Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Nature Study

"Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Nature Study" by Ontario Department of Education, is an instructional book from the early 1900s that shows teachers how they should teach nature to young students. The book talks about different ways to teach, what things to use, and what topics to cover, all to help kids learn to notice and understand nature. Early on, the manual tells why nature study is important, saying it helps kids connect with the world around them. The book explains the goals of nature study, pushing for real experiences with nature, while stating that lessons should change based on where the school is and what time of year it is. Teachers need to get kids really excited about nature, and the guide suggests field trips and gardening to achieve this goal so that students can gain a firsthand look at plants, animals, and how they all interact.