Part 9 (1/2)

The circus and the zoological garden are always centers of interest to little children and e to furnish the point of departure in the study of ani the animals in some form crystallizes the interest in the animals represented, and awakens interest in their habits and home

The handwork raphy and nature study, or thepoint, and incidentally furnish subject raphy and nature study grow out of the search for facts concerning the animals themselves, _ie_ size, color, food, hoives purpose to reading Oral and written descriptions supply subjectthe actual proportions of ani to their coe of nu 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 infore all the way from ordinary picture books to natural history and encyclopedia descriptions They should find out, unaided, asthe animal in question: his size, color, food, ho and necessary ites 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 anith and height of the anile a _profile_ sketch of the ani careful that it comes to the line on each side _All four feet must_ touch the base line Considerable practice ood sketch can be drawn The ani, 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

Care56)

[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 ether 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 fro 57 Fasten with a single nail through the shoulder The curved line must be a part of a circle and the nail es should be smooth to allow easy action The tail may be adjusted by a similar plan The parts ht on cords which are attached to the ht is to be used, cut off the body part on the double dotted line to allow rooure of this sort must be fastened on a pedestal or platfore of the table A slot h to allow the cords to swing freely (See Fig 56) The pedestalboard 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 fire

=Cardboard and Paper Anier 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, iven if the anis and the brace made to represent the other two, or a piece of cardboard cut as in Fig 58into the notch