2. Describe

the best methods by which to teach

number to very little children.

3. Describe first lessons in Arithmetic.

4. How will you teach children to write down numbers correctly?

5. Distinguish between numeration and notation, and give your method of teaching them.

6. In learning the Multiplication table, which products do children most commonly find most difficult in committing to memory ? Account for some of the most difficult cases. 7. What use do you make of the blackboard in Arithmetic ?

8. Draw up notes for an introductory lesson on Addition for the top class of an Infant School.

9. By what method should the teaching of simple exercises in Fractions to Infants be conducted? Give reasons for your answer.

10. What means must be adopted to secure an intelligent and rapid progress in teaching Arithmetic to Infants?

CHAPTER V.

COLLECTIVE LESSONS.

“II. SIMPLE LESSONS ON OBJECTS, and on the phenomena of Nature, and of common life." (Revised Code, 1883.)

These are described in the Instructions to H.M.'s Inspectors as a "regular course of conversational lessons on objects, and on the facts of natural history."

This is the second class of subjects upon which the Merit Grant depends, and naturally divides itself into three sections.

(1) SIMPLE LESSONS ON OBJECTS.-The objects selected should be such as fall within the actual observation of a child for the most part; and should include—

(a) Domestic Animals.

(b) Some of the more common Plants.

(c) Some of the best known Metals and Minerals. In the upper section some foreign animals might also be dealt with, but only after the domestic animals have given the class types as means of appeal from the known to the unknown.

In selecting the animals care should be taken by the teacher that bloodthirsty instincts are silently passed over. These propensities have their use in the economy of nature, but the teacher should aim at cultivating the gentle emotions by reference in animals to love of off

spring, ingenuity in construction of abodes or overcoming obstacles, patience in distress or difficulty, kindly aid to other animals, habits of industry, etc., so far as any or all of these are manifested by the "lower creatures.” To this end each lesson might conclude with a short anecdote illustrative of these. (Vide "Notes of Lessons for Infants.”) The teacher will, of course, note that these lessons are "conversational," but the subject matter should at the same time be orderly in arrangement, and accurate in statement.

ANIMALS.

(a) Pictures of the animals should, of course, accompany the lessons, and these should be large and striking, and so well executed that they may be used as ornaments for the walls. Among the best are Keith Johnston's (from the German), and the Natural Society's and Partridge's Natural History Rolls. Reject those with scientific disquisitions at the foot, as to the orders, genera, etc. A sheet of "Comparative Sizes of Animals" will be also found useful on the wall.

Among the foreign animals should be included Elephant, Lion, Tiger, Whale, Bear, Deer, Fox, Wolf, etc.

PLANTS.

(b) The Plants selected for lessons should vary with the season; and actual specimens, in a living state, should be made use of. Among the best are the Buttercup, Primrose, Wallflower, Daisy, Grass, Wheat, Barley, Oats, Potato, Pea, Bean, etc.

Very slight references should be made to manufactures, and none as to the mode of the manufacture.

MINERALS.

(c) The Minerals should include the best known metals (Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Lead, etc.) and rocks (Sandstone, Limestone, Chalk, Clay, etc.) and earths; with Coal, which should have special attention.

SCHOOL MUSEUM.

In these lessons actual specimens (sold in "Object Lesson Boxes," or, better still, collected by the teacher) should be used in illustration. The latter are easily collected, and, though not so nice to look at as those specially prepared, are really more valuable for purposes of illustration. They should include a lump of chalk in the rough, a piece of coal, a little sand, a boulder, clay, lead ore, brick, a piece of pottery, lime, etc.

In the statement of what makes an "Excellent School" in the opinion of the Department "an orderly collection of simple objects and apparatus adapted to illustrate the school lessons," is mentioned. (Instructions to H.M.'s Inspectors.)

The following hints as to the proper kinds of objects to collect, and the manner of keeping them, may be useful:— The objects should be kept in a cupboard, between the ordinary shelves of which sliding shelves are inserted on slats, the whole being subdivided into compartments by cross pieces of wood. The parallel slats for subdivision should be about three inches asunder, dividing each shelf into compartments of that size. Pill boxes and small glass bottles will be found useful for small objects and those in powder and liquid.

Among the objects collected might be included

Wheat-Ear; with piece of straw plaiting; straw paper; small picture-frame of straw made by teacher.

PART I.

G

Also small biscuit; stick of macaroni; starch.

In country schools the whole subject of wheat cultivation should be dealt with in top class Infants (ploughing; sowing seed; hoeing; reaping; carrying, etc.).

Barley, ear of; Barley-meal in pill-box, or small bottle; pearl barley.

Oats, ear of; Oatcake; oatmeal.

Potato (flower and berry, in season); starch; gum. Coal-Cinder; coke; pipe, clay, and coal-dust (to make gas in fire before the class); one of the aniline dyes in bottle; paraffin, liquid and solid.

Chalk-Flint; limestone; lime; mortar; coloured chalks. Glass-Bottle glass; window glass; spun glass (cheap blown glass instruments can be bought at about one shilling per dozen in towns); flint; sand.

Lead-ore-Lead; pipe-head to melt; small lead piping and rolled lead.

Pebble-Rough, rounded; gravel; sand.

Slate-Rough unhewn fragment; piece of school slate; roofing slate; slate pencil.

Clay-Tile; broken brick; potsherd; china.

Soap-Cubes of yellow, mottled, and toilet soaps; soda. Toy Ship-full-rigged, with masts, sails, yards.

Toy Railway Train, with engine, carriage, etc. These can be bought for one shilling (see advertisements in daily papers).

Doll's Shoes.

Doll's Socks.

Doll's Frock.

Silk-Silk caterpillar's egg; floss silk; spun silk; woven silk; dyed silk; ribbon.

Calico-Cotton wool (raw cotton); cotton seeds; cotton cake; cotton thread; bleached and unbleached and printed calico.

Feather-Quill pen; down.