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LESSON VII

CHANGES THAT SURPRISE

AGAIN the material is suggestive of what in different localities will be seen by the children to indicate the coming of winter. The fact that God's care has provided for this winter preparation is not beyond the child's understanding and arouses his wonder and love.

Greeting:

The children are now so well acquainted that they will enjoy greeting each other with a handshake when they come together in the morning. The Good-morning song suggested in the first topic may be used as a little game. While the first line, "Good morning to you, children dear," is being sung, any little child who wishes to say good morning to a playmate may find the playmate. They shake hands and bow. This play must not be forced in a prescribed fashion, but allowed to grow through suggestion and imitation. Never ask a child to greet another unless he wants to do so, and keep the spontaneity of the greeting through the form. It does not much matter here what kind of a bow is made or whether left or right hands are joined if the spirit of courtesy and good will is present.

Conversation:

Many changes are taking place out of doors; the leaves brought in by the children are brown and some of them are withered; the gay colors have departed; there are few flowers in the gardens; the birds are flying away. The chil

dren have noticed some of these changes, to others their attention may be called by the teacher. "Why do the leaves fall and the birds fly away?" she may ask if a child does not propose the question first. The children have noted that it is getting colder; perhaps there have been already a few snowflakes and frost has been evident frequently. "Winter is coming," the children say, and these changes, they come to realize, are the preparation.

Song:

Some time during this conversation or at its close, the teacher may sing to them:

"The brown leaves are falling,

The birds will soon fly,

The shrill winds are calling,
'Dear Summer, good-by.'

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(Songs for the Little Child.)

After the song has been sung two or three times the children join with the teacher in the singing. They may repeat the words once without the music to be sure that every child has the correct wording. They may talk a little about the shrill winds and perhaps the teacher or the children will imitate the sound of this wind. If the shrill winds are blowing outside, all become very still and listen to the sound. Whistling to the tune gives the effect of the wind and is much enjoyed by the little boys in particular.

Representative play:

After the singing of the song, the children may wish to play that they are the brown leaves floating through the air or the milkweed down. They look out of the window for a few minutes and watch the leaves falling through the air. If the milkweed pods are still in the room, a few of the seeds

may be allowed to float over the room and out of the window. When the children have caught the feeling of this floating, on tiptoe with arms lightly extended they glide about the room. The pianist may use as instrumental music. "Floating like a Feather," in Rhythms of Childhood, by Caroline Crawford.

Story in review:

After the activity the children may gather in a group about the teacher for the retelling of Maud Lindsay's story of "The Magic Flower." At the close the teacher and children may talk about what is happening to the flowers in the garden, bringing out especially the provision in the seeds for the renewed life in the spring.

Prayer:

Such a prayer as the following one may be used at this time or earlier in the session: "Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for taking care of the birds and the flowers in the winter."

Handwork:

As handwork the children may draw freehand a picture of the leaves falling through the air, of the bare tree dropping its leaves, of the birds flying away. Any representation that they wish to make will be welcomed.

LESSON VIII

CHANGES THAT SURPRISE (CONTINUED)

As the children come together they probably will volunteer more information concerning the coming of winter; they will have noted the same signs and perhaps other signs of its coming. They will wish to sing again:

"The brown leaves are falling,

The birds will soon fly,

The shrill winds are calling,
'Dear Summer, good-by.'

Rhythmic play:

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The song may be followed by a representation of flying birds and falling leaves. This may be carried out in several ways. The birds may fly away (the children disappearing in the hall or cloak room). The leaves floating through the air may be represented again or some of the children may be floating leaves while others are flying birds. The same music suggested before for the leaves may be used and "Birds A-Flying" or "The Wind's Blowing Us," from The Rhythms of Childhood by Crawford.

Walk:

If possible, on one of the days devoted to this topic the children should be taken for a walk when they may observe the changes. If they see a flock of birds high overhead winging their way southward, the wonder of it is something that they will never forget. If the walk cannot be arranged, perhaps the windows will provide some desirable

observation or the teacher may bring in pictures showing flying birds, the leaves fluttering down, and the bare trees. God's goodness in caring for the plants and animals through the different devices for safety and comfort should be brought out by suggestion, question, and direct information.

Prayer:

All will be glad to join in the spirit of a prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, thou art good to us and to everything that thou hast made. We thank thee."

Story: The Wee Nest.

"The Wee Nest," in The Story Garden, by Maud Lindsay, may be told.

Once upon a time two little birds built a wee little nest in a pink rose tree.

(And a little boy saw them; but he did not tell,

For it was a secret, he knew very well.)

The nest was round and cosy and soft; and when it was finished the mother-bird put eggs in it-the prettiest eggs!

(And the little boy peeped in the nest to see,

But he was as careful as he could be.)

The mother-bird sat on the nest almost all the time to keep the eggs safe and warm; and when she was tired the fatherbird took her place.

(And the little boy watched them, and wondered too What would become of those eggs of blue.)

Day after day the mother-bird sat on the nest; but one morning she flew away singing her sweetest song. The father-bird sang too, for something wonderful had happened. The pretty

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