These two are equal, and those two unequal points. Try to do the same. How many points of equal magnitude do you see here? She now draws two lines, equally long, and says, Two lines of equal length. She makes two, three, six, eight, &c. lines of equal length. Two lines of unequal length, three, four, five, &c. This exercise should be long continued, as it is of great importance to the child to judge accurately of lines of equal and unequal length. The mother may occasionally measure with a compass or rule, to show him whether she has been correct, or how far she has failed. APPLICATION. Mother. Can you point out two lines of equal length? How many equal lines are there in this table? SECTION IX. Magnitude and position of lines and forms combined. The mother makes two, three, four points of equal magnitude, so as to be in contact, and as many more separate from each other. She draws two, three, four, five lines of equal length separate; some of equal length in contact. Several lines of unequal length, some separate, some in contact. How many separate lines of unequal length do you see on the slate? &c. Exercises in drawing the Elements of Form. SECTION X. Magnitude and Position. The mother draws several points in a sym metrical order. She encourages the child to imitate this, asking him whether he will try, by placing points in different situations, to produce some pretty figure.. Draw a figure of separate angles; another of angles contiguous to each other, &c. In these operations it is requisite that the mother, or one of her elder children, should join the little one in drawing, as it frequently hap pens that a single child, when drawing alone, loses himself in a form, which, through the activity and co-operation of others, will be prevented. It will also animate and strengthen him much more than a solitary exercise. In a similar manner the mother proceeds with the drawing of triangles, quadilateral figures, pentagons, hexagons, &c. and produces figures of a combination of these forms. On these exercises the mother cannot dwell too long, as they are particularly calculated to awaken observation, to strengthen the thinking faculty, and to exercise his speech. By this time the child's intuitive powers will be considerably developed, and he will be able to conceive, in a more connected manner, the relations of forms, and more accurately to distinguish their diversities.. SECTION XI. Lines Parallel and not Parallel. The mother draws two lines thus. and two thus. |