narrow pieces of wood, or use six or +seven inches of 2 × 2 for body of bed and make head and foot boards after +the style of chair back.</p> + +<p>(6) <i>Dressing table.</i></p> + +<p>Decide upon dimensions needed. Use 2 × 2 for body. Use thin wood of equal +width for back. Use tinfoil for mirror. Indicate drawers with pencil +lines.</p> + +<p>(7) <i>Couch.</i></p> + +<p>Use piece of 2 × 2 of desired length and make couch cover of appropriate +material, or add back and arms of thin wood to piece of 2 × 2 and finish +to match other furniture.</p> + +<p>(8) <i>Piano.</i></p> + +<p>Use wood ¾ or 1 in. thick for body. Nail on piece ½ × ½ for +keyboard. Draw keys on paper and paste on keyboard.</p> + +<p>(9) <i>Kitchen stove.</i></p> + +<p>Use 2 × 4 or any scrap or empty box of appropriate size and shape. Color +black with crayon. Add chalk marks or bits of tinfoil to indicate doors +and lids. Make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> hot-water tank of paper. Pieces of reed, wire, or twigs +covered with tinfoil make good water pipes. Macaroni sticks and lemonade +straws have served this purpose.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig23" id="fig23"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i067.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 23.</span>—Home of White Cloud, the Pueblo girl. Second grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Clay Furnishings.</b>—For such articles as the kitchen sink, the bathtub, and +other bathroom fittings clay is a satisfactory material. These articles +may be modeled by the children, in as good an imitation of the real +fittings as they are able to make. Various methods may be used for holding +the kitchen sink and the bathroom basin in place, and it is much better +for the children to evolve one of their own than to follow the teacher's +dictation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> from the start. If they meet serious difficulties, a suggestion +from her may help clear the way. Two long nails driven into the wall will +give a satisfactory bracket on which the sink may rest. Two short nails +may be driven through the back while the clay is moist and may serve also +as a foundation for faucets. The basin, bathtub, and stool may each be +built solid to the floor.</p> + +<p>The teakettle and other stove furniture may be modeled in clay. Electric +light bulbs of clay suspended by cords from the ceiling have a realistic +air. Paper shades of appropriate color add to the general effect.</p> + +<p><b>Miscellaneous furnishings.</b></p> + +<p><i>Bedding.</i>—Paper or cloth may be used for bedding, as circumstances +suggest. If interest in <i>real</i> things is strong, the making of the sheets +and pillow cases offers an opportunity for some practice with the needle. +If time is limited, paper may be used.</p> + +<p><i>Curtains.</i>—Curtains also may be made from either paper or regular +curtain material. If paper is used, it should be very soft, such as plain +Japanese napkins. Scraps of plain net or scrim are most desirable. Some +child is apt to contribute a piece of large-patterned lace curtain, but +the tactful teacher will avoid using it if possible, and direct the +children's thoughts toward a better taste in draperies.</p> + +<p><i>Portières</i> may be made of cloth, of knotted cords, or chenille.</p> + +<p><i>Couch pillows</i> may be made from cloth or may be woven on a small card.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span><i>Towels</i> for the bathroom may be woven from crochet cotton.</p> + +<p><i>The fireplace</i> may be made of cardboard marked off and colored to +represent brick. A shallow box may be made to serve the purpose. Cut out +the opening for the grate and lay real sticks on andirons made from soft +wire; or draw a picture of blazing fire and put inside. The fireplace may +also be made of clay. Pebbles may be pressed into the clay if a stone +fireplace is desired. If clay is used, several small nails should be +driven into the wall before the fireplace is built up, to hold the clay in +place after it dries.</p> + +<p><i>Bookcases</i> may be made of cardboard, using a box construction, and glued +to the wall. Or a block of wood about one inch thick may be used. In +either case mark off the shelves and books with pencil lines, and color +the backs of the books with crayon.</p> + +<p><a name="fig24" id="fig24"></a></p> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i070.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 24.</span>—Detail of stairway.</p></div> + +<p><b>The Stairway.</b>—In a two-story house the hardest problem will usually be +the stairs. Some good work in number may be done while finding out how +many steps will be needed and where the stairway must begin in order to +reach the second floor in comfort. Even quite small children can deal with +this problem if presented in a simple way. For example, if the box or room +is ten inches high, how many steps 1 in. wide and 1 in. high will be +needed, and how far out into the room will they come? The children can +work out the plan on the blackboard. Measurements may be modified to suit +the ability of the class and the needs of the room.</p> + +<p>The variety of possible constructions in building the staircase +corresponds to the varying ability of classes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> A strip of paper may be +folded back and forth and made to serve with least mature classes. This +paper stair will sag unless it rests on a board or piece of stiff +pasteboard. A substantial stairway may be made by sawing two thin boards +for supports, as in <a href="#fig24">Fig. 24</a>, and nailing on steps of thin wood or +cardboard. There is usually one boy in every first grade who is capable of +as difficult a piece of handwork as this. He is apt, also, to be the boy +who takes least interest in the general work of the class, and often it is +possible to arouse him to special effort through some such problem. The +stairway may be made of heavy cardboard with a construction similar to +that just described, but this requires pasting instead of nailing and is +much more difficult for little children.</p> + +<p><b>The Roof.</b>—The making of the roof is another part of the house building +which may often be given into the special care of the two or three +over-age pupils who need special problems. The plan which they evolve from +their study of the needs of the case will usually be of greater value to +them, even though it may not be the best that could be suggested.</p> + +<p>The roof may be made of wood as a base, with either wood or cardboard +shingles tacked on in proper fashion; or it may be made of cardboard with +the shingles merely indicated by lines made with crayon. If the wood base +is used, wood gables may be made for sides or ends of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> the house. To +these, long boards may be nailed to form a solid roof. Shingles two inches +long by about one inch wide may be cut from cardboard or very thin wood +and tacked to the boards. The children should be spurred to study the +roofs of houses and find out how the shingles are arranged, and discover +for themselves, if possible, the secret of successful shingling.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig25" id="fig25"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i071.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 25.—Box house, showing roof. Built by summer class, Teachers College, New York.</p> +<p> <a name="fig26" id="fig26"></a></p> +<div class="figright"><img src="images/i072a.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 26.</span>—Detail of gable.</p></div> +<p> </p> + +<p>A cardboard roof is in many ways easier to build. In a house similar to +the one shown in <a href="#fig25">Fig. 25</a> two gables are used, and the roof slopes to front +and back. The framework can be very simply made. At the two gable ends +place uprights made of two pieces of wood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> joined in the form of an +inverted T. (See <a href="#fig26">Fig. 26</a>.) These should be nailed to the box. A ridgepole +may then be nailed to the upper ends of the uprights. If the house is not +large, no other framework will be necessary. If the slope of the roof is +long enough to allow the cardboard to sag, light strips of wood extending +from the ridgepole to the outer edge of the box may be added. If a single +piece of cardboard of sufficient size is available, it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> may be +scored<small><a name="f1.1" id="f1.1" href="#f1">[1]</a></small> +and bent at the proper place and laid over the ridgepole, with the edges +extending beyond the box to form the eaves. Or, two pieces may be used, +one for each slope of the roof, each piece being tacked to the ridgepole. +Chimneys may be made from paper and colored to represent bricks or stone.</p> + +<p> </p><p> <a name="fig27" id="fig27"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i072b.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 27.</span>—Colonial kitchen. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The outside of the house may be treated in several ways. It may be sided +after the manner of frame houses by tacking on strips of paper or +cardboard lapped in the proper fashion. It may be covered with paper +marked in horizontal lines to represent siding, in irregular spaces to +represent stone, or in regular spaces to represent brick, and finished in +the appropriate color. Or, a coat of paint or stain may be applied +directly to the box.</p> + + +<h3>VARIATIONS IN HOUSE PROBLEM</h3> + +<p>A playhouse for its own sake is a justifiable project for primary children +and one which may be repeated several times without exhausting its +possibilities. Each time it is repeated the emphasis will fall on some new +feature, and the children will wish to do more accurate work.</p> + +<p>In the lowest grades very simple houses of one or two rooms may be built +for story-book friends, such as the "Three Bears" or "Little Red Riding +Hood," with only such furniture as the story suggests. In intermediate +grades the house may have an historical motive and illustrate home life in +primitive times or in foreign countries, such as a colonial kitchen in New +England, a pioneer cabin on the Western prairies, a Dutch home, a Japanese +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>home, etc. In upper grades it may become a serious study in house +decoration.</p> + +<p>As the motive for making the house changes, the character and quality of +its furnishings will change. The block furniture described above will give +way to more accurate models in either wood or paper. Some excellent +suggestions for paper furniture for advanced work may be found in the +<i>Manual Training Magazine</i>.</p> + +<p>As skill in construction increases, a wish for something more realistic +than the box construction will arise, and the elements of house framing +will be studied with great eagerness.</p> + +<p><b>The House of the Three Bears.</b> (See <a href="#fig28">Fig. 28</a>.)—This house was made early in +the year by a class of first-grade children. The walls were papered in +plain brown paper. The carpets were woven mats of paper. The chairs, +table, and beds were made according to the methods already described in +the playhouse outline. The stove and the doll were contributed. The bears +were modeled in clay. The children played with the house and its contents +throughout the year. The bears were broken and made over many times—a +process which not only afforded great pleasure, but also developed +considerable skill in modeling.</p> + +<p><b>Another Bears' House.</b>—This house, shown in Frontispiece, was made in the +spring, near the end of the school year, by a class of first-grade +children all of whom were under seven and many of whom were very immature.</p> + +<p>The story of the Three Bears was taken up after Christmas, told and +retold, read, and dramatized by the children. Teddy bears were brought to +school. Many bears<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> were modeled in clay, each child making the set of +three many times.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig28" id="fig28"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i075.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 28.</span>—House for the Three Bears. First grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The children laid off spaces on the table for individual Bears' houses and +made furniture for these as their fancy prompted. The furniture was made +of wood after the general style described above. Later, carpets were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +woven for these individual playhouses. Each carpet was woven to a given +dimension, making it necessary to use the rule. This was their +introduction to the rule as a tool for measuring. Every child in a class +of forty made one or more pieces of furniture and wove one or more small +carpets from rags. Nearly all made some bedding.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig29" id="fig29"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i076.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 29.</span>—Cornstalk house. Built by second-grade class. Franklin, Indiana.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>Later, four boxes were secured and arranged as a house. The openings for +doors were marked off during school time, but were sawed out by a few +children who remained during the noon intermission. This is the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> only part +of the work which was not done during regular class time. The papering was +done by two or three of the most capable children, while the rest were +deeply absorbed in weaving. All made borders. Certain borders were +selected for the house, and several children worked together to make +enough of the same pattern for one room. Selections were then made from +the carpets and furniture already made by the children.</p> + +<p>The roof was made chiefly by one boy who "knew a good way to make it." The +porches were also individual projects by pupils who had ideas on the +subject and were allowed to work them out.</p> + +<p>The children became very familiar with every phase of the story and +attacked any expression of it with the feeling, "That's easy." They wrote +stories, <i>i.e.</i> sentences about bears. Each child at the close of the year +could write on the blackboard a story of two or more sentences. They made +pictures of bears in all sorts of postures with colored crayon and from +free-hand cuttings. They modeled the bears in clay over and over again, +keeping up a large family in spite of many accidents.</p> + +<p><b>Coöperative Building.</b>—Figures <a href="#fig11">11</a>, <a href="#fig12">12</a>, and <a href="#fig13">13</a> show three rooms of a +four-room house built by the first and second grades working together. The +living room and bedroom were furnished by first-grade children. The dining +room, kitchen, and bath were furnished by the second grade. Four boxes +were used. (See diagram, page 35, <a href="#fig14">Fig. 14</a>.) Each room, except the bath, +was a separate box. After a general plan had been agreed upon by the +teachers, the boxes were carried to the several rooms and each class +worked quite independently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> When the rooms were finished, they were +assembled on a table in the hall and the roof put on.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig30" id="fig30"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i078.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 30.</span>—A flour mill. Built by fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span><b>The Flour Mill.</b>—The flour mill, shown in <a href="#fig30">Fig. 30</a>, +was built in connection with a study of the general subject of milling by a fourth-grade class. +The class visited a flour mill. They were shown the various machines, and +the function of each was explained to them. They made hasty sketches of +the machines and a rough diagram of their arrangement on the floors. They +got the dimensions of the floors and height of the ceiling. An empty box +was remodeled to approximate the dimensions of the building. Small +representations of the machines were made and placed in the proper +relation to each other. No attempt was made to show more than the external +proportions in the small representation. The work served its best purpose +in keeping the children thinking definitely about what they had seen. The +attempt to express their thoughts in tangible form deepened the mental +impression, even though the tangible results were crude and lacked many +details.</p> + +<p>The conveyer being of special interest, two boys worked out a larger model +which illustrated the band-bucket process. This is shown in <a href="#fig30">Fig. 30</a>, at +the right of the mill. Small cups were made of soft tin and fastened to a +leather strap. The strap was fastened around two rods, placed one above +the other. The lower rod was turned by a crank fastened on the outside of +the box. Two or three brads driven into the lower rod caught into holes in +the strap and prevented slipping. The machine successfully hoisted grain +from the lower box to one fastened higher up, but not shown<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> in the +picture. The model was very crude in its workmanship, but it showed the +ability of fourth-grade boys to successfully apply an important principle +in mechanics, and it gave opportunity for their ingenuity to express +itself. The work was done with such tools and materials as the boys could +provide for themselves, and without assistance other than encouraging +suggestions from the teacher. This bit of construction accompanied a broad +study of the subject of milling, including the source and character of the +raw materials, the processes involved, the finished products and their +value.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>THE VILLAGE STREET</h3> + +<p>Playing store is a game of universal interest. Making a play store is a +fascinating occupation. These are factors which cannot be overlooked in +any scheme of education which seeks to make use of the natural activities +of children.</p> + +<p>The downtown store stands to the children as the source of all good things +which are to be bought with pennies. It is usually the first place outside +the home with which they become familiar, and its processes are sure to be +imitated in their play. In their play they not only repeat the processes +of buying and selling, but try to reproduce in miniature what they regard +as the essential features of the real store.</p> + +<p>If they are allowed to play this fascinating game in school, it may, by +the teacher's help, become at once more interesting and more worth while. +Curiosity may be aroused through questions concerning what is in the +store, where it came from, how it got there, what was done to make it +usable, how it is measured, and what it is worth. In seeking answers to +these questions, the fields of geography, history, and arithmetic may be +explored as extensively as circumstances warrant and a whole curriculum +is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> built up in a natural way. After such study, stores cease to be the +<i>source</i> of the good things they offer for sale. The various kinds of +merchandise take on a new interest when the purchaser knows something of +their history, and a new value when he knows something of the labor which +has gone into their manufacture.</p> + +<p> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span><a name="fig31" id="fig31"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i082.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 31.</span>—Box house and stores. Grades one, three, and two. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>Being a subject of universal interest, it may be adapted to the conditions +of the various grades. It being also impossible to exhaust the +possibilities of the subject in any single presentation, it may profitably +be repeated with a change of emphasis to suit the development of the +class. For example, in the second grade, the study of the street is +chiefly a classification of the various commodities which are essential to +our daily life, and a few of the main facts of interest concerning their +origin. Those a little older are interested in the processes of +manufacture and the geography of their sources. In playing store, weights +and measures, the changing of money, and the making of bills take on an +interest impossible in the old-fashioned method of presenting these phases +of arithmetic. Discussions and narratives supply oral language work, and +descriptions, letters, and notes provide material for written exercises.</p> + +<p>The class may be divided into groups, each group contributing one store to +the street, or the attention of the whole class may be centered on one +store at a time, as the immediate conditions suggest. If the former method +is used, as each store is finished it may be used as subject matter for +the entire class, while the important facts concerning it are considered. +The first permits a broader scope; the second a more exhaustive study. In +either<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> case visits to the real stores studied are important supplements +to the work.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig32" id="fig32"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i084.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 32.</span>—A village street. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>General Directions.</b>—Discuss the stores on a village street. Which are +most important? Why? Decide how many stores the class can build, and +choose those most necessary to a community.</p> + +<p>If self-organized groups<small><a name="f2.1" id="f2.1" href="#f2">[2]</a></small> are allowed to choose the part they are to +work out, both interest and harmony are promoted and leadership +stimulated.</p> + +<p>Use a box for each store. Each group is usually able to provide its own +box. Paper inside of box with clean paper, or put on a coat of fresh +paint. Make appropriate shelving and counters of thin wood.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>Stock the store with samples of appropriate merchandise as far as +possible. Supplement with the best representations the children can make. +They should be left to work out the problem for themselves to a large +extent, the teacher giving a suggestion only when they show a lack of +ideas.</p> + +<p><b>Suggestions for Details of Representation.</b>—<i>Clay Modeling.</i>—Clay may be +used to model fruits and vegetables, bottles and jugs for the grocery; +bread, cake, and pies for the bakery; different cuts of meat for the +butcher shop; horses for the blacksmith shop and for delivery wagons. Clay +representations may be made very realistic by coloring with crayon.</p> + +<p><i>Canned Goods.</i>—Paper cylinders on which labels are drawn before pasting +serve well for canned goods. Cylindrical blocks may be cut from broom +sticks or dowel rods and wrapped in appropriately labeled covers.</p> + +<p><i>Cloth.</i>—Rolls of various kinds of cloth should be collected for the dry +goods store. Figures may be cut from fashion plates and mounted for the +"Ready to Wear" department.</p> + +<p><i>Hats.</i>—Hats may be made for the millinery store from any of the +materials commonly used. This is a good way for girls to develop their +ingenuity and resourcefulness.</p> + +<p><i>The Store Front.</i>—The front of each store may be made of either wood or +cardboard, the spaces for doors and windows being left open that the +merchandise may be conveniently handled. Brick or stone fronts, +second-story windows, offices, etc., may all be indicated as artistically +as the capacity of the class permits by the use of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> colored crayons. The +sign is an important feature and should stimulate an interest in well-made +lettering.</p> + +<p><b>Additional Projects.</b>—In addition to representations of retail shops, +various industries, such as the carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, flour +mill, ice plant, and other familiar industries, may be represented. +Coöperative institutions, such as the post office and fire department, +should be included in the study.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig33" id="fig33"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i086.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 33.—A grocery. Fourth grade.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Excursions.</b>—Wherever possible, the plant should be visited by the class. +Before making the visit, the class should discuss what they expect to see, +and go prepared to find out definite things. Each child should have at +least one question which he is to ask, or one item of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> information for +which he is to be responsible to the class on the return. Often the visit +is more worth while to the class after they have tried to make a +representation from what they already know and from what they can read on +the subject. They are then more conscious of their needs and more alive to +the important elements than when they are merely seeing a new thing which +is to a great extent foreign to their experience. If they make the visit +first, they are apt to feel the need of another when they attempt to work +out their representation. If they make a representation first, they are +quite sure to be dissatisfied with it and want to make another after they +have made the visit. In either case their consciousness of need is a +measure of growth.</p> + +<p><b>Correlation.</b>—While the building of a store is in progress the study of +the sources and processes of manufacture of the various articles of +merchandise will supply valuable subject matter in several fields.</p> + +<p><i>English.</i>—Books containing information on the subject will be read with +a definite purpose and more than ordinary interest. Especially if the +group method is used, will the members of a group be proud to bring to the +class interesting items concerning their particular part of the work. +These narratives and descriptions may be made excellent practice in either +oral or written English and will be of the sort Dewey characterizes as +"having something to say rather than having to say something."</p> + +<p><i>Geography.</i>—This study may also enter as deeply into the field of +geography as the development of the class warrants. It will be geography +of a vital sort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> How these things are brought to us touches the field of +transportation, creating an interest in ships and railroad trains, pack +mules and express wagons.</p> + +<p><i>History.</i>—The study of the process of manufacture opens up the field of +industrial history, and in this, as in the geography, the study is limited +only by the capacity of the class.</p> + +<p><i>Number.</i>—In the field of number the possibilities are also unlimited, in +studying the weights and measures used for different commodities, the +actual prices paid for these things, and the usual quantities purchased.</p> + +<p>Playing store will involve the making of bills, the changing of money, and +the measuring of merchandise. Different pupils may take turns acting as +salesmen or cashier. The common practices of business life should be +followed as closely as possible, only in this case each purchaser should +make out his own bills. Actual purchase slips may be brought from home and +used in number lessons.</p> + +<p>An inventory of the stock may be taken and will supply excellent practice +in addition and multiplication. After the example of <i>real</i> stores, a +stock-taking sale at reduced rates may be advertised. The writer answered +such an advertisement by a third grade and asked how much could be +purchased for one dollar. Pencils were busy at once, and a variety of +combinations suggested. One pupil was quickly called to account by his +mates for offering only ninety-five cents' worth of merchandise for the +dollar. By these and numerous other exercises which will suggest +themselves to lively children and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> wide-awake teachers a vast amount of +vital subject matter may be dealt with in a natural way, quite on the +level of the child's experience and interest.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig34" id="fig34"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i089.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 34.</span>—A grocery. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><i>Art.</i>—The art side also may receive due attention in the general +proportioning and arrangement of the stores, in the modeling of certain +features from clay, as enumerated above, in the making of labels for boxes +and cans, in the writing of signs and advertisements, and in the color +combinations. These features are to a great extent incidental to other +problems just as the use of good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> taste is incidental to all the affairs +of life and should receive corresponding emphasis.</p> + + +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + +<p>Figure <a href="#fig32">32</a> shows about half the stores built by one third-grade class. Some +of the subject matter drawn from the various stories was as follows: in +connection with the grocery, a study of the source of various articles of +food with oral and written descriptions of processes of manufacture; the +common measures used in the grocery, and ordinary amounts purchased.</p> + +<p>In connection with the meat market, the names of various kinds of meat, +the animals from which they are obtained, and the part of the animal which +furnishes certain cuts; as, for example, ham, bacon, chops. The current +prices and approximate quantity needed for a meal made practical number +work.</p> + +<p>The bakery called for an investigation of the processes of bread making +and a study of the material used. In all of the processes the teacher had +opportunity to stress the necessity for proper sanitation.</p> + +<p>In connection with the dry goods store, the distinguishing characteristics +of cotton, wool, linen, and silk were emphasized and illustrated by the +samples collected for the store and by the clothing worn by the children. +Common problems in measuring cloth enlivened the number lessons.</p> + +<p>The millinery store disclosed considerable ingenuity in the field of hat +manufacture, and a lively business in doll hats was carried on for some +time.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>In connection with the post office, registered letters, dead letters, +money orders, rural free delivery, etc., were discussed, and the +advantages of coöperation touched upon.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig35" id="fig35"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i091.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 35.—A dry goods store. Third grade.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The other stores of the village street offer further opportunity for +becoming better acquainted with the common things which lie close at hand +and touch our daily lives.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> +<p><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a></p> +<p><a name="fig36" id="fig36"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i092a.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 36.</span>—Home in a hot country.</p> +<p> <a name="fig37" id="fig37"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i092b.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 37.</span>—Home in a cold country.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>SAND TABLES AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM</h3> + +<p>A sand table should be considered one of the indispensable furnishings of +every schoolroom. Its possibilities are many and varied. It may be used +merely as a means of recreation and the children allowed to play in the +sand, digging and building as fancy suggests. Or it may be used as the +foundation for elaborate representations, carefully planned by the +teacher, laboriously worked out by the children, and extravagantly admired +by the parents on visitors' day. While both of these uses may serve worthy +ends on certain occasions, the most valuable function of the sand table +strikes a happy medium between the two, as means of illustrating and +emphasizing various features of the daily lessons. In this capacity the +laborious efforts of the show problem on the one hand and purposeless play +of the other are both avoided. In this capacity the work on the sand table +goes along hand in hand with the regular work in geography, history, +language, or any subject in which it is possible through an illustration +to teach more effectively.</p> + +<p>The purpose of this work is not so much to produce fine representations as +to help the children to clarify and strengthen their ideas through the +effort to express<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> them in concrete form. The value lies in the +development which comes to the children while they work. The technique of +processes of construction is of secondary importance, though careless work +ought never to be permitted. The completed project has little value after +it has served its purpose as an illustration and may be quickly destroyed +to make way for the next project. For this reason emphasis is laid on the +general effect rather than the detail of construction. The work should be +done well enough to serve the purpose, but time should not be spent on +unnecessary details which do not add to the value as an illustration. In +most cases speed is an important element. The project should be completed +while the subject it illustrates is under discussion, if it is to be of +most service. The first essential is that the work shall be done wholly by +the children. The teacher may by skillful questions help them to build up +in imagination the project they intend to work out, so that they may work +with a definite purpose. She may sometimes suggest improved methods of +working out various features when the improvements will add to the value +of the illustration, but she should seldom, if ever, plan a project +definitely or dictate the method of procedure.</p> + +<p>Not least among the possible benefits to be derived from work of this kind +is the development of resourcefulness. The necessity for expressing an +idea in concrete form with whatever materials are at hand often calls for +considerable ingenuity. Ability of this sort will show itself only when +the children are expressing their ideas with utmost freedom and feel the +responsibility for the success of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> work. The more earnestly the +children try to express their ideas, the greater will be their +development. The teacher should feel that she is hindering the growth of +the children and defrauding them of their legitimate opportunity for +development when she allows an over-anxiety for tangible and showy results +to make her take the responsibility upon herself.</p> + +<p>The details of method are best presented through a detailed description of +typical illustrations actually worked out in the classroom.</p> + + +<h3>A SAND-TABLE FARM—HOME LIFE IN THE COUNTRY</h3> + +<p>The study of home life as a general subject will include "our home" and +the homes of other people who live under different conditions. To the town +child the country will often be somewhat familiar and hold the second +place in his interest. In the country school the farm may often be the +best place to begin.</p> + +<p>Various questions will arise as soon as it is decided to make a sand-table +farm, the answers to which will be governed by the habits of the locality. +What sort of farm shall we have? Shall we raise stock, fruit, corn, wheat, +vegetables, or a little of everything? What shall we need to plant in each +case, and in what proportion? How much pasture land shall we need? What +buildings? What machinery?</p> + +<p> <a name="fig38" id="fig38"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i096a.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 38.</span>—A sand-table farm. First grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> <a name="fig39" id="fig39"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i096b.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 39.</span>—A sand-table farm. Second grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Fences.</b>—As soon as the question of crops and the division of the table +into fields is settled, the problem of fencing presents itself. What sort +of fence is needed, wire, boards, pickets, rails, or hedge? How far apart +shall the posts be set, how tall should they be, and how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> many will be +needed? How many boards? How wide? How long? How many wires?</p> + +<p><a name="fig40" id="fig40"></a></p> +<div class="figright"><img src="images/i097.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 40.—<br />Detail of chicken fence.</p></div> + +<p>The making of the fencing will supply material for one or more number +lessons. Various materials may be used.</p> + +<p><i>Twigs</i> may be cut to given lengths and set in concrete (clay) posts.</p> + +<p><i>For wire fence</i>, cut posts from small wooden sticks. Drive small tacks in +each post—one for each wire. Use fine spool wire or wire raveled from fly +screen. Twist wires once around each tack, or drive the tacks in firmly so +that the wire is held by the head of the tack. This is not an easy fence +for very little children to make.</p> + +<p><i>To make board fence.</i> Cut posts required length, and decide upon distance +between posts. Make boards of thin strips of wood or of pasteboard. Nail +boards to posts with tacks or small brads. This is a very easy fence to +make and gives some good exercise in measuring.</p> + +<p><i>Rail fences</i> may be made from toothpicks or burnt matches.</p> + +<p><i>Picket fence</i> for the dooryard may be made on wooden foundation with +cardboard pickets.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span><i>Hedge fence</i> should be made from some fine-leafed plant. Cedar twigs +serve well.</p> + +<p><i>Chicken fence</i> may be cut from paper as per illustration. Fold paper +several times, lengthwise. Cut across the fold as indicated by arrows. +Stretch lengthwise as shown in <a href="#fig40">Fig. 40</a>, <i>a</i> and <i>b</i>.</p> + +<p><b>Buildings.</b>—The class should decide on the buildings needed. Each building +should be assigned to a group of two or three workers. Each group should +be held responsible for its contribution and should work out its problem +with as little help as possible. If the children are able to plan a barn +and make it, even though it is a very crude affair, more has been +accomplished than if a very cunning structure had been made after plans, +dictated and closely supervised by the teacher.</p> + +<p><i>Wood</i> is the best building material for general use.</p> + +<p><i>Pasteboard</i> serves well, but it is less substantial. It is also harder to +cut and paste heavy cardboard than it is to saw and nail thin wood.</p> + +<p><i>Clay</i> may be used for all buildings which are commonly made of concrete.</p> + +<p><b>Stock.</b>—The different kinds of animals needed on the farm and the number +of each will furnish profitable subject matter for class discussion. The +animals may be modeled from clay. While the animals will of necessity be +very large in proportion to the acreage of the farm, attention should be +directed to the relative proportions between horses and hogs, cattle and +sheep. Differences of this sort do not trouble little people, as their +work is sure to show. The point should be stressed only sufficiently to +help them to see a little more clearly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> and express their ideas a little +more adequately each time they try. The accuracy of the result is +important only as an index that the children are steadily developing in +power to see and do, and gaining self-reliance.</p> + +<p><i>The Modeling Process.</i>—The best method seems to be simply to <i>begin</i>, +and, for example, model as good a horse as possible; then discuss the +results, note a few serious defects, and try again, endeavoring to correct +them. Encourage rapid work which gives the general proportions of the +animal in the rough. Beginners are apt to waste time in a purposeless +smoothing of the clay, in mere tactual enjoyment. Discourage the tendency +to finish the details of a horse's head, for example, before the body has +been modeled. Repeat the process as often as time and the interest of the +children warrant, but be satisfied if the children are doing the best they +can, even though the results are crude and not so good as some other class +has produced. The children should always feel that the work is their own. +For this reason the teacher's help in clay modeling should be through +demonstration rather than by finishing touches to the child's work. +Imitation is a strong instinct in little children, and watching the +teacher model a better horse than he can make will help a child to improve +his own. One thing to be especially avoided is the attempt to bring every +class to a uniform degree of excellence according to adult standards. Such +an ideal encourages the giving of help in a way which hinders real +development though it may produce immediate results.</p> + +<p><a name="fig41" id="fig41"></a></p> +<div class="figright"><img src="images/i100.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 41.—<br />Detail of paper tree.</p></div> + +<p><b>Trees.</b>—This topic will call out a discussion of the uses of trees; which +trees are shade trees, which are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> cultivated for their fruit, the +distinguishing characteristics of the different varieties, and the ones +best suited to this particular farm.</p> + +<p>Twigs from the real tree should be used wherever possible. In other cases +the trees may be cut from paper. If a good green paper is not at hand, use +drawing paper and color with crayons. A realistic effect is gained by +cutting the tree from folded paper. (See <a href="#fig41">Fig. 41</a>.) Cut three pieces for +each tree and paste together at the fold, then open out. Make the trunk +long enough to be driven an inch or more into the sand.</p> + +<p>The making of the trees will furnish material for both art and nature +study lessons. As far as circumstances permit the real trees should be +studied, giving the children first-hand experience whether it be much or +little. They should test the trees they cut by comparing them with real +trees of the same variety. If this is impossible, the best pictures +available should be used. (See notes on paper cutting.)</p> + +<p><b>Crops.</b>—When the various parts of the farm are about ready, the fields may +be sown. The sand should be made very wet before the seed is put in and +sprinkled frequently (twice a day), as the top dries off very quickly. +After the seeds have germinated little sprinkling need be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> done, as the +roots will find enough moisture in the wet sand underneath, and it is +desirable to retard rather than hasten growth. If carefully managed, a +table can be kept green for several weeks.</p> + +<p>For corn, check holes well into the sand and drop one grain into each +hole. See that rows are straight and holes evenly spaced.</p> + +<p>Sow wheat, oats, barley, etc., <i>very thickly</i>, cover lightly with dry +sand, and sprinkle.</p> + +<p>Timothy serves well for meadow and lawn, as it puts up a fine blade. Blue +grass sends up a fine blade, but is very slow in germination. Clover does +not make a velvety lawn, but a little in the pasture will make an +interesting contrast.</p> + +<p>Vegetables may be planted in the garden. They will not develop to any +great extent, but will serve to emphasize different habits in germination; +as, for example, the contrast between beans and corn.</p> + +<p><b>Correlation.</b>—The opportunity for nature study afforded by the farm +problem will prove one of its most interesting and valuable features as +the progress in plant growth is noted from day to day. The farm problem +combines well with both language and art work in supplying vital material +for both. In addition to the interesting discussions which naturally arise +concerning the building and planting, a diary may be kept by each child.</p> + +<p><i>Keeping a Diary.</i>—The date of planting may be noted and the date when +each variety of seed first appears above ground. With the larger seeds, as +corn and beans, a seed may be dug up each day and examined, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> that the +children may appreciate what is going on below ground. Drawings may be +made of the seeds, showing the changes in appearance from day to day. +After the seed leaves appear the daily growth may be measured and noted in +the diary. After a few days seeds may be dug up again that the roots may +be examined. At various stages of growth different varieties of seeds may +be dug up, laid upon a paper, and sketched by the children. The facts they +note may be stated in simple, well-formed sentences, either oral or +written or both.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig42" id="fig42"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i102.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 42.</span>—An Eskimo village and The Overall Boys' Farm. First grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><i>Art.</i>—The sketching will serve well as the day's art lesson, though its +chief value is in helping the children to see clearly. Their efforts will +be crude but the teacher should constantly keep in mind that the chief aim +is not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> to obtain fine sketches. Its purpose is to help the children to a +better appreciation of the plant through the effort put forth in making +the sketch. The technique of the drawing should be emphasized only so far +as it will help them express better what they see, and not to the point +where they attempt to copy the teacher's strokes. The teacher should be +satisfied if every child is doing his best and making steady progress, +even though that best may be crude and not up to the standard reached by +the teacher who struggles for fine results.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig43" id="fig43"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i103.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 43.</span>—An apple orchard. First grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><i>English.</i>—For children who are able to write the diary offers a natural +means of gaining experience in the use of common forms of punctuation; as, +for example, the writing of dates and the use of a comma in a series, as +well as the punctuation of simple statements, in such entries as the +following:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>April 15, 1912.</p> + +<p>We planted the seeds on our farm to-day.</p> + +<p>We planted corn, wheat, oats, and beans.</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>In all work of this sort it is difficult to overestimate the advantage of +separate sheets of paper over a notebook with sewed leaves, in the hands +of the children. With the fresh sheet always comes an inspiration, no +matter what failures have gone before. Poor pages can be done over when +necessary, but do not haunt the workers with their discouraging +suggestions, as in the use of a notebook. The leaves may be gathered +together into a binding of some sort. Even covers of plain brown wrapping +paper can be made artistic with a simple border line well placed or a +design cut from a paper of a different tone. Written work which culminates +in an attractive booklet, however simple, seems more worth while than +exercises written into a commonplace notebook or on scratch paper which +goes to the wastebasket soon after the mistakes have been commented on.</p> + +<p><i>Number.</i>—The farm problem also supplies abundant opportunity for gaining +experience with number. In addition to the actual measurement of the +materials used for fences and buildings, the scope may be widened, where +conditions warrant, to include estimates and calculations of the amount of +the material used.</p> + +<p>For example, how many inches or feet of wire will be needed to make a +three-wire fence of given length? How large a piece of cardboard will be +needed to cut boards one fourth or one half inch wide for a four-board +fence fifteen inches long?</p> + +<p>These estimates may be translated, <i>as far as the children are able to +appreciate the connection</i>, into quantities and values of the same +material in real problems connected with real farms. It is important, +however, to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> careful not to carry work of this sort so far beyond the +experience of the children that it becomes wholly foreign and abstract to +them. We are too apt to forget that it is <i>experience</i> and not <i>objects</i>, +which is the vital factor in concreteness.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig44" id="fig44"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i105.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 44.</span>—Robinson Crusoe. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>In connection with the nature study a variety of number exercises grow out +of the questions which the situation prompts. As, for example, in +connection with the corn crop: How many seeds were planted? In how many +rows? How many seeds in a row? How many came up? How many failed to +germinate? How many more came up than failed? If each good seed should +produce<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> two ears of corn, how many would we have? What would they be +worth at a given price? etc.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig45" id="fig45"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i106.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 45.</span>—Pueblo Indian village. Second grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>In an ungraded school, while the younger children might confine their +efforts to counting as above, the older children might answer the same +questions in terms of percentage and in the probable quantities on a real +farm. The stock farm may be treated in the same way. How many cows? How +much milk will they give? What will it be worth? How much butter would it +make? What will it cost to keep the cows? What is the farmer's profit? +These and many other questions will suggest themselves to both teacher and +pupils, once the subject is opened up. They will be <i>practical questions +in so far as they touch the experience of the children</i> in such a way as +to appeal to them as real questions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> Each individual teacher must decide +how far and into what field it is worth while to lead any particular +class.</p> + +<p><b>The Sand Table.</b>—The various types of sand tables range all the way from +the hardwood, zinc-lined article, provided with a drainpipe, down to the +homemade structure evolved from a goods box.</p> + +<p>The quality of the table does not greatly affect the quality of the work +to be done on it, but there are several points which affect the +convenience of the workers. The height of the table should allow the +children to work comfortably when standing beside it. A long, narrow table +is seldom as satisfactory as one more nearly square, but it should never +be too wide for the children to reach the center easily. Any table with +tight joints in the top and four- or five-inch boards fitted tightly +around the edge will serve the purpose. The inside of the box should be +painted to prevent warping and leaking. An "ocean blue" is a good color, +as it makes a good background for islands.</p> + +<p>If no table is available, a goods box may be turned on its side, the top +covered with oilcloth, and a frame, made from the cover of the box, fitted +around the edge. The inside of the box may be used as a closet in which to +store tools and materials, and a neat appearance given to the whole by a +curtain of denim or other plain, heavy material.</p> + + +<h3>ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS</h3> + +<p>One of the most valuable uses of the sand table is in making illustrations +for stories, historical events, and similar topics in which the relations +between people and places is important. No definite rules can be laid +down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> for working out such illustrations. The conditions under which they +are made, the time to be devoted to the work, the importance of the +subject, all affect both the nature and the quality of the work. Any +material which lends itself to the purpose should be called into service.</p> + +<p>The method of procedure is best set forth by describing several problems +as actually worked out by children.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig46" id="fig46"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i108.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 46.</span>—A home in Switzerland. Second grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>(1) <b>Story of Columbus</b>—<i>First Grade.</i></p> + +<p><i>Materials Used.</i>—Paper for cutting and folding, twigs for forests, +acorns for tents, large piece of glass for ocean.</p> + +<p><i>Details of Illustration.</i>—The piece of glass was imbedded in sand in the +middle of the table; one end of the table represented Spain, the other, +America. The representation of Spain included:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Castles in Spain" being large houses with many +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>windows in which the king and queen lived. They were cut from paper.</p> + +<p>Many people, cut from paper, including kings and queens and the +friends of Mr. Columbus who came to tell him "good-by." The kings and +queens were distinguished by royal purple robes and golden crowns and +necklaces, produced by the use of colored crayon.</p> + +<p>The three ships made from folded paper. In one of them sat Mr. +Columbus.</p> + +<p>Fishes, of paper, inhabited the hollow space underneath the glass.</p> + +<p>The forest primeval was shown on the American side by green twigs of +trees set very close together. On pulling apart the leaves and +peering into the depths of this forest, one found it inhabited by +bears and other wild beasts, also cut from paper.</p> + +<p>The Indians lived in a village of acorn tents set up in a little +clearing on the shore.</p> + +<p>Flags.—The Spanish region was identified by a Spanish flag, while +the stars and stripes waved above the Indian village.</p></div> + +<p><i>Values.</i>—The project being on the level of the children's experience, +they worked freely and with intense interest. The characters in the story +were all very real to them. They literally swarmed about the table +whenever opportunity was given, moving the figures about as they told the +story over and over again. Mr. Columbus sailed across the sea many times. +Many boats were made and named for one of the three, according to the +preference of the maker. They peeped into the forest and shuddered in +delightful fear "lest a bear get me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> They made and remade the scene as +new ideas suggested themselves during several days of Columbus week.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig47" id="fig47"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i110a.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 47.</span>—Two little knights of Kentucky. Fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> <a name="fig48" id="fig48"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i110b.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 48.</span>—How Cedric became a knight. Fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> <a name="fig49" id="fig49"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i111.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 49.</span>—A sugar camp. Built late in the spring by a third-grade class.<br /> +They enjoyed the green grass, though it suggests an overlate season.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>Several discrepancies existed which are mentioned here because they +troubled some overconscientious visitors. The stars and stripes did not +come into existence until centuries after Columbus died and therefore +never waved over the Indian village which he found. But chronology does +not trouble the first grader very much, while "my country" and "my flag" +are ideas which are developing together. And when he is singing, "Columbus +sailed across the sea, To find a land for you and me," the red, white, and +blue forms the most fitting symbol in his representation of that land. The +wild animals which infested the sand-table forest are not all mentioned in +the histories as found on San Salvador, but they did exist in the child's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +idea of the wild country which the white men found on this side of the +Atlantic. The children having truthfully expressed their ideas, the +teacher had a basis from which to develop, correct, and emphasize such +points as were of real importance, while the unimportant features would +fade out for lack of emphasis.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig50" id="fig50"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i112.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 50.—A western cattle ranch.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>On the occasion of the supervisor's visit the members of the class vied +with each other in telling the story and explaining the significance of +the various illustrations. The supervisor expressed a wish to own some of +the cuttings, whereupon, at a hint from the teacher, the class which had +gathered about the sand table scampered joyfully (but quietly) back to +their seats. Scissors and paper were quickly distributed, and in about +five minutes an empty shoe box was required to hold the collection of "Mr. +Columbuses," kings and queens in royal purple, gold crowns, and necklaces, +ships, fishes, etc., that were showered upon the guest. Needless to say +many scraps of paper had fallen to the floor. The teacher remarked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> that +it was time for the brownies to come. Down went all the heads for a sleepy +time. The teacher slipped about, tapping here and there a child, who +quickly began gathering up the scraps as joyously as he had helped to make +them.</p> + +<p>The supervisor bade them good-by, with a wish that all children might +begin their school life under such happy and wholesome influences.</p> + +<p>(2) <b>Story of Jack Horner</b><small><a name="f3.1" id="f3.1" href="#f3">[3]</a></small>—<i>First Grade.</i>—As the story was read the +different characters were subjects for free paper-cutting exercises. An +abundance of paper (scratch paper and newspaper) was supplied, and each +child allowed to cut each figure many times, very quickly.</p> + +<p>The story was also dramatized and acted out over and over again. Figure <a href="#fig1">1</a> +shows the result of an hour's work in assembling the various characters +and telling the whole story on the sand table and in a poster. The +different figures to be cut were assigned to or chosen by the different +children, the teacher taking care that no characters were omitted. Having +cut figures of the various characters as they were met in the story, all +were eager to reproduce the part called for, and in a few minutes more +than enough cuttings were made to supply both sand table and poster with +ample material. Two groups of children, one for the poster and one for the +sand table, were assigned the work of placing the figures. The teacher +superintended both projects, giving a few suggestions as needed, but +throwing the responsibility upon the children as much as possible.</p> + +<p>This problem was worked out by the same class which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>made the Columbus +illustration just described. The Jack Horner story was illustrated in the +spring, after much work of this sort had been done. The quality of the +cuttings showed an interesting improvement over the cuttings made for the +Columbus story, which came during the third week of the school year.</p> + +<p>(3) <b>Story of Three Little Pigs.</b>—This is a long story, and three weeks +were occupied in reading it and dramatizing it. During this time there +were frequent discussions about how it was to be worked out on the sand +table. Contributions in great variety were brought in: straw for the straw +house, twigs for the house of sticks, bags of brick dust to make a roadway +different from the sand, rose hips to be tied to a small branch to +represent the apple tree, and various other articles.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig51" id="fig51"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i114.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 51.—The story of Three Little Pigs. First grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> <a name="fig52" id="fig52"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i115a.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 52.—A Japanese tea garden. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> <a name="fig53" id="fig53"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i115b.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 53.—A coal mine. Fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>The houses were built as suggested by the pictures in the reader. The pig +and wolf were modeled in clay,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> each being shown in the several different +positions described in the story. Over and over a little clay pig rolled +down the hill in a paper churn and frightened a clay wolf. One group, not +having wherewithal to build a brick house, used a wooden one made by +another group. Another class made the brick house out of blocks, and built +in a fireplace with its kettle ready to hold the hot water whenever the +wolf should start for the chimney. (See <a href="#fig51">Fig. 51</a>.)</p> + +<p>(4) <b>Japanese Tea Garden.</b>—A third-grade class used the sand table to +illustrate what they had gleaned from reading several stories and +descriptions of life in Japan, in connection with elementary geography. +The sand-table representation included a tiny bridge across a small stream +of "real" water. The "real river" was secured by ingenious use of a +leaking tin can which was hidden behind a clump of trees (twigs). A thin +layer of cement in the bed of the river kept the water from sinking into +the sand. A shallow pan imbedded in the sand formed a lake into which the +river poured its waters. (See <a href="#fig52">Fig. 52</a>.)</p> + +<p>(5) <b>A Coal Mine.</b>—The sand table shown in <a href="#fig53">Fig. 53</a> was worked out by a +fourth-grade class in connection with the geography of the western states. +Descriptions and pictures were studied with great earnestness to find out +how to fix it, and the children made it as they thought it ought to be. +The actual making occupied very little time, the various parts being +contributed by different pupils.</p> + +<p>Problems of this sort develop leadership. There is usually one whose ideas +take definite shape promptly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> and whose suggestions are willingly followed +by his group. If there is one pupil in the class whose ability to lead is +so strong that the others are overshadowed, it is sometimes well to let +the work be done by small groups who use the table turn about. This plan +stimulates a wholesome rivalry and discourages dawdling.</p> + +<p>(6) <b>Stories.</b>—Illustrations for two stories are shown on page 94. In the +first (<a href="#fig47">Fig. 47</a>) part of the class made a representation on the sand table +while the rest prepared a poster from paper cuttings. In the second (<a href="#fig48">Fig. 48</a>) empty shoe +boxes were used in making the castle. Very little time was spent on either project.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> +<p><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a></p> +<p><a name="fig54" id="fig54"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i118.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 54.</span>—A chariot race. Second grade. Pasadena, California.</p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>ANIMALS AND TOYS</h3> + +<p>The circus and the zoölogical garden are always centers of interest to +little children and may be used to great advantage to furnish the point of +departure in the study of animal life. Making the animals in some form +crystallizes the interest in the animals represented, and awakens interest +in their habits and home.</p> + +<p>The handwork may be used as an illustrative factor connected with +geography and nature study, or the making of the circus may be the +starting point, and incidentally furnish subject matter in several fields. +For example, geography and nature study grow out of the search for facts +concerning the animals themselves, <i>i.e.</i> size, color, food, home, value, +etc. The desire for such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> information gives purpose to reading. Oral and +written descriptions supply subject matter for practice in English. +Reducing the actual proportions of animals to a definite scale and +problems relating to their commercial value make practical use of the +knowledge of number. Art enters into the making of free-hand sketches, +cuttings, and patterns for wooden models.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig55" id="fig55"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i119.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 55.—A circus parade.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>A good circus or "zoo" may be worked out in a variety of materials. Paper, +cardboard, clay, and wood all serve well.</p> + +<p>To get the best value from the problem it should be as free as possible +from copy work. The children should consult the best sources of +information at their disposal, which may range all the way from ordinary +picture books to natural history and encyclopedia descriptions. They +should find out, unaided, as much as possible concerning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> the animal in +question: his size, color, food, home, values, etc.,—the teacher +supplementing with interesting and necessary items not at the disposal of +the class.</p> + +<p>Free-hand cuttings and pencil sketches should be compared with the best +pictures obtainable and the real animal whenever possible. Such patterns +as are needed should be made by the children themselves. Ready-made +patterns will produce better proportioned animals, but more dependent, +less observant children also.</p> + + +<h3>METHODS IN DETAIL</h3> + +<p><b>Realistic Animals in Three-ply Wood.</b>—Secure necessary items of +measurement and decide upon scale. One inch for each foot is best for +younger children.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig56" id="fig56"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i120.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 56.—Three-ply wooden animals.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>Draw rectangle proportioned to the extreme length and height of the +animal. Draw into the rectangle a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> <i>profile</i> sketch of the animal, being +careful that it comes to the line on each side. <i>All four feet must</i> touch +the base line. Considerable practice may be needed before a good sketch +can be drawn. The animal may be represented as standing, walking, or +running, but must be drawn in profile.</p> + +<p><a name="fig57" id="fig57"></a></p> +<div class="figright"><img src="images/i121.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 57.</span>—Detail of three-ply animals<br />with movable parts.</p></div> + +<p>Cut out the sketch and make by it three patterns: one of the head, body, +and tail; one of the body and right legs; one of the body and left legs. +Care must be taken to get good lines at shoulder and rump. (See <a href="#fig56">Fig. 56</a>.)</p> + +<p>Lay the pattern on the wood so that the grain runs lengthwise of the legs +and other frail parts and draw outline carefully. Use basswood one fourth +inch thick, or other soft wood.</p> + +<p>Saw out the parts with a coping saw. Be careful in sawing to keep the +blade in a vertical position in order that the edges may be true.</p> + +<p>Nail or glue the parts together. If the animal does not stand perfectly, +rub the feet on a piece of sandpaper. Use water color or crayon to give +proper color.</p> + +<p><i>Three-ply Animals with Movable Parts.</i>—To make the head movable, saw the +part from the body on a curved line, as shown in <a href="#fig57">Fig. 57</a>. Fasten with a +single nail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> through the shoulder. The curved line must be a part of a +circle and the nail must be at the center. The edges should be smooth to +allow easy action. The tail may be adjusted by a similar plan. The parts +may be made to move automatically by suspending a weight on cords which +are attached to the movable parts, as shown in <a href="#fig57">Fig. 57</a>. If the weight is +to be used, cut off the body part on the double dotted line to allow room +for the cords to swing.</p> + +<p>A figure of this sort must be fastened on a pedestal or platform which +will extend over the edge of the table. A slot must be cut in the pedestal +wide enough to allow the cords to swing freely. (See <a href="#fig56">Fig. 56</a>.) The +pedestal may be a long board or piece of heavy cardboard which can be +tacked to the table or held firm by a clamp, or it may be a thin board +fastened to a U-shaped block which is held firm on the edge of the table +by a wedge.</p> + +<p><b>Cardboard and Paper Animals that Stand.</b>—For younger children who cannot +handle the saw easily cardboard or stiff paper may be used.</p> + +<p><a name="fig58" id="fig58"></a></p> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i122.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 58.—Notched rest for animals.</p></div> + +<p>To make the animal stand the feet may be tacked to a small piece of wood +about one inch square on the end and as long as needed, or a cardboard +brace, such as is used on easels, may be glued to the back. A realistic +effect is given if the animal is cut with two legs and the brace made to +represent the other two, or a piece of cardboard cut as in <a href="#fig58">Fig. 58</a> may be +used as a brace, the body of the animal fitting into the notch.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span><i>Clay</i> makes an excellent medium, but it requires more skill in clay than +in wood to get an equally good effect. Clay animals should be modeled with +a pedestal, and the separations between the two forelegs and the two hind +legs merely indicated. If each leg is modeled separately, the figure is +likely to be frail.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig59" id="fig59"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i123.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig. 59.</span>—Balancing figures.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Balancing Figures.</b>—Design such figures as a prancing horse or dancing +bear and saw from a single piece of wood. A little below the center of the +figure insert a curved wire, on the other end of which is a ball of clay +or other weight. The wire must be fastened firmly so that it cannot turn. +Adjust so that the figure balances.</p> + +<p>Figures of people in foreign costumes, children running<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> and jumping, as +well as all sorts of animals, are very fascinating problems of this sort. +(See <a href="#fig59">Fig. 59</a>.)</p> + +<p><b>Seesaw Figures.</b>—Such groups as two boys chopping wood, two chickens +drinking, two dogs tugging at a string, wrestling boys, and similar groups +are interesting problems of the seesaw type. (See <a href="#fig60">Fig. 60</a>.)</p> + +<p><i>Detail.</i>—Cut the figures from cardboard. Make with a long pedestal. +Color with crayon or water color. Use two light sticks for the seesaw, to +which tack one figure in a vertical position and the other on a slant. +Fasten to each stick with one tack. If a central figure is used, tack +firmly to lower stick. Work the figure by moving the upper stick while the +lower one is held firm.</p> + +<p> <a name="fig60" id="fig60"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i124.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 60.—Some simple toys.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p><b>Toys.</b>—A box of carpenter's scraps of soft wood will supply material for a +variety of toys which may be made by the children themselves, thereby more +than doubling the fun. A few suggestions are given in detail. The making +of these will suggest others. (See <a href="#fig60">Fig. 60</a>.)</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span><i>Doll's Swing.</i>—A heavy block for a base, two tall uprights, and a +crosspiece will make the frame. Make a seat from cardboard or use the end +of a small box and suspend from crossbar.</p> + +<p><i>Doll's Teeter.</i>—Use a heavy block for a base. Two uprights with +double-pointed tacks or notches in the top. Drive two double-pointed tacks +in lower side of teeter board at center. Slip a small rod through the +tacks and rest in the notches on the uprights. Suspend a weight by cords +from the lower side of the board, adjust until the board balances. The +ends of the board should be provided with box seats for the doll's +comfort.</p> + +<p><i>Railroad Train.</i>—For cars, saw pieces from a square stick. For engine, +use pieces of broomstick or other cylinder. Soft wood is better if +obtainable. For wheels, use pieces of small broomstick or dowel rod. (See <a href="#fig56">Fig. 56</a>.)</p> + +<p>Let the children study real trains and make the best imitation they can +work out.</p> + +<p><a name="fig61" id="fig61"></a></p> +<div class="figright"><img src="images/i125.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Fig.</span> 61.—Adjusting<br />jumping jack in frame.</p></div> + +<p><i>Jumping Jacks.</i>—Cut the figure from light weight cardboard. Make head +and body in one piece. Cut two arms long enough to reach well above the +head. Make the hands very large. Cut two legs either with or without a +joint at the knee. Color with crayon or water color.</p> + +<p>Fasten the legs and arms to the body with a string tied loosely to allow +free movements. Make a frame<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> of two light stiff sticks and a crosspiece +fastened between them near the lower end of the sticks. Fasten with a +single nail at either end of the crosspiece. Cut notches near the upper +ends of the sticks. Fasten the figure to the frame by a stout thread. Use +a coarse needle and carry the thread through the hands twice, leaving a +loop on each side to slip over the ends of the sticks into the notches. A +small block or folded bit of cardboard between the hands to keep them +apart will improve the movement of the toy. Adjust the figure so that the +threads are parallel when the figure hangs below the inverted frame. (See <a href="#fig61">Fig. 61</a>.) When +the frame is held upright, the figure will hang between the +sticks and the threads will be crossed. Press the lower ends of the frame +together to make the jumping jack perform.</p> + +<p><i>Merry-go-round.</i>—Use a heavy block for a base. Bore a hole in the center +and insert a square stick, about 10 in. long. For arms, use two pieces +about ⅜ in. thick and 10 in. long. Fasten these together in the form of +a cross and nail to the top of the upright with a single nail. An awl may +be used to make the hole a little larger than the nail so that the arms +will revolve easily. Suspend a box seat of wood or cardboard from each arm +to complete the toy. (See <a href="#fig59">Fig. 59</a>.)</p> + +<p><b>Games.</b>—<i>Ring Toss.</i>—Use two square pieces of board at least ½ in. +thick, one piece larger than the other. Bore a hole in the center of the +smaller piece with a ½-in. auger bit.</p> + +<p>For the upright use a stick ½ in. square and about 12 in. long. Whittle +the corners of the stick until it fits<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> firmly into the hole in the small +board. Nail the small board to the large one.</p> + +<p>For the rings use reeds, venetian iron, or hoops from small buckets or +cart wheels. Wrap the rings with raffia or yarn. Make at least three rings +of varying sizes. (See <a href="#fig60">Fig. 60</a>.)</p> + +<p>Playing ring toss and keeping tally makes an excellent number game.</p> + +<p><i>Ten Pins.</i>—From bogus or other heavy paper roll and paste cylinders +about three inches in diameter and about twelve inches long. These may be +set on end, and any of the common ten pin games played with the help of a +soft rubber ball. Keeping tally gives excellent practice in number.</p> + +<p><i>Bean Bag Game.</i>—Draw three circles of different sizes on a large sheet +of heavy cardboard. Carefully cut out the circles with a sharp-pointed +knife. Mount a picture of some animal on each piece cut out.</p> + +<p>Fasten the pieces back in place by a single cloth hinge pasted on the +back, and at the lowest part of the circle.</p> + +<p>Tack the sheet of cardboard to a light wooden frame to keep it from +bending.</p> + +<p>Let the frame rest against the wall at a slight angle. Bean bags thrown at +the animals will knock them down as they go through the holes. The bean +bags should be made by the children. Various number games may be played +with bean bags.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>HOLIDAYS</h3> + +<p>The various holidays which come during the year mean so much to little +children that they should receive special notice and should suggest the +form of handwork to be done at the time.</p> + +<p><b>Thanksgiving</b> suggests attention to harvest products, to be modeled in +clay, cut from paper, or drawn with crayon; the making of sand-table +scenes showing early New England life in various phases; the making of +various utensils and commodities of the primitive home which differ from +our own; as, for example, the making of candles, the hour glass, and the +sundial.</p> + +<p><b>Christmas</b> suggests the making of toys and all sorts of things suitable for +gifts. If the work centers around the Christmas tree, it offers +opportunity for coöperation in making trimming such as paper chains, +pop-corn strings, etc., as well as individual gifts. If a tree is not +obtainable, a box may be dressed up in imitation of Santa's sleigh drawn +by cardboard reindeer. Whatever else is done in honor of the visit of St. +Nicholas, the spirit of giving should be cultivated by making gifts to +some younger or less fortunate groups. Picture books may be made for sick +children, doll furniture and other toys for the orphans' home or some +family of unfortunates. A sack might arrive a week or two before +Christmas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> accompanied by a telegram from Santa requesting contributions +to help him out in some specific way and stating that it would be called +for at a certain time. When a "real Santa" calls for the sack, he may +leave in its place another containing some unexpected treat for the +children themselves. The gifts which the children contribute should be of +their own making, that they may have a full sense of real giving and not +merely the pleasure of delivering the parcels mother has provided.</p> + +<p><b>Valentine's Day</b> offers an opportunity for developing appreciation of a +higher form of art than the shop windows frequently offer, and also +investing with pure, sweet sentiment a day which means, in some quarters, +only vulgar sentimentality and coarse jests.</p> + +<p><b>Easter</b> offers a similar opportunity for emphasis on the fine things in +color and subjects for greeting cards. The season also suggests emphasis +on study of budding plants and young animal life by means of cutting, +painting, and modeling.</p> + +<p><b>Hero days</b> suggest a variety of forms of handwork, such as picture making +with crayons or cuttings, or pictures in three dimensions on the sand +table, for intensifying important phases of the hero's life; illustrated +stories in booklet form; and the making of "properties" for dramatic +representations. These things offer a welcome change from the stereotyped +"Speaking day," and stimulate originality and self-reliance.</p> + +<p>So much has been written and so many suggestions are constantly being +offered in school journals that specific suggestions for <i>things to make</i> +seem superfluous here.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span><b>Individual Problems.</b>—While community problems must form a large part of +the handwork in the lower grades, it is desirable to have, from time to +time, projects which seek a definite result from each pupil. In the +community problem it is possible for the strong pupil to monopolize the +values of the work by imposing his ideas upon his fellows and by doing all +the work while the slower pupils are getting ready to begin. In the same +way it is possible for the lazy pupil to shirk much of his responsibility +through the eagerness of his companions. It is therefore necessary to +maintain a balance by the use of individual problems of a more definite +type. These may often be specific parts of the community problem, but this +will not meet all the needs of the case. The special days offer excellent +occasion for work of this sort in addition to the coöperative problems +which are undertaken by the class as a whole.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>GENERAL SUGGESTIONS AND SUMMARY</h3> + +<p><b>Modification of Outlines.</b>—All the projects outlined in the foregoing +pages are capable of modification and adaptation to the needs of several +grades. For this reason, in nearly every problem, many more suggestions +are offered than will often be applicable in any one instance of its +development. The directions are, for the most part, given from the +standpoint of the first grade, on the principle that it is easier to add +to the detail of a problem than to simplify it. On the other hand, the +directions are not generally specific in detail, in order to prevent as +far as possible a mechanical copying of any project.</p> + +<p><b>Emphasis on Self-expression.</b>—It is desired to place special emphasis upon +the point that each project undertaken, if it is to reach its highest +value, must come as fully as possible from the children themselves and be +to the very fullest extent <i>their self-expression</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Not any house described in this book, nor any house seen in another +schoolroom, nor even the house which I, as teacher, plan in detail, will +be most valuable to my class</i>; but rather <i>our house</i>, which <i>we, teacher +and pupils</i> working together, evolve to suit our own needs and fancies, +using suggestions gathered from every available source, but adapting them +to our own needs.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span><b>Self-directed Activity and Discipline.</b>—The terms "self-directed activity" +and "self-expression" must not be confounded with the idea of letting the +children do as they please in any random and purposeless fashion. If one +were to start out to escort a group of children to a certain hilltop, it +is quite probable that some of them would run part of the way. Others +would walk in twos and threes, and these would change about. They would +halt to look at things that attracted their attention. The leader would +halt them to observe some interesting point which they might otherwise +miss. Should any of them wander from the right path the leader would call +them back, and any frail child would be helped over the hard places. Yet +with all this freedom the group might move steadily forward and reach the +hilltop in due time.</p> + +<p>All progress up the hill of knowledge should follow a similar plan. The +teacher should have a very definite idea of the end to be attained. The +children should work with a purpose, and that purpose should be of such +immediate interest to them that they would be anxious to attain it. They +would then work earnestly, and discipline would settle itself. Handwork +projects should be sufficiently simple to allow each worker to see his way +through, or at least find his way without waiting for directions at each +step. Instead of a blind following of such directions the worker should at +all times feel himself the master of his tools and materials and be able +to make them obey his impulse and express his idea. This attitude toward +work can be secured only when the work is kept quite down to the level of +the child's ability and appreciation. Only by this means can we hope to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +establish the inspiring and strengthening "habit of success."</p> + +<p><b>Introduction of New Methods.</b>—The question arises, How shall work of this +sort be adapted to a course of study which is already full and does not +provide time for handwork? Handwork takes more time than bookwork, and +children evolve plans but slowly. If the teacher waits for the children to +evolve plans and then carry them out on their own responsibility, the +quantity of work produced will be small and the quality poor compared with +the results gained by other methods.</p> + +<p>The freer method must be justified, not by its tangible results, but by +its value as a means of individual development. If it is true that</p> + +<p class="poem">"One good idea known to be thine own<br /> +Is worth a thousand gleaned from fields by others sown,"</p> + +<p>then it follows that a small quantity of crude work may often represent +greater genuine growth than a larger quantity of nicely finished work, if +the latter has been accomplished by such careful dictation that individual +thought on the part of the pupils was unnecessary.</p> + +<p>Common sense is the best guide in introducing a new method of work. Any +sudden transition is likely to be disastrous. Responsibility in new fields +should be shifted from teacher to pupils as rapidly as they are able to +carry it, but it should never be transferred in wholesale fashion. This is +especially true of a class that is accustomed to wait for the teacher's +permission or command in all the small details of schoolroom life, such as +speaking, moving about the room, etc.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>The freer methods may be introduced by either of two plans. In carrying +through the first sand-table project, for example, the teacher may plan +the details quite as definitely as is her custom in general work, assign +each part to a particular pupil, and guide his execution of it as far as +necessary. With each succeeding project more and more freedom may be +granted, as the children become accustomed to community work and learn how +to use the materials involved. Or, the work may be introduced by allowing +two or three very trustworthy pupils to work out, quite alone, some simple +project which will appeal to the entire class as very desirable. Other +projects may be worked out by other pupils as they show themselves worthy +of trust. Such a plan sets a premium upon independence and ability to +direct one's own actions, and has a beneficial effect upon general +discipline. Each individual teacher must follow the plan which best +accords with her individual habits and the conditions under which she +works. No rule can be rated as best under any and all circumstances.</p> + +<p><b>New and Different Projects.</b>—Teachers frequently spend time and nerve +force seeking new projects supposedly to stimulate the interest of the +children. Often a careful examination into the true motives back of the +search would prove that it is not so much to stimulate the interest of the +children as to call forth the admiration of other teachers. Because a +house was built last year does not hinder the building of another this +year. If the children are allowed ample freedom, the houses will not be +alike. If the teacher is centering her interest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> in the development of the +children and not in the things the children make, the projects will always +be new because worked out in a new way by a different group of children. +Monotony comes about through the teacher's attempt to plan out details and +impose them upon the children, a process quite similar to the use of +predigested foods.</p> + +<p><b>Quality of Work.</b>—Methods such as outlined above are sometimes criticized +because of the crudity of the results. It is sometimes argued that the +crude work establishes low standards and that better finished work of a +more useful type is more desirable in school projects. Certainly +everything which is done in school should be useful. School years are too +precious to be wasted, in any degree, on a thing which is useless. But it +is important to have a right standard for measuring the usefulness of a +project. Since it is the child's interest and effort which are to be +stimulated, his work must be useful from his point of view. The things +that he works upon must be valuable to him personally. It is not enough +for the teacher to be satisfied with the value of the subject matter. It +must, as far as possible, be self-evident to the child himself.</p> + +<p>In the growing period a child is always anxious to excel himself and +attain a higher level, nearer the adult standards. He measures his growth, +not only in inches, but in ability to run faster, jump farther, count +higher, and so on. So long as he is stimulated by an interesting motive he +puts forth his best effort. It is only when we set him tasks and demand +blind obedience that he lags. If his crude work represents his best +effort, honestly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> put forth, he will, and he does, desire to do something +better each time he tries. If he is permitted to work freely upon projects +of immediate interest to him, he not only becomes familiar with various +materials and the purposes they may serve, but he also begins to realize +his inability to make them always obey his impulse. As soon as he +discovers that there are better and easier ways of working which bring +about more satisfactory results, he is anxious to learn the tricks of the +trade; and he comes to the later, more technical courses in handwork, not +only with more intelligence, but also with an appreciation of their value +which is reflected in the quality of his work.</p> + +<p><b>Summary.</b>—The last word, as the first in this little book, would stress +the fact that it is always possible to improve present conditions.</p> + +<p>Activity is an essential factor in a child's development in school as well +as out. Handwork is an important phase of this necessary activity. Neither +lack of time, scarcity of material, nor lack of training on the part of +the teacher is a sufficient excuse for failure to use some handwork in +every school. Much can be accomplished with materials which are to be +found anywhere, without using more time than is ordinarily devoted to the +subject, and with better results, if we will but realize that educative +handwork is not confined to the making of a few books, boxes, mats, or +baskets after a prescribed pattern, however good in themselves these may +be, but is also a means through which we may teach other subject matter.</p> + +<p>We not only learn to do by doing, but we come to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> <i>know</i> through trying to +<i>do</i>. And we often learn more through our failures than through our +successes. We defraud the children if we deprive them of this important +factor in their development. Any teacher who is willing to begin with what +she has and <i>let the children do</i> the best they can with it, will find +unexpected resources and greater opportunities at every hand.</p> + +<p>Let us not allow ourselves to grow disheartened through vain wishes for +the impossible or for the advantages of some other field, but attack our +own with vigor and determination; for</p> + +<p class="poem">"The common problem, yours, mine, every one's<br /> +Is—not to fancy what were fair in life<br /> +Provided it could be—but, finding first<br /> +What may be, then find how to make it fair<br /> +Up to our means."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="REFERENCES" id="REFERENCES"></a>REFERENCES</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="References"> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Dewey</span>—The School and the Child; School and Society; The Child and the Curriculum.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">O'Shea</span>—Dynamic Factors in Education.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Scott</span>—Social Education.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Dopp</span>—The Place of Industries in Elementary Education.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Bone</span>—The Service of the Hand in the School.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Sargent</span>—Fine and Industrial Arts.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Row</span>—The Educational Meaning of Manual Arts and Industries.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Charters</span>—Methods of Teaching.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Bagley</span>—The Educative Process.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Russell</span>—The School and Industrial Life. Educational Review, Dec. 1909.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Sykes and Bonser</span>—Industrial Education. Teachers College Record, Sept. 1911.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Bennett</span>—The Place of Manual Arts in Education. Educational Review, Oct. 1911.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Richards</span>—Handwork in the Primary School. Manual Training Magazine, Oct. 1901.</td></tr></table> + +<p> </p> +<h3><span class="smcap">References for Classroom Use</span></h3> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="References"> +<tr><td>Coping Saw Work</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Johnston</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>School Drawing</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Daniels</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Little Folks Handy Book</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Beard</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>World at Work Series</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Dutton</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Big People and Little People of Other Lands</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Shaw</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>How We Are Fed</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Chamberlain</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>How We Are Clothed</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Chamberlain</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>How We Are Sheltered</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Chamberlain</span></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 124]</span>Continents and their People</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Chamberlain</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>How the World is Fed</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Carpenter</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>How the World is Clothed</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Carpenter</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>How the World is Housed</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Carpenter</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Around the World Series</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Tolman</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Youth's Companion Series</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Lane</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Bird Woman</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Chandler</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Tree Dwellers</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Dopp</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Early Cave Men</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Dopp</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Later Cave Men</td><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Dopp</span></td></tr></table> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><b>Printed in the United States of America.</b></p> + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Footnotes:</b></p> + +<p><a name="f1" id="f1" href="#f1.1">[1]</a> In scoring cardboard cut about halfway through the board on the <i>outside</i> of the fold.</p> + +<p><a name="f2" id="f2" href="#f2.1">[2]</a> See Scott's "Social Education."</p> + +<p><a name="f3" id="f3" href="#f3.1">[3]</a> See Riverside Primer.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>Transcriber's note:</b></p> +<p>Additional spacing after some of the quotes is intentional to indicate both the end of a quotation and the beginning of a new paragraph as presented in the original text.</p> +<p>Printer's inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIMARY HANDWORK***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 30676-h.txt or 30676-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/6/7/30676">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/6/7/30676</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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0000000..cb06df4 --- /dev/null +++ b/30676-h/images/i125.jpg diff --git a/30676.txt b/30676.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..225918a --- /dev/null +++ b/30676.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3500 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Primary Handwork, by Ella Victoria Dobbs + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Primary Handwork + + +Author: Ella Victoria Dobbs + + + +Release Date: December 14, 2009 [eBook #30676] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIMARY HANDWORK*** + + +E-text prepared by Stephanie Eason and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from digital material +generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries +(http://www.archive.org/details/americana) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 30676-h.htm or 30676-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30676/30676-h/30676-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30676/30676-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + http://www.archive.org/details/primaryhandwo00dobbrich + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + + Text in bold face is enclosed by equal signs (=bold=). + + + + +PRIMARY HANDWORK + + * * * * * * + + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + + NEW YORK . BOSTON . CHICAGO . DALLAS + ATLANTA . SAN FRANCISCO + + MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED + + LONDON . BOMBAY . CALCUTTA + MELBOURNE + + THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. + + TORONTO + + * * * * * * + + +[Illustration: HOUSE OF THE THREE BEARS + +Built by first-grade class. Columbia, Missouri. See page 58.] + + +PRIMARY HANDWORK + +by + +ELLA VICTORIA DOBBS, B.S., A.M. + +Assistant Professor of Manual Arts +University of Missouri + + + + + + + +New York +The Macmillan Company +1923 + +All rights reserved + +Copyright, 1914, +by The Macmillan Company. + +Set up and electrotyped. Published June, 1914. + +Norwood Press +J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. +Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. + + + + + DEDICATED TO + THE LITTLE CHILDREN OF AMERICA + WITH THE WISH + THAT ALL THEIR SCHOOL DAYS + MAY BE HAPPY DAYS + + + + +PREFACE + + +This book is the outgrowth of long experience as a teacher of primary +grades, followed by special study of handwork as a factor in elementary +education. It is written with three objects in view: + +First, to gather into a single volume various methods already in use in +the more progressive schools, and for which the best suggestions are +scattered through current periodicals: + +Second, to organize these methods and present them in a simple form for +the use of teachers who have had no special training in handwork +processes: + +Third, accepting conditions as they exist in the small town school and the +one-room country school, as a basis of organization, to offer suggestions +which may be easily adapted to the conditions of any school with a view to +bringing present practice into closer harmony with the best educational +ideals. + +No claim is laid to originality, beyond the small details in which one +person's interpretation of a large problem will differ from that of +another. + +The projects here outlined have been tested in the Public Schools of +Columbia, Missouri, under conditions which are common to towns of about +the same size. + +The point of view has been influenced chiefly by the educational +philosophy of Prof. John Dewey, especially as expressed in his essay "The +Child and the Curriculum." The author wishes here to make grateful +acknowledgement to Dr. Dewey, not only for the helpfulness of his +writings, but also for the inspiration of his teaching. + +Thanks are also due to Dr. Naomi Norsworthy of Teachers College, and to +Dean W. W. Charters of Missouri University, for encouragement in planning +the book and for criticism of the manuscript. Especial acknowledgment is +here made to Prof. R. W. Selvidge of Peabody College for Teachers, +formerly of this University, for hearty cooperation and helpful +suggestions in working out the problems described in this book, and to the +teachers of the Columbia Schools for their most efficient services in +testing these problems in their classrooms. + +E. V. D. + +UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, + +February, 1914. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I. INTRODUCTION 1 + + II. PAPER CUTTING AND POSTER MAKING 6 + + III. BOOKLETS 17 + + IV. CRITICISM AND STANDARDS OF WORKMANSHIP 24 + + V. THE HOUSE PROBLEM 27 + + VI. THE VILLAGE STREET 65 + + VII. SAND TABLES AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM 77 + + VIII. ANIMALS AND TOYS 102 + + IX. HOLIDAYS 112 + + X. GENERAL SUGGESTIONS AND SUMMARY 115 + + REFERENCES 123 + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + PAGE + + House of the Three Bears _Frontispiece_ + + 1. Paper Cutting. First Grade 7 + + 2. Paper Cutting. Second Grade 8 + + 3. Paper Cutting. Second Grade 10 + + 4. Paper Tearing 11 + + 5. Paper Cutting. Third Grade 13 + + 6. Paper Cutting. Fourth Grade 15 + + 7. Pamphlet Sewing 22 + + 8. Japanese Sewing 22 + + 9. House arranged on a Shelf 28 + + 10. A Medieval Castle 29 + + 11. House arranged on a Table--Front View 32 + + 12. House arranged on a Table--Side View 33 + + 13. House arranged on a Table--Back View 34 + + 14. House Plan 35 + + 15. Arrangement of Windows 36 + + 16. Detail of Hollow Square 38 + + 17. Borders 39 + + 18. Looms and Samples of Weaving 41 + + 19. Box House by Second Grade 43 + + 20. Detail for Paper Weaving 44 + + 21. Furniture from Wood Blocks 48 + + 22. Furniture from Wood Blocks 48 + + 23. Home of White Cloud, the Pueblo Girl 51 + + 24. Detail of Stairway 54 + + 25. Box House, showing Roof 55 + + 26. Detail of Gable 56 + + 27. Colonial Kitchen 56 + + 28. House of the Three Bears 59 + + 29. Cornstalk House 60 + + 30. A Flour Mill 62 + + 31. Box House and Stores 66 + + 32. A Village Street 68 + + 33. A Grocery. Fourth Grade 70 + + 34. A Grocery. Third Grade 73 + + 35. A Dry Goods Store 75 + + 36. Home in a Hot Country 76 + + 37. Home in a Cold Country 76 + + 38. A Sand-table Farm. First Grade 80 + + 39. A Sand-table Farm. Second Grade 80 + + 40. Detail of Chicken Fence 81 + + 41. Detail of Paper Tree 84 + + 42. Overall Boys' Farm 86 + + 43. An Apple Orchard 87 + + 44. Robinson Crusoe 89 + + 45. Pueblo Indian Village 90 + + 46. A Home in Switzerland 92 + + 47. Two Little Knights of Kentucky 94 + + 48. How Cedric became a Knight 94 + + 49. A Sugar Camp 95 + + 50. A Western Cattle Ranch 96 + + 51. The Story of Three Little Pigs 98 + + 52. A Japanese Tea Garden 99 + + 53. A Coal Mine 99 + + 54. A Chariot Race 102 + + 55. A Circus Parade 103 + + 56. Three-ply Wooden Animals 104 + + 57. Detail for Three-ply Wooden Animals + with Movable Parts 105 + + 58. Notched Rest for Animals 106 + + 59. Balancing Figures 107 + + 60. Some Simple Toys 108 + + 61. Adjusting Jumping-Jack in Frame 109 + + + + +PRIMARY HANDWORK + + + + +PRIMARY HANDWORK + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCTION + + +In setting forth the plan and purpose of this little book the author +wishes to lay equal emphasis on its limitations. The outlines and +suggestions which follow are designed for the use of grade teachers who +have had little or no training in handwork processes but who appreciate +the necessity of making worthy use of the child's natural activity and +desire to do. The outlines are arranged with reference to schools which +are not provided with special equipment and which have scant funds for +supplies. The projects require only such materials as empty goods boxes, +and odds and ends of cloth and paper, which are easily obtainable in any +community. No extra time is required for the work, and it may be +successfully carried out by any teacher who is willing to devote a little +study to the possibilities of things near at hand. + +These outlines do not form a course of study to be followed in regular +order nor in set lessons coming at a definite time. They are, rather, a +series of suggestions to be used wherever and whenever they will serve a +worthy purpose. They are not to be regarded as a _special_ subject, +having little or no connection with the regular class work, but rather as +an illustrative method of teaching the regular subject matter whenever the +teaching can be done more effectively by means of concrete illustrations. +It is proposed to make greater use of construction as a medium of +expression, and place _making_ more nearly on a par with talking, writing, +and drawing. + +Any of the projects outlined may be modified to suit varying conditions, +and the emphasis placed according to the needs of a particular class. All +the suggestions are given in very simple form, chiefly from the standpoint +of the first grade, for the reason that it is easier to add to the details +of a simple problem than to simplify one which is complex. + +It is not the purpose here to emphasize the training of the hand or the +development of technique in handwork processes to the extent commonly +expected of a course in manual arts, though considerable dexterity in the +use of tools and materials will undoubtedly be developed as the work +proceeds. While careless work is never to be tolerated in construction any +more than it would be tolerated in writing or drawing, the standard is to +be only such a degree of perfection as is possible through a child's +unaided efforts. It is proposed to provide him with things to do of such +interest to him that he will wish to do his best, and things of such a +nature that they will please him best when they are well done, and so +stimulate a genuine desire for good work. To this end the suggestions +relate to things of immediate value and use to the children themselves, +rather than to things commonly comprehended in a list of articles which +are useful from the adult point of view. + +The work is to be kept on a level with the child's experience and used as +a means of broadening his experience and lifting it to a higher level. It +must also be kept on the level of his constructive ability in order that +he may do things _by himself_, and develop independence through feeling +himself master of his tools. Neither patterns nor definite directions are +provided for the details of the projects outlined, for the reason that it +is desired to make every project a spontaneous expression of the child's +own ideas. To this end the outline serves only as a framework, to be +filled in as the worker desires. The ready-made pattern implies dictation +on the part of the teacher and mechanical imitation and repetition on the +part of the pupil,--a process almost fatal to spontaneous effort. While it +is possible through a method of dictation to secure results which seem, at +first, to be much better than the crude constructions which children are +able to work out for themselves, it is only a superficial advantage, and +one gained at the expense of the child's growth in power to think and act +independently. It is an advantage closely akin to the parrotlike +recitation of the pupil who catches a few glib phrases and gives them back +without thought, as compared with the recitation of the pupil who thinks +and expresses his thoughts in his own childish language. + +These outlines are intended not only to emphasize independence in +self-expression, but also to foster a social spirit through community +effort and develop a sense of responsibility through division of labor. A +child's shortcomings will be brought home to him much more vividly if he +fails to contribute some essential assigned to him in the construction of +a cooperative project, and thereby spoils the pleasure of the whole group, +than when his failure affects only his individual effort in a group of +duplicate projects. + +These outlines are intended also to suggest a method of opening up to the +children, in an attractive way, the great field of industry. Their deep +interest in playing store leads easily to a study of the source, use, and +value of various forms of merchandise and the essential features of +various trades and occupations. Problems of this sort are fascinating to +children in all the lower grades, are rich in valuable subject matter, and +suggest things to do which are both interesting and worth while. Without +attempting to exhaust any phase of the subject, they awaken an intelligent +interest in the industrial world and tend to stimulate thoughtful +observation. They help to give the children correct ideas about industrial +processes as far as their knowledge goes, and to create a desire for +further knowledge. This general information lays a good foundation for +later and more serious study of the industries and the choice of a +vocation. + +These outlines are offered as a means of bridging the gap between the +formal methods and outgrown courses of study still in use and the richer +curriculum and more vital methods toward which we are working. Much time +must be spent in study and experimentation before a satisfactory +reorganization of the curriculum can be worked out. Without waiting until +this work shall be wholly completed, it is possible at once to vitalize +the most formal course of study through the use of freer methods, which +permit and encourage self-directed activity on the part of the pupil. The +use of such methods will not only tend to create a deeper interest in +school work, but must also help toward the great problem of +reorganization, by throwing into stronger relief the strength and weakness +of our present common practice. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +PAPER CUTTING AND POSTER MAKING + + +Paper and scissors form a fascinating combination to all children, and +offer a very direct means of self-expression. In the language of a small +boy who attempted to tell how to do it, "You just think about something +and then cut out your _think_." The teacher is concerned chiefly with the +"think" and the way in which it is expressed. The children are interested +in paper cutting chiefly from the pleasure of the activity. Beyond the +immediate pleasure in the process, the cuttings are valuable only as they +indicate the clearness of the child's ideas and measure his ability to +express them. The process is educative only in so far as it helps the +small worker to "see with his mind's eye" and to give tangible shape to +what he thus sees. It is important, therefore, that the work be done in a +way that will emphasize the thinking rather than the finished product. + +The first question arising is, To what extent shall a pattern be used? +Shall the teacher cut out the object and bid the class follow her example? +Shall she display a silhouette or outline drawing of the object she +desires the children to cut, or shall they work without any external guide +to justify or modify the mental picture? Shall they be given a pattern and +be allowed to draw around it? + +All of the above methods are used to a greater or less extent. Long +experience seems to indicate that the first cutting of any object should +be unassisted by any external representation of it whatever, in order that +the attention of each child may be focused upon his own mental picture of +the object. When he has put forth his best effort from this standpoint, he +should compare his cutting with the real object or a good picture of it +and be led to see the chief defects in his own production and then allowed +to try again. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.--Story of Jack Horner on poster and sand table. +Snowflakes in background. First grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +For example, after telling the story of Mother Hubbard, the children may +be interested in cutting out dogs. No picture or other guide should be +used at first, since every child knows something about dogs. The first +cuttings are likely to be very poor, partly because the children have not +sufficient control over the scissors and largely because their ideas are +very vague. In a general comparison of work they will help each other with +such criticisms as, "This dog's head is too big." "That dog's legs are too +stiff." They are then ready to try again. Only when they have reached the +limit of their power to see flaws in their work do they need to compare it +with the real dog or its picture. Only after a child has attempted to +express his idea and has become conscious in ever so small a degree of the +imperfection of his expression will he really be able to see differences +between the real object and his representation of it, and thereby clarify +his mental picture. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.--Paper cutting. Second grade, Columbia.] + + +The child's imagination is so strong that he is apt to see his productions +not as they are but as he means them to be, and he is unable to +distinguish between the original and his copy of it. If the picture or +silhouette is presented at first, his work becomes to a large extent mere +copying rather than self-expression. If the teacher cuts out a dog and +displays it as a sample, the class will be apt to see that piece of paper +only and not a real dog. If the children are permitted to draw the outline +either freehand or around a pattern, still less mental effort is required, +and in cutting they see only the bit of line just ahead of the scissors +and not the object as a whole. + +Such methods (_i.e._ the use of outlines, silhouettes, etc.) will produce +better immediate results. It will be easier to distinguish dogs and cats +from cows and horses if a pattern is provided, but it will not produce +stronger children. Such methods only defeat the chief purpose of the work, +which is to stimulate the mental effort required to hold the mental image +of the object in the focus of attention during the time required to +reproduce it in the material form. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.--Paper cutting. Second grade.] + + +It is also often asked whether the children shall always cut directly and +without modification or whether they shall be permitted to trim off the +imperfections of their first attempts. While any rule must always be +interpreted in the light of immediate circumstances, it is generally best +to cut directly, and after noting the defects, cut again. It is then +possible to compare the several attempts and see if improvement has been +made. Attention should be directed to the most glaring defect only, and an +attempt made to correct it. For example, if the dog's head is too large, +do not trim down, but cut another dog and try for better proportions. +Compare the second attempt with the first, to measure improvement. Even +little children can be taught to work in this thoughtful way, looking for +the defects in their own work and making definite attempts to correct +them. To this end much cutting from an unlimited supply of newspaper or +scratch paper will accomplish more than a few exercises in better paper +which must be trimmed and worked over for the sake of economy. If little +children are allowed to trim off, they are apt, in the pure joy of +cutting, to trim too much and lose the idea with which they started--a +process which tends to vagueness rather than clearness. To prevent this it +is often helpful to preserve both pieces of paper, _i.e._ the cutting and +the hole. (See Fig. 4.) + +=Paper Tearing.=--Paper tearing serves many of the same purposes sought in +cutting, and has several strong points in its favor. Working directly with +the finger tips tends to develop a desirable dexterity of manipulation. +The nature of the process prevents the expression of small details and +tends to emphasize bold outlines and big general proportions. Working +directly with the fingers tends also to prevent a weak dependence upon +certain tools and tends to develop power to express an idea by whatever +means is at hand. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.--Paper tearing.] + + +=Posters.=--The term "poster" as here used includes all mounted pictures +made by children, such as cuttings, drawings, paintings, and scrap +pictures. + +A poster may be the work of one child or of a group. A single poster may +tell the whole story, or a series of posters may be made to show a +sequence of events. A series of posters may be bound together in book +form. For poster making single sheets of paper, medium weight and of +neutral tone, are needed. The sheets should be of uniform size for +individual use so that they could be bound together if desired. For +cooperative work and special problems larger sheets will be needed. + + +SUGGESTED PROBLEMS FOR PAPER WORK + +=Cutting out Pictures.=--This serves well for first effort with scissors. +The interest in the picture furnishes a motive, while the outline serves +as a guide and allows the attention to be given wholly to the control of +the scissors. + +_Free cutting of single objects_--such as animals, fruits, trees, +furniture, utensils, etc.--intensifies and clarifies mental pictures and +stimulates observation if the child is led to express his own ideas first +and then to compare his expression with the original and note his +deficiencies. As far as possible choose objects with strong bold outlines +for the first attempts. There should be some marked feature, such as +Bunny's long ears, which calls for emphasis. To cut a circular piece of +paper which might be an apple or a peach, a walnut or a tomato, will not +aid much in clarifying a mental picture, while Bunny's long ears, even +though crudely cut, will be more deeply impressed on the child's mind. + +=Illustrations for Stories.=--_Single Illustration._--After a story has +been read aloud and the characters and events freely discussed by the +class, each child may be encouraged to represent the part which has +appealed to him--_i.e._ "cut what he wants to cut." After the cuttings are +mounted they will probably form a series which will tell the whole story. +When several children illustrate the same feature, it offers opportunity +for comparison and judgment as to which ones have told the story most +effectively. For example, in the story of the Three Bears, the cuttings +may show the three bears in three relative sizes, the three chairs, the +three beds, the table, and the three bowls of porridge. (See notes on +Criticism.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 5.--Free cutting. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Series._--Let each child select the two or three most important events in +a story and illustrate these in a single poster or series of posters. + +_Community Poster._--A long story such as the "Old Woman and the Silver +Sixpence" may be illustrated by the class as a whole, each child cutting +some one feature. This requires attention to relative proportions so that +the parts may be in harmony when assembled. Such posters may be used for +wall decoration. + +=Charts.=--Poster making may also include the making of charts containing +samples of manufactured articles in various stages of development. For +example, a chart on cotton might show raw cotton, cord, thread, cloth of +various sorts, lace, paper, and other materials made from cotton. Such a +chart might also include pictures of cotton fields, spinning and weaving +machinery, and other related features. + +=Materials.=--Too much can scarcely be said in favor of much cutting from +an unlimited supply of common wrapping paper, newspaper, or other waste +paper, in which the children are entirely unhampered by such injunctions +as, "Be careful and get it just right the first time, because you can't +have another paper if you waste this piece." The possible danger of +cultivating wastefulness is less serious and more easily overcome than the +very probable danger of dwarfing and cramping the power of expression. +Here, if anywhere, the rule holds good that we learn to do by doing, and +abundant practice is essential to success. + +_Black silhouette_ or _poster_ paper is most effective when mounted, but +is too expensive for general use in large classes. + +_Brown kraft_ paper and _tailor's pattern_ paper serve well for both +cuttings and mounts. Both of these papers may be had by the roll at a low +cost. The tailor's paper comes in several dull colors, which make good +mounts for cuttings from white scratch paper or the fine print of +newspaper. + +_Bogus_ paper makes an excellent mount and is very inexpensive. + +=The Pasting Process.=--To a large number of teachers the pasting lesson +is a time to be dreaded and its results a cause of discouragement. +Especially is this true if the class is large and the teacher attempts to +have all the class pasting at one time. In many phases of school work it +is so much easier to control forty or fifty children if they all act in +unison that we are prone to use the method too often and apply it to forms +of work much better managed by groups. The process of teaching little +folks to paste is greatly simplified by the use of the group method. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 6.--Free cutting. Fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +If the room affords a large table at which a small group may work, the +teacher can easily supervise the work of the entire group. If there is no +table, the teacher can work with one or two rows at a time or have very +small groups come to her desk. The secret of the success of the group +method lies in having the rest of the class busy with some occupation +sufficiently interesting to prevent impatience while waiting for turns. +The command to "fold hands and sit still till your turn comes" is sure to +cause trouble, because children are physically unable to obey it. + +The most important factor in successful pasting is a liberal supply of +waste paper. Each child should be supplied with a number of single sheets +of newspaper torn to convenient size, to paste on, each sheet to be +discarded as soon as used. This decreases the danger of untidy work. With +the cutting laid upon the waste paper, the paste may be spread with brush, +thin wood, or thick paper, well out over the edges. As soon as the pasted +cutting is lifted the waste paper should be folded over to cover all wet +paste and lessen the possibility of accidents. After the cutting is placed +upon the mount, a clean piece of waste paper should be laid over it and +rubbed until the air is all pressed out and the cutting adheres firmly. +The waste paper overlay may be rubbed vigorously without harm, whereas a +light touch of sticky fingers directly upon the cutting will leave a +soiled spot, if it does not tear the moist paper. If children are +carefully taught in small groups to follow this method of pasting, in a +fairly short time all but the weakest members of the class will be able to +paste neatly without much supervision. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +BOOKLETS + + +The making of booklets forms a valuable accompaniment to almost every +phase of school work. Even simple exercises, when put into book form, take +on a dignity otherwise impossible and seem more worth while. It is +impossible to work with much enthusiasm and care on exercises which are +destined only for the wastebasket. + +The chief value in the making of booklets is lost when they are made for +display purposes only. Many difficulties are sure to arise when the +teacher, for the sake of her own reputation, sets an arbitrary standard +and tries to force every member of the class to meet it. Because of these +difficulties many teachers dread and avoid work of this sort, but the +trouble lies in our false standards and poor methods rather than in the +process itself. When the exhibit idea is uppermost, each page must be +examined with great care, done over again and again if need be, until the +standard is reached or the patience of both teacher and pupil exhausted. +In such a case the work practically ceases to be the child's own. Instead +of expressing an idea of his own in his own way, he tries to express the +teacher's idea in the teacher's way, and it is not surprising that he +fails so often. + +The booklet serves its best purpose when it combines both value and need; +that is, when it is something which seems worth while to the pupil and +when he feels responsible for its success. He should feel something akin +to the responsibility one feels in writing an important letter; that is, +that it must be right the first time because there is no opportunity to +try again and that he cannot afford to do less than his best because what +is done will stand. + +To "express his own idea in his own way" does not mean that his work is to +be undirected or that poor results are to be accepted. It does mean that +when an idea and a means of expressing it have been suggested to him, he +shall be allowed to do the best he can by himself, and that when he has +done his best, it shall be accepted even though imperfect. Under no +circumstances should his work be "touched up" by the teacher. If he is not +asked to do things which are too hard for him, he will not make many +serious errors. If these are wisely pointed out, they will not often be +repeated. If his attention is held to one or two important features at a +time, each effort will mean some gain. + +The making of a booklet in the primary grades should really consist in +making a cover to preserve pages already made or to receive pages on +certain topics as they are finished. The making of an animal book, for +example, might be a continuous process. Whenever a new animal is studied +and a cutting or drawing of it made, the new page may be added to the +book. + +The first books should be picture books only, collections of cuttings, +drawings, and mounted pictures. As the children learn to write they may +add first the name and then short descriptions of the pictures, the +development proceeding by easy stages until their composition work takes +the form of the illustrated story. + +Books which are a collection of single sheets are, as a rule, most +satisfactory in the primary school. The single sheet is much more +convenient to use, and there is always an inspiration in beginning with a +fresh sheet of paper. It is more difficult to paste cuttings into a book, +and if pages are spoiled, the book is spoiled. If separate sheets are +used, a poor one may be done over or discarded without affecting the rest. + +The making of booklets and posters offers an excellent opportunity for +developing artistic appreciation. It is not enough for the teacher to +provide only good colors from which the children may choose, and to +supervise the spacing of pictures and then flatter herself that because +the results are good that the children are developing good taste. Unless +they really want the good things, little real gain has been made. Unless +they see some reason for the arrangement of a page, other than that the +_teacher wants it that way_, little has been accomplished. + +The first attempts will show little or no idea of balance or good spacing. +The early color combinations are apt to be crude. If the best things they +do are praised and their attention is constantly directed to the good +points in things about them, they will begin to want those things. They +will begin gradually to feel a greater pleasure in a well-balanced page +than in one on which big and little pictures are stuck indiscriminately. +If they are given all possible freedom in matters of choice, it will be +possible to measure their real progress and to know what points need +emphasis. + +The more accustomed the children are to tasteful surroundings, the easier +will be their progress, but whether they come from tasteful homes or the +reverse, the process is the same. Real progress will undoubtedly be slow, +but it should be upon a sure foundation. + + +SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR BOOKLETS + +=Stories.=--Series of illustrations either cut or drawn for any of the +stories read by the class. + +_Animal Book._--Cuttings or sketches of animals. The name and short +statement of some characteristic may be added by children who are able to +write. Trees, flowers, fruits, etc., may be treated in the same way. + +_A. B. C. Book._--A page for each letter of the alphabet to be filled with +pictures and names of objects having the same initial letter. + +_House Book._--A page for each room, upon which may be mounted pictures of +things appropriate to the room. Newspaper advertisements and catalogs +furnish abundant material for this problem. The work not only helps the +children to classify present knowledge, but offers opportunity for +judgment as to arrangement and relative proportions. + +_How People Live._--A book of pictures of houses in different countries. + +_Famous Houses._--Pictures of famous buildings and homes of famous people. + +_What we Wear._--Pictures showing materials from which clothing is made, +the methods of production and manufacture. + +_What we Eat._--Vegetable foods may be grouped as roots, stalks, leaves, +seeds, etc. Animal foods may be classified according to the animal from +which they are obtained and the part of the animal from which they are +cut. Suggestions for cooking may be added. + +_How we Travel._--Pictures showing vehicles and conveyances of all sorts, +classified as ancient and modern, or according to the countries in which +they are used, or the motive power, as horses, electricity, steam, etc. + +In connection with elementary geography and history, booklets and posters +may be made up from pictures cut from discarded papers, catalogs, and +magazines, as well as original drawings. A great variety of topics may be +profitably illustrated in this way. As, for example, land and water forms, +famous mountains, lakes, rivers, etc., products and processes of +cultivation and manufacture, famous people, costumes and customs of other +times and places, utensils and weapons of earlier times. + +=Fastenings.=--The simplest method of binding single sheets is by means of +paper fasteners and eyelets. Though these are not expensive, some schools +cannot afford to buy them. Cords may be used in several ways and serve as +part of the decoration. + +_The Simple Tie._--Punch three holes in the margin, at least one half inch +from the edge to prevent tearing out. Insert the cord in the middle hole, +carry through one end hole, then through the other end hole, then back +through the middle and tie. (See Fig. 7.) + +_Japanese Sewing._--Punch holes at regular intervals, as one inch apart. +Sew through first hole twice, making a loop around the back,--repeat the +process until a loop has been made for each hole,--carry the cord in and +out through the holes back to the starting point, filling in the blank +places and making a continuous line, and tie ends together with a small +knot. (See Fig. 8.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 7.--Pamphlet sewing.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 8.--Japanese binding.] + + +=Decoration.=--Only the simplest decoration should be attempted. A plain +cover of good color tied with a cord of harmonious color will have +elements of beauty without further decoration. A single border line well +placed may be used and offers opportunity for developing a nice sense of +proportion by studying the results to see which borders are neither too +near the edge nor too far from it. + +A well-printed, well-placed title is often the most satisfactory +decoration. Printing should be introduced early, and the children +encouraged to make good plain letters. In order to get the title in good +proportion and well placed, it is helpful to cut a piece of paper the +desired size and lay it on the cover, moving it about to see where it +looks best. Until the children have learned to do fairly neat work it is +often helpful to print the title on a separate piece and paste it in +place. It is discouraging to spoil an otherwise good cover by a bad +letter, and this process lessens that danger. + +Before the children learn to print, a simple border or band across the +cover may take the place of the title. The border may be drawn in crayons +or be free-hand cuttings. + +Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the beauty of simplicity in +decoration. Children are inclined to think beauty means fanciness and that +beauty increases with the quantity of decoration. It is necessary to begin +early to develop a taste for good design. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CRITICISM AND STANDARDS OF WORKMANSHIP + + +=Criticism.=--An important feature of all self-directed activity is the +ability to judge one's efforts and intelligently measure one's success. +This ability is a matter of slow growth and must be cultivated. It is not +enough for the teacher to pass judgment upon a piece of work and grade its +quality. The worker himself must learn to find his own mistakes and how to +correct them. Class criticism offers the best means of developing this +power, but must be tactfully conducted. + +Little children are brutally frank in expressing their opinions and need +to be taught how to be truthful and yet not unkind. They need to be taught +what to look for and how to find it, and how to compare one thing with +another and discover why one pleases and another displeases. The first +essential in the training is emphasis on the good rather than the bad. It +is a gospel of "do" rather than of "don't." The earliest efforts of the +class may well be confined to comments upon the features they like and, if +possible, the reason for the liking. This will forestall any tendency to +call undue attention to the poor efforts of weak workers. At first many +children will scarcely discriminate between their admiration for a piece +of work and their love for the worker and will be apt to praise the work +of their special friends. This tendency will gradually disappear through +the development of a real basis of appreciation. + +The second essential concerns the improvement of the things which are not +good. Criticism which merely points out what is bad is of little value. +Helpful criticism must point out what is good and why, and what is weak +and how to make it stronger. If, for example, the class is considering the +success of their efforts to illustrate the story of the Three Bears, they +should be encouraged to make such comments as, "John's chairs look too +small for his table," "Mary's bowls are all about the same size." The +criticism should direct the thought to its possible remedy. It is +generally better to pass over defects for which no immediate remedy can be +suggested. + +=Standards of Workmanship.=--The standard of excellence by which acceptable +work is measured must always vary according to the ability of the class. +The best the child can do, alone and unaided, should be the only standard +of measurement, and his best efforts should always be accepted, no matter +how crude. In no other way can real growth be observed and genuine +progress made. + +In schools where arbitrary standards are set either by supervisors or by +the rivalry of teachers, the tendency to _help_ the children by doing part +of the work for them for the sake of the _apparent_ results, offers the +teacher's most serious temptation to selfishness. In a few cases it is +helpful for the teacher to add a few strokes to a drawing or adjust some +detail in construction, that the child may see the value of certain small +changes in the place where they will mean most to him. Such work should +not be exhibited as an example of the child's accomplishment, but should +be treated as practice work. As a rule the teacher's demonstration should +be made on other material and not on that used by the pupil. In no +particular are primary schools open to greater criticism than in the too +common habit of setting arbitrary standards of excellence and attempting +to force all children to reach them. Such standards are usually too high +for honest attainment and tempt or force the teacher to use methods which +cannot be defended by any sound principle of pedagogy. + +Values change with the purpose of the work. A thing is well made when it +serves its purpose adequately. Toys must be strong enough to permit +handling. Mechanical toys must work. Sewing must be strong as well as +neat. In illustrative problems, in which effect is the chief +consideration, technique needs little emphasis, and workmanship may be of +a temporary character. + +Each thing made should establish its own standard in a way to appeal to +the child's common sense. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE HOUSE PROBLEM + + +The making of a playhouse has long been an accepted feature of primary +work, but we have not always made it yield all of which it is capable, +either in the self-directed activity of the children or in correlated +subject matter. It has, in many cases, been only a bit of recreation from +the more serious work of the school. In a house prepared by the janitor or +older pupils the children have been allowed to arrange and rearrange +ready-made furniture contributed from their playthings at home, but little +creative work has been attempted. In other cases an elaborate house, +carefully planned by the teacher, has been built and furnished by the +children, but, because of the detailed planning, the children's part in it +became merely a mechanical following of directions. In some cases relative +proportions in rooms and furnishings have received scant attention; in +others, color harmonies have been all but ignored. These varying methods +of carrying out the house-building idea are not without value and may +often be justified by local conditions, but their results are meager +compared with the possible richness of the problem. + +Playing at house building and housekeeping appeals to an interest so +universal that children of all times and nations yield to its power. It +is therefore necessary to take account of its influence in their +development and to dignify it with the approval of the school. We must +refine and enrich it by our direction and suggestion without robbing it of +its simplicity and charm. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 9.--Box house, arranged on a shelf.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 10.--Medieval castle. Built by third grade. Franklin, +Indiana. + +An example of elaborate work which aroused the interest of pupils and +patrons and paved the way for freer work later.] + + +In the suggestions which follow, an attempt is made to utilize this +natural activity of children in an occupation which appeals to them as +worth while. At the same time it may furnish ample opportunity for the +general development and effective teaching of various phases of subject +matter which are incident to the occupation, _i.e._ number in connection +with measurements, art in the proportions and color combinations, language +through discussions and descriptions. + +The work is kept on the level of the children's experience by throwing +them constantly on their own responsibility in every possible detail, the +teacher never dictating the method of procedure and guiding the work with +as few suggestions as possible. The work, being on the level of their +experience, appeals to the children as very real and worth while. It is, +therefore, intensely interesting, and they work without urging. + +=General Plan.=--A house may be constructed from several empty goods boxes, +each box forming one room of the house. The boxes or rooms are arranged in +convenient order, but are not fastened together. Adjoining rooms are +connected by doors carefully cut in both boxes so that the holes match. +Windows are also sawed out where needed. The walls are papered, careful +attention being given to color schemes, border designs, and relative +proportions in spacing. Floors are provided with suitable coverings--woven +rugs, mattings, linoleums, tiles, according to the purpose of the room. + +Each step is discussed and more or less definitely outlined before the +actual making is begun, furnishing opportunity for oral language of a +vital sort. Completed parts are examined and criticized, furnishing +further opportunity for exercise in oral language while directing +attention to strong and weak points in the work. + +The materials needed are easily obtainable and inexpensive, consisting +chiefly of empty boxes and odds and ends of paper, cloth, and yarn, +together with carpenters' scraps. + +The tools needed are few, and in some cases may be brought from home by +the children for a few days, as needed. The necessary time is found by +making the incidental problems serve as subject matter for regular +lessons. Making designs for tiling, linoleum, and borders for wall paper, +planning relative proportions for doors, windows, and furnishings will +supply material for very practical lessons in art. The problems incident +to the measurement of doors and windows, tables and chairs, are number +work of a vital sort and may be legitimately used as a regular number +lesson. Discussions, descriptions, and definite statements of plans all +form vital language exercises if rightly used. + + +HOUSE PLANS IN DETAIL + +=Materials.=--_Empty Store Boxes of Soft Wood._--Sizes may vary, but where +several are grouped for a house, they should be near enough the same +height to make a fairly level ceiling. About 10 x 12 x 18 in. is a +convenient size. + +_Paper for Walls._--Scraps of ingrain wall papers may be had from dealers +for little or nothing. Cover paper in good colors may be purchased by the +sheet. Tailor's paper and brown wrapping paper serve well, and are sold +by the roll at a low price. + +_Pasteboard_ (strawboard or juteboard) may be used for the roof. + +_Weaving Materials._--Rugs may be made from carpet rags, rug yarns, +rovings, chenille, or jute; towels from crochet cotton; and hammocks from +macrame cord or carpet warp. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 11.--House arranged on a table. Front view. Built by +first grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Wood for Furniture._--Bass, white pine, poplar, or other soft wood. Box +tops, if of soft wood, may be made to serve nearly all needs. If possible, +provide thin wood (about 1/4 in. thick) in various widths, from one inch +to six inches, so that only one dimension need be measured. Provide also +thick pieces 1-1/2 in. or 2 in. square for beds and chairs; 1/2 in. square +for table legs. + +_Nails_ of various sizes, chiefly inch brads, are needed. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 12.--House arranged on a table. Side view. Built by +second grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +=Tools.=--The tools actually necessary are few. A class can _get along_ +with one saw and still do good work, though there will be times when +several saws will facilitate progress. Some tools are needed only for a +short time and sometimes may be borrowed from the homes. It is more +satisfactory to have the school provided with the essential tools whenever +possible. The essential tools include: + +_Brace and auger bit_, for boring holes in doors and windows. Needed for a +short time only. + +_Compass saw_, for sawing out doors and windows. + +_Crosscut saw_, for sawing off lumber. School should own at least one. + +_Miter box_, for holding lumber and guiding saw. An old one, good enough +for children's use, will frequently be contributed by a carpenter. The +miter box should be fastened firmly to a low table or box. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 13.--House arranged on a table. Back view. Built by +second grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Hammers_, several of medium size. + +_Try-square_, a very valuable tool for setting right angles, provided the +teacher and pupils know how to use it. + +=Arrangement of Rooms.=--The sort of house a man can build is governed by +his resources and his site. Considering the number of boxes as resources +and the table or shelf on which they are to stand as the site, the same +big factors which enter into any house-building problem control the size +and style of the schoolroom playhouse. What sort of house is desired? What +sort of house can be built from the materials at hand? What sort of house +can be built in the space at our disposal? + + +[Illustration: FIG. 14.--House plan.] + + +The boxes may be arranged on a shelf with all the open sides toward the +class, as in Fig. 9. This economizes space, and all of the rooms are +visible at once. A two-story house is easily built on this plan. If +economy of space is not necessary, the boxes may be placed on a table with +the open sides of the boxes toward the edges of the table, as in Figs. 11, +12, and 13. This permits a more artistic grouping of the rooms. (See Fig. +14.) + +The responsibility in grouping the boxes should be thrown as fully as +possible upon the children, the teacher merely suggesting where necessary. +It should be their house, not the teacher's. The planning should not be +hurried but time allowed to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of +different plans and reach an agreement. In trying to express individual +opinions convincingly their ideas will become clearer--a factor in the +development of the children which is much more important than any of the +actual details of the house itself. Whether the class decides to have one +or two bedrooms in the house is a matter of small consequence. Whether or +not they are growing in power to appreciate conditions and make an +intelligent decision is a matter of great consequence. Their decisions +when made may not always reach the high standard at which the teacher is +aiming, but if they have really made a decision, not merely followed the +teacher's suggestion, and if their independent selections from time to +time show a higher standard of appreciation and greater refinement of +taste in ever so small a degree, it is evidence of genuine growth upon a +sure foundation. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 15.--Arrangement of windows.] + + +=Doors and Windows.=--The size and arrangement of doors and windows should +be freely discussed. Various possible arrangements may be sketched upon +the blackboard by the children. For example, see Fig. 15, _a_ and _b_. +When a plan is adopted, the doors and windows should be carefully drawn on +the _outside_ of each box, using the try-square to get right angles. + +Bore holes in the corners of the doors and windows and saw out with +keyhole or compass saw. In order to avoid mistakes it is well, after +sawing out the opening for a door in one box, to place the two boxes +together and test the measurements before sawing out the second opening. A +mistake of this sort, however, is not fatal, but may prove the most +effective way of impressing the workers with the necessity of careful +measurement. + +=Walls.=--The decoration of the walls will furnish material for several +art lessons. The discussion should turn first to the suitability of +different styles for different purposes, such as tiling for kitchen and +bathroom walls, light papers for dark rooms, etc. The division of wall +space will be the next point to be settled, _i.e._ the height of the +tiling or wainscot, the width of a border, or the effect of horizontal and +vertical lines in breaking up wall space. These questions may be discussed +as far as the immediate circumstances and the development of the class +suggest. + +The question of color combinations demands special attention. Unless the +children come from refined homes their ideas of color will be very crude, +and if contributions of material have been asked for, some gaudy +impossibilities in flowered paper are apt to be presented. If so, it may +require considerable tact on the part of the teacher to secure a +satisfactory selection without casting any reflections on the taste of +somebody's mother. This difficulty may be avoided to a degree by providing +all the materials necessary. It is not enough, however, to cause the +children to select good combinations at the teacher's suggestion while in +their hearts they are longing for the gaudy thing she has frowned upon. It +is better to get an honest expression from them, even though it is very +crude, and endeavor to educate their taste to a love for better things, so +that each time they choose the choice may be on a higher level of +appreciation. Immediate results may not be as beautiful by this plan, and +apparent progress may be slow, but only by some such method can a real +appreciation be developed which will prevent the return to the crude +expression as soon as the teacher's influence is withdrawn. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 16.--Detail of hollow square.] + + +Plain papers generally give the most pleasing effects. Attractive borders +may be made by cutting simple units and repeating them at intervals. +Almost any motif may be used for the unit. Animals, birds, trees, flowers, +ships, etc., serve well. The process of making the border should be a +serious lesson in design. A good border is not merely the repetition of a +pretty figure. The units must not be too far apart nor too close together. +The shape of the figure used must be such that each unit seems to need the +next one. Little children will usually take greatest pleasure in working +from some nature motif, as flower or animal, but interesting work can be +done with simple geometric figures. Take, for example, the hollow square. +Fold a square of paper on both diagonals. (See Fig. 16.) Cut on dotted +line. Let each child cut several and lay them in order for a border or +mount them on a paper of different color. Let the work of the class be put +up for general criticism. (See notes on Criticism.) Several points which +very small children are able to appreciate will be found to enter into the +success or failure of their efforts. The hollow square itself may be cut +too wide and look clumsy, or cut too narrow and look frail. In the +arrangement they may be too close together and look crowded, or too far +apart and look scattered. A sensitiveness to good proportions comes +naturally to only a few people, but nearly all are capable of a higher +degree of appreciation if their attention is directed to the essential +elements which make things good or bad. The beginnings of this +appreciation lie in simple things which are easily understood by +first-grade children. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 17.--Borders using hollow square.] + + +=Floors.=--Many of the considerations which enter into the selection of +wall decorations are of equal importance in choosing floor coverings. What +will be suitable to the purpose of each room? Why do we use linoleum in +the kitchen and warm rugs in the bedroom? Shall we use small rugs or a +carpet? What colors must we have on the floor to harmonize with the colors +on the wall? What designs are possible and desirable for the materials we +have to use? + +_Rug Weaving Materials._--The market offers a wide variety of materials +prepared especially for school use. Among them the most satisfactory for +use with small workers are cotton rovings, loose twisted jute, and cotton +chenille. These, especially the first two, are coarse and work up rapidly, +and may be had in very desirable colors. Even the cheapest of them, +however, will prove an expensive item for the school with limited funds, +and ordinary carpet rags may be made to serve every purpose. Often these +will be contributed by members of the class. By a careful selection and +combination of colors very artistic results can be produced which are in +some respects more satisfactory than any obtained from the so-called +weaving materials, and have the added advantage of costing practically +nothing. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 18.--Looms and samples of weaving.] + + +_Looms._--The market also offers a great variety of looms for school use, +many of them quite simple in construction and moderate in price. In +schools where bench work is taught, the making of a loom is an excellent +problem either for the weavers themselves or for an older class working +for them. If the looms are made by the little weavers themselves, only the +simplest possible construction should be used, that the work may be +completed and the loom put to use before the worker loses sight of the +fact that the purpose is to provide carpet for the house. Children lose +interest in long-drawn-out processes, and for that reason it is better to +provide them with the necessary tools as far as possible while interest in +the house building is keen. Later, if considerable enthusiasm has been +aroused for weaving, individual looms may be made for home use. For the +school with scant funds a very satisfactory loom may be improvised by +driving nails one fourth inch apart in the ends of a shallow box of +convenient size and stretching the warp threads across the open top. + +For very small rugs a cardboard loom will serve. This may be made by +cutting notches or punching holes along opposite edges of a piece of +cardboard into which the warp may be strung. If a knitting needle is +inserted at each side, the cardboard will be stiffened and the edges of +the rug kept straight. Weaving needles may be purchased from supply +houses. Wooden needles cost 50 cents per dozen. Sack needles serve well +for small rugs and may be had at any hardware store for 10 cents per +dozen. + +_Weaves._--For first weaving the plain "over one, under one" on cotton +warp with rags or other coarse woof is generally best. Variety may be +introduced by weaving a stripe or border of a different tone near each end +of the rug. Vertical stripes serve well as another easy method of +variation and are produced by using two woof threads of different tones +and weaving first with one and then with the other. This weave is very +attractive as the body of the rug with a plain border at either end. + +As soon as the children have mastered the plain weave and have a fairly +clear idea of the possibilities in design through varying the colors in +the woof only, they may be initiated into the mysteries of the "gingham +weave" and allowed to experiment with the variations in warp as well as in +woof. Cotton rovings is an excellent material for weaves of this sort. +This weave may also be used with raffia to make matting for the +dining-room floor. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 19.--Box house by second grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +Paper mats may also be used as carpets with good effect. Weaving paper +strips is often an easier process to little children than weaving with +textiles, except where very coarse textile materials are used. For paper +mats select paper of suitable color and cut to the size desired for the +mat. Fold on the short diameter. Cut slashes from the folded edge, not +less than one half inch apart, to within one inch of edge of the paper +(See Fig. 20), leaving a margin on all four sides of the mat. For weavers, +cut from paper of harmonious tone, strips equal in width to the slashes in +the mat. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 20.--Detail of paper weaving.] + + +Variations of the simple over one, under one weave add interest to the +work and also give practice in number combinations such as over one, under +two, etc. Work of this sort is used in many schools as a method of +teaching number, the teacher dictating the combinations while the interest +of the children centers in the new pattern which develops under their +fingers. While such work has much to be said in its favor, it is open to +criticism, especially in the matter of dictation. All the children in any +one group will not work with equal speed. Some will undoubtedly "get +behind" and others will lose time while waiting for the slow ones. +Accidents are liable to happen in individual cases. + +Many of these undesirable features may be eliminated while still retaining +the valuable part of the work by writing the directions on the board +instead of dictating them to the children. It then becomes a lesson in +reading as well as in number. Each child is thrown more completely upon +his own responsibility and can proceed as rapidly and as steadily as his +capacity permits. His rate of progress will often be a fair measure of his +ability for independent thought and action, which is the real measure for +successful teaching. + +As the hardest feature in this method is in keeping the right line and not +repeating or omitting any direction, a social spirit may be encouraged by +allowing the children to work in groups and take turns in _keeping the +place_ while the others work. In one first grade where this plan was in +vogue the children discovered a book on the teacher's desk which contained +numerous designs, many of them much more intricate than she would have +attempted to use as classwork. Their instinct for exploration led them to +struggle with the directions until they had worked out some designs which +would have proved dismal failures had they been attempted as class +lessons. In this instance those who belonged to the persevering group were +happy in a new-found sense of strength and independence, while the others +had accomplished as much as any would have done under the dictation +method. + +=Furniture.=--The problem of furniture for the school playhouse has been +discussed in numerous publications, and nearly every writer on the subject +of primary handwork offers suggestions on this topic. The suggestions +include a range in materials and processes from very simple foldings in +paper to quite complex processes in reeds and raffia and methodical +construction in wood. + +Among the various materials and styles in common use, folded paper +furniture has the advantage of being quickly made. The process is of +sufficient interest to little children to hold their attention, and in +order to secure the desired result they must hear the directions +intelligently and obey them promptly. These are desirable habits to form. +It is quite possible, however, for the work to be done in a very formal, +mechanical way, in which the children merely follow directions, often +blindly, without any clear purpose and very little thought. Success or +failure is due largely to chance; for, if by accident even a good worker +"loses out" on a direction, his work is at a standstill until special help +is given. He is unable to proceed because he does not know what to do +next. There is very little opportunity in such a process for independent +thought or action. It is not self-directed activity. + +A second objection to paper furniture is its lack of stability. Paper +which is pliable enough to fold readily will not hold its own weight long +when made into furniture, and very soon becomes wobbly. To overcome this +tendency to wobble, heavier papers are often used and new complications +arise. Heavy papers do not fold readily without scoring. Scoring demands +considerable accuracy of measurement--often to a degree beyond the power +of a six-year-old. The stiff papers, being hard pressed, are harder to +paste, and neat work is often an impossibility, unless considerable +assistance is given. + +It is possible to make satisfactory furniture in a great variety of styles +from stiff paper, and the processes involve some excellent practice in +measurement and design. The processes necessary to obtain these +satisfactory results are, however, beyond the ability of children in the +lower grades. Even fairly satisfactory results are impossible unless an +undue amount of assistance is given by the teacher. In actual practice, +where stiff paper is used a few of the best workers in the class are +helped to make the few pieces needed in the playhouse and the unhappy +failures of the rest of the class are promptly consigned to the +wastebasket. + +Very pretty furniture may be made from reeds and raffia, but the processes +are too difficult to be successfully performed by small children. The +reeds do not lend themselves readily to constructions small enough to suit +the average playhouse, and the larger pieces are out of proportion to the +other features of the house. + +The use of wood overcomes the most serious of the objections to be made to +other materials, besides being the material most commonly used in "real" +furniture. Wooden furniture is stable, and a great variety of processes in +construction are possible without introducing complications which prevent +independent work on the part of the little people. + +The processes necessary to the construction of very simple yet +satisfactory wooden furniture may be reduced to measuring one dimension, +sawing off, and nailing on. Measuring one dimension is quite within the +powers of six-year-olds. _Sawing off_ is not difficult if soft lumber is +used, and it becomes very simple by the help of the miter box. _Nailing +on_ is difficult if the nails must be driven into the edges of thin +boards, but if thin boards are nailed to thick boards, nails may "go +crooked" without serious consequences, and the process becomes quite easy. +These processes have the advantage of being particularly fascinating to +small boys, in contrast to the girlish character of many forms of primary +handwork. (See Figs. 21 and 22.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 21.--Furniture from wood blocks.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 22.--Furniture from wood blocks.] + + +_Processes._--For the sake of convenience and clearness in these +directions it will be assumed that the class is provided with pieces of +wood two inches square which will be referred to as 2 x 2. Also with thin +wood in a variety of widths from 1 in. to 6 in. Material of other +dimensions would serve the purpose equally well, and for many of the parts +odd pieces from the scrap box will answer every purpose. The directions +are intended only to suggest how to proceed, and it is left to the teacher +to adapt them to the material and conditions with which she works. + +(1) _To make a chair._ + +Use 2 x 2 for seat and thin wood 2 in. wide for back. Children should +measure and decide how much to saw off from strip of 2 x 2 in order to +make a square block or cube for the seat. They should estimate the length +of the back of the chair, then measure and saw off the thin wood needed. +Nail the back piece to the cube and finish with a coat of water-color +paint or color with crayon. An armchair may be made by the addition of +shorter pieces of thin wood to the sides of the chair. + +(2) _To make table with pedestal._ + +Use 2 x 2 for pedestal. Use thin wood 6 in. wide for top. Use thin wood 4 +in. wide for base. Measure and saw off 3 in. of 2 x 2 for pedestal. +Measure _enough_ of the 6 in. wood to make a square top and _enough_ of +the 4 in. wood to make a square base. Do not tell the children what they +can discover for themselves. They should decide how high the table ought +to be and how large to suit the size of the room. Nail the square pieces +to the two ends of the pedestal. Finish by same method used for chairs. + +(3) _For ordinary table._ + +Use thin wood for top. Use 1/2 x 1/2 for legs. Measure and saw off pieces +needed. Measure places for legs about one inch from corner of top in order +to allow an overhang. Children frequently put the legs flush with the edge +of the table, which gives a clumsy appearance. Nail through the top with a +comparatively long nail. + +(4) _To make a double bed._ + +Use wood 1/2 to 1 in. thick for body. Use thin wood of corresponding width +for head and foot boards. Class or individual workers should decide on +dimensions for different parts and height of body of bed from the floor. + +(5) _For single bed._ + +Proceed as for double bed, using narrow pieces of wood, or use six or +seven inches of 2 x 2 for body of bed and make head and foot boards after +the style of chair back. + +(6) _Dressing table._ + +Decide upon dimensions needed. Use 2 x 2 for body. Use thin wood of equal +width for back. Use tinfoil for mirror. Indicate drawers with pencil +lines. + +(7) _Couch._ + +Use piece of 2 x 2 of desired length and make couch cover of appropriate +material, or add back and arms of thin wood to piece of 2 x 2 and finish +to match other furniture. + +(8) _Piano._ + +Use wood 3/4 or 1 in. thick for body. Nail on piece 1/2 x 1/2 for +keyboard. Draw keys on paper and paste on keyboard. + +(9) _Kitchen stove._ + +Use 2 x 4 or any scrap or empty box of appropriate size and shape. Color +black with crayon. Add chalk marks or bits of tinfoil to indicate doors +and lids. Make hot-water tank of paper. Pieces of reed, wire, or twigs +covered with tinfoil make good water pipes. Macaroni sticks and lemonade +straws have served this purpose. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 23.--Home of White Cloud, the Pueblo girl. Second +grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +=Clay Furnishings.=--For such articles as the kitchen sink, the bathtub, +and other bathroom fittings clay is a satisfactory material. These +articles may be modeled by the children, in as good an imitation of the +real fittings as they are able to make. Various methods may be used for +holding the kitchen sink and the bathroom basin in place, and it is much +better for the children to evolve one of their own than to follow the +teacher's dictation from the start. If they meet serious difficulties, a +suggestion from her may help clear the way. Two long nails driven into the +wall will give a satisfactory bracket on which the sink may rest. Two +short nails may be driven through the back while the clay is moist and may +serve also as a foundation for faucets. The basin, bathtub, and stool may +each be built solid to the floor. + +The teakettle and other stove furniture may be modeled in clay. Electric +light bulbs of clay suspended by cords from the ceiling have a realistic +air. Paper shades of appropriate color add to the general effect. + +=Miscellaneous furnishings.= + +_Bedding._--Paper or cloth may be used for bedding, as circumstances +suggest. If interest in _real_ things is strong, the making of the sheets +and pillow cases offers an opportunity for some practice with the needle. +If time is limited, paper may be used. + +_Curtains._--Curtains also may be made from either paper or regular +curtain material. If paper is used, it should be very soft, such as plain +Japanese napkins. Scraps of plain net or scrim are most desirable. Some +child is apt to contribute a piece of large-patterned lace curtain, but +the tactful teacher will avoid using it if possible, and direct the +children's thoughts toward a better taste in draperies. + +_Portieres_ may be made of cloth, of knotted cords, or chenille. + +_Couch pillows_ may be made from cloth or may be woven on a small card. + +_Towels_ for the bathroom may be woven from crochet cotton. + +_The fireplace_ may be made of cardboard marked off and colored to +represent brick. A shallow box may be made to serve the purpose. Cut out +the opening for the grate and lay real sticks on andirons made from soft +wire; or draw a picture of blazing fire and put inside. The fireplace may +also be made of clay. Pebbles may be pressed into the clay if a stone +fireplace is desired. If clay is used, several small nails should be +driven into the wall before the fireplace is built up, to hold the clay in +place after it dries. + +_Bookcases_ may be made of cardboard, using a box construction, and glued +to the wall. Or a block of wood about one inch thick may be used. In +either case mark off the shelves and books with pencil lines, and color +the backs of the books with crayon. + +=The Stairway.=--In a two-story house the hardest problem will usually be +the stairs. Some good work in number may be done while finding out how +many steps will be needed and where the stairway must begin in order to +reach the second floor in comfort. Even quite small children can deal with +this problem if presented in a simple way. For example, if the box or room +is ten inches high, how many steps 1 in. wide and 1 in. high will be +needed, and how far out into the room will they come? The children can +work out the plan on the blackboard. Measurements may be modified to suit +the ability of the class and the needs of the room. + +The variety of possible constructions in building the staircase +corresponds to the varying ability of classes. A strip of paper may be +folded back and forth and made to serve with least mature classes. This +paper stair will sag unless it rests on a board or piece of stiff +pasteboard. A substantial stairway may be made by sawing two thin boards +for supports, as in Fig. 24, and nailing on steps of thin wood or +cardboard. There is usually one boy in every first grade who is capable of +as difficult a piece of handwork as this. He is apt, also, to be the boy +who takes least interest in the general work of the class, and often it is +possible to arouse him to special effort through some such problem. The +stairway may be made of heavy cardboard with a construction similar to +that just described, but this requires pasting instead of nailing and is +much more difficult for little children. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 24.--Detail of stairway.] + + +=The Roof.=--The making of the roof is another part of the house building +which may often be given into the special care of the two or three +over-age pupils who need special problems. The plan which they evolve from +their study of the needs of the case will usually be of greater value to +them, even though it may not be the best that could be suggested. + +The roof may be made of wood as a base, with either wood or cardboard +shingles tacked on in proper fashion; or it may be made of cardboard with +the shingles merely indicated by lines made with crayon. If the wood base +is used, wood gables may be made for sides or ends of the house. To +these, long boards may be nailed to form a solid roof. Shingles two inches +long by about one inch wide may be cut from cardboard or very thin wood +and tacked to the boards. The children should be spurred to study the +roofs of houses and find out how the shingles are arranged, and discover +for themselves, if possible, the secret of successful shingling. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 25.--Box house, showing roof. Built by summer class, +Teachers College, New York.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 26.--Detail of gable.] + + +A cardboard roof is in many ways easier to build. In a house similar to +the one shown in Fig. 25 two gables are used, and the roof slopes to front +and back. The framework can be very simply made. At the two gable ends +place uprights made of two pieces of wood joined in the form of an +inverted T. (See Fig. 26.) These should be nailed to the box. A ridgepole +may then be nailed to the upper ends of the uprights. If the house is not +large, no other framework will be necessary. If the slope of the roof is +long enough to allow the cardboard to sag, light strips of wood extending +from the ridgepole to the outer edge of the box may be added. If a single +piece of cardboard of sufficient size is available, it may be scored[1] +and bent at the proper place and laid over the ridgepole, with the edges +extending beyond the box to form the eaves. Or, two pieces may be used, +one for each slope of the roof, each piece being tacked to the ridgepole. +Chimneys may be made from paper and colored to represent bricks or stone. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 27.--Colonial kitchen. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +The outside of the house may be treated in several ways. It may be sided +after the manner of frame houses by tacking on strips of paper or +cardboard lapped in the proper fashion. It may be covered with paper +marked in horizontal lines to represent siding, in irregular spaces to +represent stone, or in regular spaces to represent brick, and finished in +the appropriate color. Or, a coat of paint or stain may be applied +directly to the box. + + +VARIATIONS IN HOUSE PROBLEM + +A playhouse for its own sake is a justifiable project for primary children +and one which may be repeated several times without exhausting its +possibilities. Each time it is repeated the emphasis will fall on some new +feature, and the children will wish to do more accurate work. + +In the lowest grades very simple houses of one or two rooms may be built +for story-book friends, such as the "Three Bears" or "Little Red Riding +Hood," with only such furniture as the story suggests. In intermediate +grades the house may have an historical motive and illustrate home life in +primitive times or in foreign countries, such as a colonial kitchen in New +England, a pioneer cabin on the Western prairies, a Dutch home, a Japanese +home, etc. In upper grades it may become a serious study in house +decoration. + +As the motive for making the house changes, the character and quality of +its furnishings will change. The block furniture described above will give +way to more accurate models in either wood or paper. Some excellent +suggestions for paper furniture for advanced work may be found in the +_Manual Training Magazine_. + +As skill in construction increases, a wish for something more realistic +than the box construction will arise, and the elements of house framing +will be studied with great eagerness. + +=The House of the Three Bears.= (See Fig. 28.)--This house was made early +in the year by a class of first-grade children. The walls were papered in +plain brown paper. The carpets were woven mats of paper. The chairs, +table, and beds were made according to the methods already described in +the playhouse outline. The stove and the doll were contributed. The bears +were modeled in clay. The children played with the house and its contents +throughout the year. The bears were broken and made over many times--a +process which not only afforded great pleasure, but also developed +considerable skill in modeling. + +=Another Bears' House.=--This house, shown in Frontispiece, was made in +the spring, near the end of the school year, by a class of first-grade +children all of whom were under seven and many of whom were very immature. + +The story of the Three Bears was taken up after Christmas, told and +retold, read, and dramatized by the children. Teddy bears were brought to +school. Many bears were modeled in clay, each child making the set of +three many times. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 28.--House for the Three Bears. First grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +The children laid off spaces on the table for individual Bears' houses and +made furniture for these as their fancy prompted. The furniture was made +of wood after the general style described above. Later, carpets were +woven for these individual playhouses. Each carpet was woven to a given +dimension, making it necessary to use the rule. This was their +introduction to the rule as a tool for measuring. Every child in a class +of forty made one or more pieces of furniture and wove one or more small +carpets from rags. Nearly all made some bedding. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 29.--Cornstalk house. Built by second-grade class. +Franklin, Indiana.] + + +Later, four boxes were secured and arranged as a house. The openings for +doors were marked off during school time, but were sawed out by a few +children who remained during the noon intermission. This is the only part +of the work which was not done during regular class time. The papering was +done by two or three of the most capable children, while the rest were +deeply absorbed in weaving. All made borders. Certain borders were +selected for the house, and several children worked together to make +enough of the same pattern for one room. Selections were then made from +the carpets and furniture already made by the children. + +The roof was made chiefly by one boy who "knew a good way to make it." The +porches were also individual projects by pupils who had ideas on the +subject and were allowed to work them out. + +The children became very familiar with every phase of the story and +attacked any expression of it with the feeling, "That's easy." They wrote +stories, _i.e._ sentences about bears. Each child at the close of the year +could write on the blackboard a story of two or more sentences. They made +pictures of bears in all sorts of postures with colored crayon and from +free-hand cuttings. They modeled the bears in clay over and over again, +keeping up a large family in spite of many accidents. + +=Cooperative Building.=--Figures 11, 12, and 13 show three rooms of a +four-room house built by the first and second grades working together. The +living room and bedroom were furnished by first-grade children. The dining +room, kitchen, and bath were furnished by the second grade. Four boxes +were used. (See diagram, page 35, Fig. 14.) Each room, except the bath, +was a separate box. After a general plan had been agreed upon by the +teachers, the boxes were carried to the several rooms and each class +worked quite independently. When the rooms were finished, they were +assembled on a table in the hall and the roof put on. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 30.--A flour mill. Built by fourth grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +=The Flour Mill.=--The flour mill, shown in Fig. 30, was built in +connection with a study of the general subject of milling by a +fourth-grade class. The class visited a flour mill. They were shown the +various machines, and the function of each was explained to them. They +made hasty sketches of the machines and a rough diagram of their +arrangement on the floors. They got the dimensions of the floors and +height of the ceiling. An empty box was remodeled to approximate the +dimensions of the building. Small representations of the machines were +made and placed in the proper relation to each other. No attempt was made +to show more than the external proportions in the small representation. +The work served its best purpose in keeping the children thinking +definitely about what they had seen. The attempt to express their thoughts +in tangible form deepened the mental impression, even though the tangible +results were crude and lacked many details. + +The conveyer being of special interest, two boys worked out a larger model +which illustrated the band-bucket process. This is shown in Fig. 30, at +the right of the mill. Small cups were made of soft tin and fastened to a +leather strap. The strap was fastened around two rods, placed one above +the other. The lower rod was turned by a crank fastened on the outside of +the box. Two or three brads driven into the lower rod caught into holes in +the strap and prevented slipping. The machine successfully hoisted grain +from the lower box to one fastened higher up, but not shown in the +picture. The model was very crude in its workmanship, but it showed the +ability of fourth-grade boys to successfully apply an important principle +in mechanics, and it gave opportunity for their ingenuity to express +itself. The work was done with such tools and materials as the boys could +provide for themselves, and without assistance other than encouraging +suggestions from the teacher. This bit of construction accompanied a broad +study of the subject of milling, including the source and character of the +raw materials, the processes involved, the finished products and their +value. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE VILLAGE STREET + + +Playing store is a game of universal interest. Making a play store is a +fascinating occupation. These are factors which cannot be overlooked in +any scheme of education which seeks to make use of the natural activities +of children. + +The downtown store stands to the children as the source of all good things +which are to be bought with pennies. It is usually the first place outside +the home with which they become familiar, and its processes are sure to be +imitated in their play. In their play they not only repeat the processes +of buying and selling, but try to reproduce in miniature what they regard +as the essential features of the real store. + +If they are allowed to play this fascinating game in school, it may, by +the teacher's help, become at once more interesting and more worth while. +Curiosity may be aroused through questions concerning what is in the +store, where it came from, how it got there, what was done to make it +usable, how it is measured, and what it is worth. In seeking answers to +these questions, the fields of geography, history, and arithmetic may be +explored as extensively as circumstances warrant and a whole curriculum +is built up in a natural way. After such study, stores cease to be the +_source_ of the good things they offer for sale. The various kinds of +merchandise take on a new interest when the purchaser knows something of +their history, and a new value when he knows something of the labor which +has gone into their manufacture. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 31.--Box house and stores. Grades one, three, and two. +Columbia, Missouri.] + + +Being a subject of universal interest, it may be adapted to the conditions +of the various grades. It being also impossible to exhaust the +possibilities of the subject in any single presentation, it may profitably +be repeated with a change of emphasis to suit the development of the +class. For example, in the second grade, the study of the street is +chiefly a classification of the various commodities which are essential to +our daily life, and a few of the main facts of interest concerning their +origin. Those a little older are interested in the processes of +manufacture and the geography of their sources. In playing store, weights +and measures, the changing of money, and the making of bills take on an +interest impossible in the old-fashioned method of presenting these phases +of arithmetic. Discussions and narratives supply oral language work, and +descriptions, letters, and notes provide material for written exercises. + +The class may be divided into groups, each group contributing one store to +the street, or the attention of the whole class may be centered on one +store at a time, as the immediate conditions suggest. If the former method +is used, as each store is finished it may be used as subject matter for +the entire class, while the important facts concerning it are considered. +The first permits a broader scope; the second a more exhaustive study. In +either case visits to the real stores studied are important supplements +to the work. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 32.--A village street. Third grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +=General Directions.=--Discuss the stores on a village street. Which are +most important? Why? Decide how many stores the class can build, and +choose those most necessary to a community. + +If self-organized groups[2] are allowed to choose the part they are to +work out, both interest and harmony are promoted and leadership +stimulated. + +Use a box for each store. Each group is usually able to provide its own +box. Paper inside of box with clean paper, or put on a coat of fresh +paint. Make appropriate shelving and counters of thin wood. + +Stock the store with samples of appropriate merchandise as far as +possible. Supplement with the best representations the children can make. +They should be left to work out the problem for themselves to a large +extent, the teacher giving a suggestion only when they show a lack of +ideas. + +=Suggestions for Details of Representation.=--_Clay Modeling._--Clay may +be used to model fruits and vegetables, bottles and jugs for the grocery; +bread, cake, and pies for the bakery; different cuts of meat for the +butcher shop; horses for the blacksmith shop and for delivery wagons. Clay +representations may be made very realistic by coloring with crayon. + +_Canned Goods._--Paper cylinders on which labels are drawn before pasting +serve well for canned goods. Cylindrical blocks may be cut from broom +sticks or dowel rods and wrapped in appropriately labeled covers. + +_Cloth._--Rolls of various kinds of cloth should be collected for the dry +goods store. Figures may be cut from fashion plates and mounted for the +"Ready to Wear" department. + +_Hats._--Hats may be made for the millinery store from any of the +materials commonly used. This is a good way for girls to develop their +ingenuity and resourcefulness. + +_The Store Front._--The front of each store may be made of either wood or +cardboard, the spaces for doors and windows being left open that the +merchandise may be conveniently handled. Brick or stone fronts, +second-story windows, offices, etc., may all be indicated as artistically +as the capacity of the class permits by the use of colored crayons. The +sign is an important feature and should stimulate an interest in well-made +lettering. + +=Additional Projects.=--In addition to representations of retail shops, +various industries, such as the carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, flour +mill, ice plant, and other familiar industries, may be represented. +Cooperative institutions, such as the post office and fire department, +should be included in the study. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 33.--A grocery. Fourth grade.] + + +=Excursions.=--Wherever possible, the plant should be visited by the class. +Before making the visit, the class should discuss what they expect to see, +and go prepared to find out definite things. Each child should have at +least one question which he is to ask, or one item of information for +which he is to be responsible to the class on the return. Often the visit +is more worth while to the class after they have tried to make a +representation from what they already know and from what they can read on +the subject. They are then more conscious of their needs and more alive to +the important elements than when they are merely seeing a new thing which +is to a great extent foreign to their experience. If they make the visit +first, they are apt to feel the need of another when they attempt to work +out their representation. If they make a representation first, they are +quite sure to be dissatisfied with it and want to make another after they +have made the visit. In either case their consciousness of need is a +measure of growth. + +=Correlation.=--While the building of a store is in progress the study of +the sources and processes of manufacture of the various articles of +merchandise will supply valuable subject matter in several fields. + +_English._--Books containing information on the subject will be read with +a definite purpose and more than ordinary interest. Especially if the +group method is used, will the members of a group be proud to bring to the +class interesting items concerning their particular part of the work. +These narratives and descriptions may be made excellent practice in either +oral or written English and will be of the sort Dewey characterizes as +"having something to say rather than having to say something." + +_Geography._--This study may also enter as deeply into the field of +geography as the development of the class warrants. It will be geography +of a vital sort. How these things are brought to us touches the field of +transportation, creating an interest in ships and railroad trains, pack +mules and express wagons. + +_History._--The study of the process of manufacture opens up the field of +industrial history, and in this, as in the geography, the study is limited +only by the capacity of the class. + +_Number._--In the field of number the possibilities are also unlimited, in +studying the weights and measures used for different commodities, the +actual prices paid for these things, and the usual quantities purchased. + +Playing store will involve the making of bills, the changing of money, and +the measuring of merchandise. Different pupils may take turns acting as +salesmen or cashier. The common practices of business life should be +followed as closely as possible, only in this case each purchaser should +make out his own bills. Actual purchase slips may be brought from home and +used in number lessons. + +An inventory of the stock may be taken and will supply excellent practice +in addition and multiplication. After the example of _real_ stores, a +stock-taking sale at reduced rates may be advertised. The writer answered +such an advertisement by a third grade and asked how much could be +purchased for one dollar. Pencils were busy at once, and a variety of +combinations suggested. One pupil was quickly called to account by his +mates for offering only ninety-five cents' worth of merchandise for the +dollar. By these and numerous other exercises which will suggest +themselves to lively children and wide-awake teachers a vast amount of +vital subject matter may be dealt with in a natural way, quite on the +level of the child's experience and interest. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 34.--A grocery. Third grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Art._--The art side also may receive due attention in the general +proportioning and arrangement of the stores, in the modeling of certain +features from clay, as enumerated above, in the making of labels for boxes +and cans, in the writing of signs and advertisements, and in the color +combinations. These features are to a great extent incidental to other +problems just as the use of good taste is incidental to all the affairs +of life and should receive corresponding emphasis. + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Figure 32 shows about half the stores built by one third-grade class. Some +of the subject matter drawn from the various stories was as follows: in +connection with the grocery, a study of the source of various articles of +food with oral and written descriptions of processes of manufacture; the +common measures used in the grocery, and ordinary amounts purchased. + +In connection with the meat market, the names of various kinds of meat, +the animals from which they are obtained, and the part of the animal which +furnishes certain cuts; as, for example, ham, bacon, chops. The current +prices and approximate quantity needed for a meal made practical number +work. + +The bakery called for an investigation of the processes of bread making +and a study of the material used. In all of the processes the teacher had +opportunity to stress the necessity for proper sanitation. + +In connection with the dry goods store, the distinguishing characteristics +of cotton, wool, linen, and silk were emphasized and illustrated by the +samples collected for the store and by the clothing worn by the children. +Common problems in measuring cloth enlivened the number lessons. + +The millinery store disclosed considerable ingenuity in the field of hat +manufacture, and a lively business in doll hats was carried on for some +time. + +In connection with the post office, registered letters, dead letters, +money orders, rural free delivery, etc., were discussed, and the +advantages of cooperation touched upon. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 35.--A dry goods store. Third grade.] + + +The other stores of the village street offer further opportunity for +becoming better acquainted with the common things which lie close at hand +and touch our daily lives. + + + + +[Illustration: FIG. 36.--Home in a hot country.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 37.--Home in a cold country.] + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAND TABLES AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM + + +A sand table should be considered one of the indispensable furnishings of +every schoolroom. Its possibilities are many and varied. It may be used +merely as a means of recreation and the children allowed to play in the +sand, digging and building as fancy suggests. Or it may be used as the +foundation for elaborate representations, carefully planned by the +teacher, laboriously worked out by the children, and extravagantly admired +by the parents on visitors' day. While both of these uses may serve worthy +ends on certain occasions, the most valuable function of the sand table +strikes a happy medium between the two, as means of illustrating and +emphasizing various features of the daily lessons. In this capacity the +laborious efforts of the show problem on the one hand and purposeless play +of the other are both avoided. In this capacity the work on the sand table +goes along hand in hand with the regular work in geography, history, +language, or any subject in which it is possible through an illustration +to teach more effectively. + +The purpose of this work is not so much to produce fine representations as +to help the children to clarify and strengthen their ideas through the +effort to express them in concrete form. The value lies in the +development which comes to the children while they work. The technique of +processes of construction is of secondary importance, though careless work +ought never to be permitted. The completed project has little value after +it has served its purpose as an illustration and may be quickly destroyed +to make way for the next project. For this reason emphasis is laid on the +general effect rather than the detail of construction. The work should be +done well enough to serve the purpose, but time should not be spent on +unnecessary details which do not add to the value as an illustration. In +most cases speed is an important element. The project should be completed +while the subject it illustrates is under discussion, if it is to be of +most service. The first essential is that the work shall be done wholly by +the children. The teacher may by skillful questions help them to build up +in imagination the project they intend to work out, so that they may work +with a definite purpose. She may sometimes suggest improved methods of +working out various features when the improvements will add to the value +of the illustration, but she should seldom, if ever, plan a project +definitely or dictate the method of procedure. + +Not least among the possible benefits to be derived from work of this kind +is the development of resourcefulness. The necessity for expressing an +idea in concrete form with whatever materials are at hand often calls for +considerable ingenuity. Ability of this sort will show itself only when +the children are expressing their ideas with utmost freedom and feel the +responsibility for the success of their work. The more earnestly the +children try to express their ideas, the greater will be their +development. The teacher should feel that she is hindering the growth of +the children and defrauding them of their legitimate opportunity for +development when she allows an over-anxiety for tangible and showy results +to make her take the responsibility upon herself. + +The details of method are best presented through a detailed description of +typical illustrations actually worked out in the classroom. + + +A SAND-TABLE FARM--HOME LIFE IN THE COUNTRY + +The study of home life as a general subject will include "our home" and +the homes of other people who live under different conditions. To the town +child the country will often be somewhat familiar and hold the second +place in his interest. In the country school the farm may often be the +best place to begin. + +Various questions will arise as soon as it is decided to make a sand-table +farm, the answers to which will be governed by the habits of the locality. +What sort of farm shall we have? Shall we raise stock, fruit, corn, wheat, +vegetables, or a little of everything? What shall we need to plant in each +case, and in what proportion? How much pasture land shall we need? What +buildings? What machinery? + + +[Illustration: FIG. 38.--A sand-table farm. First grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 39.--A sand-table farm. Second grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +=Fences.=--As soon as the question of crops and the division of the table +into fields is settled, the problem of fencing presents itself. What sort +of fence is needed, wire, boards, pickets, rails, or hedge? How far apart +shall the posts be set, how tall should they be, and how many will be +needed? How many boards? How wide? How long? How many wires? + +The making of the fencing will supply material for one or more number +lessons. Various materials may be used. + +_Twigs_ may be cut to given lengths and set in concrete (clay) posts. + +_For wire fence_, cut posts from small wooden sticks. Drive small tacks in +each post--one for each wire. Use fine spool wire or wire raveled from fly +screen. Twist wires once around each tack, or drive the tacks in firmly so +that the wire is held by the head of the tack. This is not an easy fence +for very little children to make. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 40.--Detail of chicken fence.] + + +_To make board fence._ Cut posts required length, and decide upon distance +between posts. Make boards of thin strips of wood or of pasteboard. Nail +boards to posts with tacks or small brads. This is a very easy fence to +make and gives some good exercise in measuring. + +_Rail fences_ may be made from toothpicks or burnt matches. + +_Picket fence_ for the dooryard may be made on wooden foundation with +cardboard pickets. + +_Hedge fence_ should be made from some fine-leafed plant. Cedar twigs +serve well. + +_Chicken fence_ may be cut from paper as per illustration. Fold paper +several times, lengthwise. Cut across the fold as indicated by arrows. +Stretch lengthwise as shown in Fig. 40, _a_ and _b_. + +=Buildings.=--The class should decide on the buildings needed. Each +building should be assigned to a group of two or three workers. Each group +should be held responsible for its contribution and should work out its +problem with as little help as possible. If the children are able to plan +a barn and make it, even though it is a very crude affair, more has been +accomplished than if a very cunning structure had been made after plans, +dictated and closely supervised by the teacher. + +_Wood_ is the best building material for general use. + +_Pasteboard_ serves well, but it is less substantial. It is also harder to +cut and paste heavy cardboard than it is to saw and nail thin wood. + +_Clay_ may be used for all buildings which are commonly made of concrete. + +=Stock.=--The different kinds of animals needed on the farm and the number +of each will furnish profitable subject matter for class discussion. The +animals may be modeled from clay. While the animals will of necessity be +very large in proportion to the acreage of the farm, attention should be +directed to the relative proportions between horses and hogs, cattle and +sheep. Differences of this sort do not trouble little people, as their +work is sure to show. The point should be stressed only sufficiently to +help them to see a little more clearly and express their ideas a little +more adequately each time they try. The accuracy of the result is +important only as an index that the children are steadily developing in +power to see and do, and gaining self-reliance. + +_The Modeling Process._--The best method seems to be simply to _begin_, +and, for example, model as good a horse as possible; then discuss the +results, note a few serious defects, and try again, endeavoring to correct +them. Encourage rapid work which gives the general proportions of the +animal in the rough. Beginners are apt to waste time in a purposeless +smoothing of the clay, in mere tactual enjoyment. Discourage the tendency +to finish the details of a horse's head, for example, before the body has +been modeled. Repeat the process as often as time and the interest of the +children warrant, but be satisfied if the children are doing the best they +can, even though the results are crude and not so good as some other class +has produced. The children should always feel that the work is their own. +For this reason the teacher's help in clay modeling should be through +demonstration rather than by finishing touches to the child's work. +Imitation is a strong instinct in little children, and watching the +teacher model a better horse than he can make will help a child to improve +his own. One thing to be especially avoided is the attempt to bring every +class to a uniform degree of excellence according to adult standards. Such +an ideal encourages the giving of help in a way which hinders real +development though it may produce immediate results. + +=Trees.=--This topic will call out a discussion of the uses of trees; +which trees are shade trees, which are cultivated for their fruit, the +distinguishing characteristics of the different varieties, and the ones +best suited to this particular farm. + +Twigs from the real tree should be used wherever possible. In other cases +the trees may be cut from paper. If a good green paper is not at hand, use +drawing paper and color with crayons. A realistic effect is gained by +cutting the tree from folded paper. (See Fig. 41.) Cut three pieces for +each tree and paste together at the fold, then open out. Make the trunk +long enough to be driven an inch or more into the sand. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 41.--Detail of paper tree.] + + +The making of the trees will furnish material for both art and nature +study lessons. As far as circumstances permit the real trees should be +studied, giving the children first-hand experience whether it be much or +little. They should test the trees they cut by comparing them with real +trees of the same variety. If this is impossible, the best pictures +available should be used. (See notes on paper cutting.) + +=Crops.=--When the various parts of the farm are about ready, the fields +may be sown. The sand should be made very wet before the seed is put in +and sprinkled frequently (twice a day), as the top dries off very quickly. +After the seeds have germinated little sprinkling need be done, as the +roots will find enough moisture in the wet sand underneath, and it is +desirable to retard rather than hasten growth. If carefully managed, a +table can be kept green for several weeks. + +For corn, check holes well into the sand and drop one grain into each +hole. See that rows are straight and holes evenly spaced. + +Sow wheat, oats, barley, etc., _very thickly_, cover lightly with dry +sand, and sprinkle. + +Timothy serves well for meadow and lawn, as it puts up a fine blade. Blue +grass sends up a fine blade, but is very slow in germination. Clover does +not make a velvety lawn, but a little in the pasture will make an +interesting contrast. + +Vegetables may be planted in the garden. They will not develop to any +great extent, but will serve to emphasize different habits in germination; +as, for example, the contrast between beans and corn. + +=Correlation.=--The opportunity for nature study afforded by the farm +problem will prove one of its most interesting and valuable features as +the progress in plant growth is noted from day to day. The farm problem +combines well with both language and art work in supplying vital material +for both. In addition to the interesting discussions which naturally arise +concerning the building and planting, a diary may be kept by each child. + +_Keeping a Diary._--The date of planting may be noted and the date when +each variety of seed first appears above ground. With the larger seeds, as +corn and beans, a seed may be dug up each day and examined, so that the +children may appreciate what is going on below ground. Drawings may be +made of the seeds, showing the changes in appearance from day to day. +After the seed leaves appear the daily growth may be measured and noted in +the diary. After a few days seeds may be dug up again that the roots may +be examined. At various stages of growth different varieties of seeds may +be dug up, laid upon a paper, and sketched by the children. The facts they +note may be stated in simple, well-formed sentences, either oral or +written or both. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 42.--An Eskimo village and The Overall Boys' Farm. +First grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +_Art._--The sketching will serve well as the day's art lesson, though its +chief value is in helping the children to see clearly. Their efforts will +be crude but the teacher should constantly keep in mind that the chief aim +is not to obtain fine sketches. Its purpose is to help the children to a +better appreciation of the plant through the effort put forth in making +the sketch. The technique of the drawing should be emphasized only so far +as it will help them express better what they see, and not to the point +where they attempt to copy the teacher's strokes. The teacher should be +satisfied if every child is doing his best and making steady progress, +even though that best may be crude and not up to the standard reached by +the teacher who struggles for fine results. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 43.--An apple orchard. First grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +_English._--For children who are able to write the diary offers a natural +means of gaining experience in the use of common forms of punctuation; as, +for example, the writing of dates and the use of a comma in a series, as +well as the punctuation of simple statements, in such entries as the +following: + + April 15, 1912. + + We planted the seeds on our farm to-day. + + We planted corn, wheat, oats, and beans. + + +In all work of this sort it is difficult to overestimate the advantage of +separate sheets of paper over a notebook with sewed leaves, in the hands +of the children. With the fresh sheet always comes an inspiration, no +matter what failures have gone before. Poor pages can be done over when +necessary, but do not haunt the workers with their discouraging +suggestions, as in the use of a notebook. The leaves may be gathered +together into a binding of some sort. Even covers of plain brown wrapping +paper can be made artistic with a simple border line well placed or a +design cut from a paper of a different tone. Written work which culminates +in an attractive booklet, however simple, seems more worth while than +exercises written into a commonplace notebook or on scratch paper which +goes to the wastebasket soon after the mistakes have been commented on. + +_Number._--The farm problem also supplies abundant opportunity for gaining +experience with number. In addition to the actual measurement of the +materials used for fences and buildings, the scope may be widened, where +conditions warrant, to include estimates and calculations of the amount of +the material used. + +For example, how many inches or feet of wire will be needed to make a +three-wire fence of given length? How large a piece of cardboard will be +needed to cut boards one fourth or one half inch wide for a four-board +fence fifteen inches long? + +These estimates may be translated, _as far as the children are able to +appreciate the connection_, into quantities and values of the same +material in real problems connected with real farms. It is important, +however, to be careful not to carry work of this sort so far beyond the +experience of the children that it becomes wholly foreign and abstract to +them. We are too apt to forget that it is _experience_ and not _objects_, +which is the vital factor in concreteness. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 44.--Robinson Crusoe. Third grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +In connection with the nature study a variety of number exercises grow out +of the questions which the situation prompts. As, for example, in +connection with the corn crop: How many seeds were planted? In how many +rows? How many seeds in a row? How many came up? How many failed to +germinate? How many more came up than failed? If each good seed should +produce two ears of corn, how many would we have? What would they be +worth at a given price? etc. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 45.--Pueblo Indian village. Second grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +In an ungraded school, while the younger children might confine their +efforts to counting as above, the older children might answer the same +questions in terms of percentage and in the probable quantities on a real +farm. The stock farm may be treated in the same way. How many cows? How +much milk will they give? What will it be worth? How much butter would it +make? What will it cost to keep the cows? What is the farmer's profit? +These and many other questions will suggest themselves to both teacher and +pupils, once the subject is opened up. They will be _practical questions +in so far as they touch the experience of the children_ in such a way as +to appeal to them as real questions. Each individual teacher must decide +how far and into what field it is worth while to lead any particular +class. + +=The Sand Table.=--The various types of sand tables range all the way from +the hardwood, zinc-lined article, provided with a drainpipe, down to the +homemade structure evolved from a goods box. + +The quality of the table does not greatly affect the quality of the work +to be done on it, but there are several points which affect the +convenience of the workers. The height of the table should allow the +children to work comfortably when standing beside it. A long, narrow table +is seldom as satisfactory as one more nearly square, but it should never +be too wide for the children to reach the center easily. Any table with +tight joints in the top and four- or five-inch boards fitted tightly +around the edge will serve the purpose. The inside of the box should be +painted to prevent warping and leaking. An "ocean blue" is a good color, +as it makes a good background for islands. + +If no table is available, a goods box may be turned on its side, the top +covered with oilcloth, and a frame, made from the cover of the box, fitted +around the edge. The inside of the box may be used as a closet in which to +store tools and materials, and a neat appearance given to the whole by a +curtain of denim or other plain, heavy material. + + +ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS + +One of the most valuable uses of the sand table is in making illustrations +for stories, historical events, and similar topics in which the relations +between people and places is important. No definite rules can be laid +down for working out such illustrations. The conditions under which they +are made, the time to be devoted to the work, the importance of the +subject, all affect both the nature and the quality of the work. Any +material which lends itself to the purpose should be called into service. + +The method of procedure is best set forth by describing several problems +as actually worked out by children. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 46.--A home in Switzerland. Second grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + + +(1) =Story of Columbus=--_First Grade._ + +_Materials Used._--Paper for cutting and folding, twigs for forests, +acorns for tents, large piece of glass for ocean. + +_Details of Illustration._--The piece of glass was imbedded in sand in the +middle of the table; one end of the table represented Spain, the other, +America. The representation of Spain included: + +"Castles in Spain" being large houses with many + windows in which the king and queen lived. They were cut from paper. + +Many people, cut from paper, including kings and queens and the + friends of Mr. Columbus who came to tell him "good-by." The kings and + queens were distinguished by royal purple robes and golden crowns and + necklaces, produced by the use of colored crayon. + +The three ships made from folded paper. In one of them sat Mr. + Columbus. + +Fishes, of paper, inhabited the hollow space underneath the glass. + +The forest primeval was shown on the American side by green twigs of + trees set very close together. On pulling apart the leaves and + peering into the depths of this forest, one found it inhabited by + bears and other wild beasts, also cut from paper. + +The Indians lived in a village of acorn tents set up in a little + clearing on the shore. + +Flags.--The Spanish region was identified by a Spanish flag, while + the stars and stripes waved above the Indian village. + +_Values._--The project being on the level of the children's experience, +they worked freely and with intense interest. The characters in the story +were all very real to them. They literally swarmed about the table +whenever opportunity was given, moving the figures about as they told the +story over and over again. Mr. Columbus sailed across the sea many times. +Many boats were made and named for one of the three, according to the +preference of the maker. They peeped into the forest and shuddered in +delightful fear "lest a bear get me." They made and remade the scene as +new ideas suggested themselves during several days of Columbus week. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 47.--Two little knights of Kentucky. Fourth grade. +Columbia, Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 48.--How Cedric became a knight. Fourth grade. +Columbia, Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 49.--A sugar camp. Built late in the spring by a +third-grade class. They enjoyed the green grass, though it suggests an +overlate season.] + + +Several discrepancies existed which are mentioned here because they +troubled some overconscientious visitors. The stars and stripes did not +come into existence until centuries after Columbus died and therefore +never waved over the Indian village which he found. But chronology does +not trouble the first grader very much, while "my country" and "my flag" +are ideas which are developing together. And when he is singing, "Columbus +sailed across the sea, To find a land for you and me," the red, white, and +blue forms the most fitting symbol in his representation of that land. The +wild animals which infested the sand-table forest are not all mentioned in +the histories as found on San Salvador, but they did exist in the child's +idea of the wild country which the white men found on this side of the +Atlantic. The children having truthfully expressed their ideas, the +teacher had a basis from which to develop, correct, and emphasize such +points as were of real importance, while the unimportant features would +fade out for lack of emphasis. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 50.--A western cattle ranch.] + + +On the occasion of the supervisor's visit the members of the class vied +with each other in telling the story and explaining the significance of +the various illustrations. The supervisor expressed a wish to own some of +the cuttings, whereupon, at a hint from the teacher, the class which had +gathered about the sand table scampered joyfully (but quietly) back to +their seats. Scissors and paper were quickly distributed, and in about +five minutes an empty shoe box was required to hold the collection of "Mr. +Columbuses," kings and queens in royal purple, gold crowns, and necklaces, +ships, fishes, etc., that were showered upon the guest. Needless to say +many scraps of paper had fallen to the floor. The teacher remarked that +it was time for the brownies to come. Down went all the heads for a sleepy +time. The teacher slipped about, tapping here and there a child, who +quickly began gathering up the scraps as joyously as he had helped to make +them. + +The supervisor bade them good-by, with a wish that all children might +begin their school life under such happy and wholesome influences. + +(2) =Story of Jack Horner=[3]--_First Grade._--As the story was read the +different characters were subjects for free paper-cutting exercises. An +abundance of paper (scratch paper and newspaper) was supplied, and each +child allowed to cut each figure many times, very quickly. + +The story was also dramatized and acted out over and over again. Figure 1 +shows the result of an hour's work in assembling the various characters +and telling the whole story on the sand table and in a poster. The +different figures to be cut were assigned to or chosen by the different +children, the teacher taking care that no characters were omitted. Having +cut figures of the various characters as they were met in the story, all +were eager to reproduce the part called for, and in a few minutes more +than enough cuttings were made to supply both sand table and poster with +ample material. Two groups of children, one for the poster and one for the +sand table, were assigned the work of placing the figures. The teacher +superintended both projects, giving a few suggestions as needed, but +throwing the responsibility upon the children as much as possible. + +This problem was worked out by the same class which made the Columbus +illustration just described. The Jack Horner story was illustrated in the +spring, after much work of this sort had been done. The quality of the +cuttings showed an interesting improvement over the cuttings made for the +Columbus story, which came during the third week of the school year. + +(3) =Story of Three Little Pigs.=--This is a long story, and three weeks +were occupied in reading it and dramatizing it. During this time there +were frequent discussions about how it was to be worked out on the sand +table. Contributions in great variety were brought in: straw for the straw +house, twigs for the house of sticks, bags of brick dust to make a roadway +different from the sand, rose hips to be tied to a small branch to +represent the apple tree, and various other articles. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 51.--The story of Three Little Pigs. First grade. +Columbia, Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 52.--A Japanese tea garden. Third grade. Columbia, +Missouri.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 53.--A coal mine. Fourth grade. Columbia, Missouri.] + + +The houses were built as suggested by the pictures in the reader. The pig +and wolf were modeled in clay, each being shown in the several different +positions described in the story. Over and over a little clay pig rolled +down the hill in a paper churn and frightened a clay wolf. One group, not +having wherewithal to build a brick house, used a wooden one made by +another group. Another class made the brick house out of blocks, and built +in a fireplace with its kettle ready to hold the hot water whenever the +wolf should start for the chimney. (See Fig. 51.) + +(4) =Japanese Tea Garden.=--A third-grade class used the sand table to +illustrate what they had gleaned from reading several stories and +descriptions of life in Japan, in connection with elementary geography. +The sand-table representation included a tiny bridge across a small stream +of "real" water. The "real river" was secured by ingenious use of a +leaking tin can which was hidden behind a clump of trees (twigs). A thin +layer of cement in the bed of the river kept the water from sinking into +the sand. A shallow pan imbedded in the sand formed a lake into which the +river poured its waters. (See Fig. 52.) + +(5) =A Coal Mine.=--The sand table shown in Fig. 53 was worked out by a +fourth-grade class in connection with the geography of the western states. +Descriptions and pictures were studied with great earnestness to find out +how to fix it, and the children made it as they thought it ought to be. +The actual making occupied very little time, the various parts being +contributed by different pupils. + +Problems of this sort develop leadership. There is usually one whose ideas +take definite shape promptly and whose suggestions are willingly followed +by his group. If there is one pupil in the class whose ability to lead is +so strong that the others are overshadowed, it is sometimes well to let +the work be done by small groups who use the table turn about. This plan +stimulates a wholesome rivalry and discourages dawdling. + +(6) =Stories.=--Illustrations for two stories are shown on page 94. In the +first (Fig. 47) part of the class made a representation on the sand table +while the rest prepared a poster from paper cuttings. In the second (Fig. +48) empty shoe boxes were used in making the castle. Very little time was +spent on either project. + + + + +[Illustration: FIG. 54.--A chariot race. Second grade. Pasadena, +California.] + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ANIMALS AND TOYS + + +The circus and the zoological garden are always centers of interest to +little children and may be used to great advantage to furnish the point of +departure in the study of animal life. Making the animals in some form +crystallizes the interest in the animals represented, and awakens interest +in their habits and home. + +The handwork may be used as an illustrative factor connected with +geography and nature study, or the making of the circus may be the +starting point, and incidentally furnish subject matter in several fields. +For example, geography and nature study grow out of the search for facts +concerning the animals themselves, _i.e._ size, color, food, home, value, +etc. The desire for such information gives purpose to reading. Oral and +written descriptions supply subject matter for practice in English. +Reducing the actual proportions of animals to a definite scale and +problems relating to their commercial value make practical use of the +knowledge of number. Art enters into the making of free-hand sketches, +cuttings, and patterns for wooden models. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 55.--A circus parade.] + + +A good circus or "zoo" may be worked out in a variety of materials. Paper, +cardboard, clay, and wood all serve well. + +To get the best value from the problem it should be as free as possible +from copy work. The children should consult the best sources of +information at their disposal, which may range all the way from ordinary +picture books to natural history and encyclopedia descriptions. They +should find out, unaided, as much as possible concerning the animal in +question: his size, color, food, home, values, etc.,--the teacher +supplementing with interesting and necessary items not at the disposal of +the class. + +Free-hand cuttings and pencil sketches should be compared with the best +pictures obtainable and the real animal whenever possible. Such patterns +as are needed should be made by the children themselves. Ready-made +patterns will produce better proportioned animals, but more dependent, +less observant children also. + + +METHODS IN DETAIL + +=Realistic Animals in Three-ply Wood.=--Secure necessary items of +measurement and decide upon scale. One inch for each foot is best for +younger children. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 56.--Three-ply wooden animals.] + + +Draw rectangle proportioned to the extreme length and height of the +animal. Draw into the rectangle a _profile_ sketch of the animal, being +careful that it comes to the line on each side. _All four feet must_ touch +the base line. Considerable practice may be needed before a good sketch +can be drawn. The animal may be represented as standing, walking, or +running, but must be drawn in profile. + +Cut out the sketch and make by it three patterns: one of the head, body, +and tail; one of the body and right legs; one of the body and left legs. +Care must be taken to get good lines at shoulder and rump. (See Fig. 56.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 57.--Detail of three-ply animals with movable parts.] + + +Lay the pattern on the wood so that the grain runs lengthwise of the legs +and other frail parts and draw outline carefully. Use basswood one fourth +inch thick, or other soft wood. + +Saw out the parts with a coping saw. Be careful in sawing to keep the +blade in a vertical position in order that the edges may be true. + +Nail or glue the parts together. If the animal does not stand perfectly, +rub the feet on a piece of sandpaper. Use water color or crayon to give +proper color. + +_Three-ply Animals with Movable Parts._--To make the head movable, saw the +part from the body on a curved line, as shown in Fig. 57. Fasten with a +single nail through the shoulder. The curved line must be a part of a +circle and the nail must be at the center. The edges should be smooth to +allow easy action. The tail may be adjusted by a similar plan. The parts +may be made to move automatically by suspending a weight on cords which +are attached to the movable parts, as shown in Fig. 57. If the weight is +to be used, cut off the body part on the double dotted line to allow room +for the cords to swing. + +A figure of this sort must be fastened on a pedestal or platform which +will extend over the edge of the table. A slot must be cut in the pedestal +wide enough to allow the cords to swing freely. (See Fig. 56.) The +pedestal may be a long board or piece of heavy cardboard which can be +tacked to the table or held firm by a clamp, or it may be a thin board +fastened to a U-shaped block which is held firm on the edge of the table +by a wedge. + +=Cardboard and Paper Animals that Stand.=--For younger children who cannot +handle the saw easily cardboard or stiff paper may be used. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 58.--Notched rest for animals.] + + +To make the animal stand the feet may be tacked to a small piece of wood +about one inch square on the end and as long as needed, or a cardboard +brace, such as is used on easels, may be glued to the back. A realistic +effect is given if the animal is cut with two legs and the brace made to +represent the other two, or a piece of cardboard cut as in Fig. 58 may be +used as a brace, the body of the animal fitting into the notch. + +_Clay_ makes an excellent medium, but it requires more skill in clay than +in wood to get an equally good effect. Clay animals should be modeled with +a pedestal, and the separations between the two forelegs and the two hind +legs merely indicated. If each leg is modeled separately, the figure is +likely to be frail. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 59.--Balancing figures.] + + +=Balancing Figures.=--Design such figures as a prancing horse or dancing +bear and saw from a single piece of wood. A little below the center of the +figure insert a curved wire, on the other end of which is a ball of clay +or other weight. The wire must be fastened firmly so that it cannot turn. +Adjust so that the figure balances. + +Figures of people in foreign costumes, children running and jumping, as +well as all sorts of animals, are very fascinating problems of this sort. +(See Fig. 59.) + +=Seesaw Figures.=--Such groups as two boys chopping wood, two chickens +drinking, two dogs tugging at a string, wrestling boys, and similar groups +are interesting problems of the seesaw type. (See Fig. 60.) + +_Detail._--Cut the figures from cardboard. Make with a long pedestal. +Color with crayon or water color. Use two light sticks for the seesaw, to +which tack one figure in a vertical position and the other on a slant. +Fasten to each stick with one tack. If a central figure is used, tack +firmly to lower stick. Work the figure by moving the upper stick while the +lower one is held firm. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 60.--Some simple toys.] + + +=Toys.=--A box of carpenter's scraps of soft wood will supply material for +a variety of toys which may be made by the children themselves, thereby +more than doubling the fun. A few suggestions are given in detail. The +making of these will suggest others. (See Fig. 60.) + +_Doll's Swing._--A heavy block for a base, two tall uprights, and a +crosspiece will make the frame. Make a seat from cardboard or use the end +of a small box and suspend from crossbar. + +_Doll's Teeter._--Use a heavy block for a base. Two uprights with +double-pointed tacks or notches in the top. Drive two double-pointed tacks +in lower side of teeter board at center. Slip a small rod through the +tacks and rest in the notches on the uprights. Suspend a weight by cords +from the lower side of the board, adjust until the board balances. The +ends of the board should be provided with box seats for the doll's +comfort. + +_Railroad Train._--For cars, saw pieces from a square stick. For engine, +use pieces of broomstick or other cylinder. Soft wood is better if +obtainable. For wheels, use pieces of small broomstick or dowel rod. (See +Fig. 56.) + +Let the children study real trains and make the best imitation they can +work out. + +_Jumping Jacks._--Cut the figure from light weight cardboard. Make head +and body in one piece. Cut two arms long enough to reach well above the +head. Make the hands very large. Cut two legs either with or without a +joint at the knee. Color with crayon or water color. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 61.--Adjusting jumping jack in frame.] + + +Fasten the legs and arms to the body with a string tied loosely to allow +free movements. Make a frame of two light stiff sticks and a crosspiece +fastened between them near the lower end of the sticks. Fasten with a +single nail at either end of the crosspiece. Cut notches near the upper +ends of the sticks. Fasten the figure to the frame by a stout thread. Use +a coarse needle and carry the thread through the hands twice, leaving a +loop on each side to slip over the ends of the sticks into the notches. A +small block or folded bit of cardboard between the hands to keep them +apart will improve the movement of the toy. Adjust the figure so that the +threads are parallel when the figure hangs below the inverted frame. (See +Fig. 61.) When the frame is held upright, the figure will hang between the +sticks and the threads will be crossed. Press the lower ends of the frame +together to make the jumping jack perform. + +_Merry-go-round._--Use a heavy block for a base. Bore a hole in the center +and insert a square stick, about 10 in. long. For arms, use two pieces +about 3/8 in. thick and 10 in. long. Fasten these together in the form of +a cross and nail to the top of the upright with a single nail. An awl may +be used to make the hole a little larger than the nail so that the arms +will revolve easily. Suspend a box seat of wood or cardboard from each arm +to complete the toy. (See Fig. 59.) + +=Games.=--_Ring Toss._--Use two square pieces of board at least 1/2 in. +thick, one piece larger than the other. Bore a hole in the center of the +smaller piece with a 1/2-in. auger bit. + +For the upright use a stick 1/2 in. square and about 12 in. long. Whittle +the corners of the stick until it fits firmly into the hole in the small +board. Nail the small board to the large one. + +For the rings use reeds, venetian iron, or hoops from small buckets or +cart wheels. Wrap the rings with raffia or yarn. Make at least three rings +of varying sizes. (See Fig. 60.) + +Playing ring toss and keeping tally makes an excellent number game. + +_Ten Pins._--From bogus or other heavy paper roll and paste cylinders +about three inches in diameter and about twelve inches long. These may be +set on end, and any of the common ten pin games played with the help of a +soft rubber ball. Keeping tally gives excellent practice in number. + +_Bean Bag Game._--Draw three circles of different sizes on a large sheet +of heavy cardboard. Carefully cut out the circles with a sharp-pointed +knife. Mount a picture of some animal on each piece cut out. + +Fasten the pieces back in place by a single cloth hinge pasted on the +back, and at the lowest part of the circle. + +Tack the sheet of cardboard to a light wooden frame to keep it from +bending. + +Let the frame rest against the wall at a slight angle. Bean bags thrown at +the animals will knock them down as they go through the holes. The bean +bags should be made by the children. Various number games may be played +with bean bags. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +HOLIDAYS + + +The various holidays which come during the year mean so much to little +children that they should receive special notice and should suggest the +form of handwork to be done at the time. + +=Thanksgiving= suggests attention to harvest products, to be modeled in +clay, cut from paper, or drawn with crayon; the making of sand-table +scenes showing early New England life in various phases; the making of +various utensils and commodities of the primitive home which differ from +our own; as, for example, the making of candles, the hour glass, and the +sundial. + +=Christmas= suggests the making of toys and all sorts of things suitable +for gifts. If the work centers around the Christmas tree, it offers +opportunity for cooperation in making trimming such as paper chains, +pop-corn strings, etc., as well as individual gifts. If a tree is not +obtainable, a box may be dressed up in imitation of Santa's sleigh drawn +by cardboard reindeer. Whatever else is done in honor of the visit of St. +Nicholas, the spirit of giving should be cultivated by making gifts to +some younger or less fortunate groups. Picture books may be made for sick +children, doll furniture and other toys for the orphans' home or some +family of unfortunates. A sack might arrive a week or two before +Christmas accompanied by a telegram from Santa requesting contributions +to help him out in some specific way and stating that it would be called +for at a certain time. When a "real Santa" calls for the sack, he may +leave in its place another containing some unexpected treat for the +children themselves. The gifts which the children contribute should be of +their own making, that they may have a full sense of real giving and not +merely the pleasure of delivering the parcels mother has provided. + +=Valentine's Day= offers an opportunity for developing appreciation of a +higher form of art than the shop windows frequently offer, and also +investing with pure, sweet sentiment a day which means, in some quarters, +only vulgar sentimentality and coarse jests. + +=Easter= offers a similar opportunity for emphasis on the fine things in +color and subjects for greeting cards. The season also suggests emphasis +on study of budding plants and young animal life by means of cutting, +painting, and modeling. + +=Hero days= suggest a variety of forms of handwork, such as picture making +with crayons or cuttings, or pictures in three dimensions on the sand +table, for intensifying important phases of the hero's life; illustrated +stories in booklet form; and the making of "properties" for dramatic +representations. These things offer a welcome change from the stereotyped +"Speaking day," and stimulate originality and self-reliance. + +So much has been written and so many suggestions are constantly being +offered in school journals that specific suggestions for _things to make_ +seem superfluous here. + +=Individual Problems.=--While community problems must form a large part of +the handwork in the lower grades, it is desirable to have, from time to +time, projects which seek a definite result from each pupil. In the +community problem it is possible for the strong pupil to monopolize the +values of the work by imposing his ideas upon his fellows and by doing all +the work while the slower pupils are getting ready to begin. In the same +way it is possible for the lazy pupil to shirk much of his responsibility +through the eagerness of his companions. It is therefore necessary to +maintain a balance by the use of individual problems of a more definite +type. These may often be specific parts of the community problem, but this +will not meet all the needs of the case. The special days offer excellent +occasion for work of this sort in addition to the cooperative problems +which are undertaken by the class as a whole. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +GENERAL SUGGESTIONS AND SUMMARY + + +=Modification of Outlines.=--All the projects outlined in the foregoing +pages are capable of modification and adaptation to the needs of several +grades. For this reason, in nearly every problem, many more suggestions +are offered than will often be applicable in any one instance of its +development. The directions are, for the most part, given from the +standpoint of the first grade, on the principle that it is easier to add +to the detail of a problem than to simplify it. On the other hand, the +directions are not generally specific in detail, in order to prevent as +far as possible a mechanical copying of any project. + +=Emphasis on Self-expression.=--It is desired to place special emphasis +upon the point that each project undertaken, if it is to reach its highest +value, must come as fully as possible from the children themselves and be +to the very fullest extent _their self-expression_. + +_Not any house described in this book, nor any house seen in another +schoolroom, nor even the house which I, as teacher, plan in detail, will +be most valuable to my class_; but rather _our house_, which _we, teacher +and pupils_ working together, evolve to suit our own needs and fancies, +using suggestions gathered from every available source, but adapting them +to our own needs. + +=Self-directed Activity and Discipline.=--The terms "self-directed +activity" and "self-expression" must not be confounded with the idea of +letting the children do as they please in any random and purposeless +fashion. If one were to start out to escort a group of children to a +certain hilltop, it is quite probable that some of them would run part of +the way. Others would walk in twos and threes, and these would change +about. They would halt to look at things that attracted their attention. +The leader would halt them to observe some interesting point which they +might otherwise miss. Should any of them wander from the right path the +leader would call them back, and any frail child would be helped over the +hard places. Yet with all this freedom the group might move steadily +forward and reach the hilltop in due time. + +All progress up the hill of knowledge should follow a similar plan. The +teacher should have a very definite idea of the end to be attained. The +children should work with a purpose, and that purpose should be of such +immediate interest to them that they would be anxious to attain it. They +would then work earnestly, and discipline would settle itself. Handwork +projects should be sufficiently simple to allow each worker to see his way +through, or at least find his way without waiting for directions at each +step. Instead of a blind following of such directions the worker should at +all times feel himself the master of his tools and materials and be able +to make them obey his impulse and express his idea. This attitude toward +work can be secured only when the work is kept quite down to the level of +the child's ability and appreciation. Only by this means can we hope to +establish the inspiring and strengthening "habit of success." + +=Introduction of New Methods.=--The question arises, How shall work of +this sort be adapted to a course of study which is already full and does +not provide time for handwork? Handwork takes more time than bookwork, and +children evolve plans but slowly. If the teacher waits for the children to +evolve plans and then carry them out on their own responsibility, the +quantity of work produced will be small and the quality poor compared with +the results gained by other methods. + +The freer method must be justified, not by its tangible results, but by +its value as a means of individual development. If it is true that + + "One good idea known to be thine own + Is worth a thousand gleaned from fields by others sown," + +then it follows that a small quantity of crude work may often represent +greater genuine growth than a larger quantity of nicely finished work, if +the latter has been accomplished by such careful dictation that individual +thought on the part of the pupils was unnecessary. + +Common sense is the best guide in introducing a new method of work. Any +sudden transition is likely to be disastrous. Responsibility in new fields +should be shifted from teacher to pupils as rapidly as they are able to +carry it, but it should never be transferred in wholesale fashion. This is +especially true of a class that is accustomed to wait for the teacher's +permission or command in all the small details of schoolroom life, such as +speaking, moving about the room, etc. + +The freer methods may be introduced by either of two plans. In carrying +through the first sand-table project, for example, the teacher may plan +the details quite as definitely as is her custom in general work, assign +each part to a particular pupil, and guide his execution of it as far as +necessary. With each succeeding project more and more freedom may be +granted, as the children become accustomed to community work and learn how +to use the materials involved. Or, the work may be introduced by allowing +two or three very trustworthy pupils to work out, quite alone, some simple +project which will appeal to the entire class as very desirable. Other +projects may be worked out by other pupils as they show themselves worthy +of trust. Such a plan sets a premium upon independence and ability to +direct one's own actions, and has a beneficial effect upon general +discipline. Each individual teacher must follow the plan which best +accords with her individual habits and the conditions under which she +works. No rule can be rated as best under any and all circumstances. + +=New and Different Projects.=--Teachers frequently spend time and nerve +force seeking new projects supposedly to stimulate the interest of the +children. Often a careful examination into the true motives back of the +search would prove that it is not so much to stimulate the interest of the +children as to call forth the admiration of other teachers. Because a +house was built last year does not hinder the building of another this +year. If the children are allowed ample freedom, the houses will not be +alike. If the teacher is centering her interest in the development of the +children and not in the things the children make, the projects will always +be new because worked out in a new way by a different group of children. +Monotony comes about through the teacher's attempt to plan out details and +impose them upon the children, a process quite similar to the use of +predigested foods. + +=Quality of Work.=--Methods such as outlined above are sometimes criticized +because of the crudity of the results. It is sometimes argued that the +crude work establishes low standards and that better finished work of a +more useful type is more desirable in school projects. Certainly +everything which is done in school should be useful. School years are too +precious to be wasted, in any degree, on a thing which is useless. But it +is important to have a right standard for measuring the usefulness of a +project. Since it is the child's interest and effort which are to be +stimulated, his work must be useful from his point of view. The things +that he works upon must be valuable to him personally. It is not enough +for the teacher to be satisfied with the value of the subject matter. It +must, as far as possible, be self-evident to the child himself. + +In the growing period a child is always anxious to excel himself and +attain a higher level, nearer the adult standards. He measures his growth, +not only in inches, but in ability to run faster, jump farther, count +higher, and so on. So long as he is stimulated by an interesting motive he +puts forth his best effort. It is only when we set him tasks and demand +blind obedience that he lags. If his crude work represents his best +effort, honestly put forth, he will, and he does, desire to do something +better each time he tries. If he is permitted to work freely upon projects +of immediate interest to him, he not only becomes familiar with various +materials and the purposes they may serve, but he also begins to realize +his inability to make them always obey his impulse. As soon as he +discovers that there are better and easier ways of working which bring +about more satisfactory results, he is anxious to learn the tricks of the +trade; and he comes to the later, more technical courses in handwork, not +only with more intelligence, but also with an appreciation of their value +which is reflected in the quality of his work. + +=Summary.=--The last word, as the first in this little book, would stress +the fact that it is always possible to improve present conditions. + +Activity is an essential factor in a child's development in school as well +as out. Handwork is an important phase of this necessary activity. Neither +lack of time, scarcity of material, nor lack of training on the part of +the teacher is a sufficient excuse for failure to use some handwork in +every school. Much can be accomplished with materials which are to be +found anywhere, without using more time than is ordinarily devoted to the +subject, and with better results, if we will but realize that educative +handwork is not confined to the making of a few books, boxes, mats, or +baskets after a prescribed pattern, however good in themselves these may +be, but is also a means through which we may teach other subject matter. + +We not only learn to do by doing, but we come to _know_ through trying to +_do_. And we often learn more through our failures than through our +successes. We defraud the children if we deprive them of this important +factor in their development. Any teacher who is willing to begin with what +she has and _let the children do_ the best they can with it, will find +unexpected resources and greater opportunities at every hand. + +Let us not allow ourselves to grow disheartened through vain wishes for +the impossible or for the advantages of some other field, but attack our +own with vigor and determination; for + + "The common problem, yours, mine, every one's + Is--not to fancy what were fair in life + Provided it could be--but, finding first + What may be, then find how to make it fair + Up to our means." + + + + +REFERENCES + + +DEWEY--The School and the Child; School and Society; The Child and the +Curriculum. + +O'SHEA--Dynamic Factors in Education. + +SCOTT--Social Education. + +DOPP--The Place of Industries in Elementary Education. + +BONE--The Service of the Hand in the School. + +SARGENT--Fine and Industrial Arts. + +ROW--The Educational Meaning of Manual Arts and Industries. + +CHARTERS--Methods of Teaching. + +BAGLEY--The Educative Process. + +RUSSELL--The School and Industrial Life. Educational Review, Dec. 1909. + +SYKES AND BONSER--Industrial Education. Teachers College Record, Sept. +1911. + +BENNETT--The Place of Manual Arts in Education. Educational Review, Oct. +1911. + +RICHARDS--Handwork in the Primary School. Manual Training Magazine, Oct. +1901. + + +REFERENCES FOR CLASSROOM USE + +Coping Saw Work JOHNSTON + +School Drawing DANIELS + +Little Folks Handy Book BEARD + +World at Work Series DUTTON + +Big People and Little People of Other Lands SHAW + +How We Are Fed CHAMBERLAIN + +How We Are Clothed CHAMBERLAIN + +How We Are Sheltered CHAMBERLAIN + +Continents and their People CHAMBERLAIN + +How the World is Fed CARPENTER + +How the World is Clothed CARPENTER + +How the World is Housed CARPENTER + +Around the World Series TOLMAN + +Youth's Companion Series LANE + +The Bird Woman CHANDLER + +The Tree Dwellers DOPP + +The Early Cave Men DOPP + +The Later Cave Men DOPP + + +Printed in the United States of America. + + + + +Footnotes: + +[1] In scoring cardboard cut about halfway through the board on the +_outside_ of the fold. + +[2] See Scott's "Social Education." + +[3] See Riverside Primer. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Additional spacing after some of the quotes is intentional to indicate +both the end of a quotation and the beginning of a new paragraph as +presented in the original text. + +Printer's inconsistencies in hyphenation have been retained. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIMARY HANDWORK*** + + +******* This file should be named 30676.txt or 30676.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/6/7/30676 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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