Guide To Nature Study [1902]
Designed for the use of teachers, this book was used in the Ontario school system at the turn of the twentieth century.
“Education about the environment was a core part of student life in early Ontario schools. Nature study was a mandatory course of study. This course was taught in Forms I-IV (equivalent to today’s grades 1-8) and by 1915 was also taught in Kindergarten. Curricula about nature study provided suggestions for teachers, which could be adapted to the school’s local environment. Nature study was intended to foster an interest in the natural world and children were expected to interact directly with nature. According to the 1909 curriculum, teachers were not supposed to dictate notes to their students or assign textbooks. Instead, books about nature study were designed for teachers’ use, such as the Guide to Nature Study (1902) and the Ontario Teachers’ Manuals: Nature Study (1926).” - Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
The guide has wonderful illustrations of flora and fauna, and several charts with suggested curriculum for each grade level.
Somewhere along the line, this book had an unfortunate run-in with an ink well. The resulting damage can be seen in the pictures below.
One of the original owners of the guide has written this line from Wordsworth on the title page:
“Come forth into the light of things
Let Nature be your teacher”
