Kindergarten, painting, plays and home entertainments; a book of amusement and instruction for boys and girls

Front matter

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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm

I. 3- 4

5- 6.

a bead of each shape in a group.

THE KINDERGARTEN.

running burnt matches through the holes in a cube, cylinder and sphere successively and standing them up in rows on the cube end, while a pin and bit of paper will make a good flag on the soldier's cap ; pins may be used for arms and a match laid over the soldier's shoulder for a o-un.

Several red spheres put on matches and tied in a bunch make good cherries while in the same way grapes may be made with the blue spheres, plums with the cylinders, etc. When playing store, these things furnish an endless amount of "canned fruit," which can be piled as the grocer does. Small boxes may be used as tables, and a nice party may be had. The red spheres may be apples or strawberries, the blue ones plums or grapes, the yellow ones cakes, butter or bread, etc. These "pretending plays" have an unfailing charm if entered into with zest. Several spheres put on a stick become logs, with which log cabins, fences and indeed whole farms may be made.

In fact, Hailman's Beads will furnish any wide-awake child with endless amusemement. Old fashioned glass beads also make a pleasing occupation; with small beads chains can be made to decorate the dollies or the soldiers made from Hailman's Beads, as well as for the child itself to wear. A watch made of pasteboard with a long chain of bright colored beads is a treasure for any child that likes to play "man " or " lady."

STRAWS.

Straws cut into pieces about one-half inch in length are very nice for stringing. They are very cheap and a large quantity can be bought for a few cents. However they can be made at home from nice clean straw and will do very nicely, if cut with something very sharp so they are not split. If desired, the home-made ones maybe colored when of course, they will look much prettier when strung. String two or three of one color, then the same number of another color, or if the uncolored ones are used, string about three straws, then a square or circle of bright colored paper, then the same number of straws as before and so on, makinof the strine as lone as desired. These straws make nice chains, bracelets, etc., for dolls, or for children themselves to wear. Straws strung on twine or stout cord, make cool looking portiers, or door curtains for summer. These are made just long enough to touch the floor, and tie on to the curtain pole at the top. If strung on bright red cord, tassels of the same color may be made at the top and bottom, which greatly adds to their beauty. The straws may also be strung on wire, when they can be bent into different shapes, and a great

THE KINDERGARTEN.

many different things, such as chairs, tables, beds, etc., made from them. Children living in the country or in county towns can easily get any amount of thick straws suitable for stringing, but where this is not possible, a few cents will purchase a large amount.

PEG BOARDS.

Every child should have its pegs and peg boards. When possible, a bought board and gaily-colored pegs will be greatly appreciated, but if that is not desired, the board can easily be made. Draw small squares, just as a checkerboard is made, carefully on a board, not too heavy or too thick, and about a foot square. At the corners of all squares make holes large enough to insert shoe pegs. If the boys and girls have any colored inks, crayons or paints, the pegs can be nicely colored. When the board is completed, pictures can be drawn on it in chalk, which can be easily erased, and the outline followed by placing pegs in the holes which have been crossed by the chalk. Houses, trees, fences, wagons, and, in fact, an unending number of things can be made in this way. The outline only need be put on, when a very young child will find hours of pleasure in doing work that will teach it to observe closely, to concentrate its mind on the thing to be done, and so to prepare itself for more difficult occupations. A quart of shoe pegs costs but a few cents and can be easily obtained.

Letters and figures made on the board will be learned by simply tracing them with the pegs and without any effort on the child's part. Short words may also be laid out and traced in this way and the first easy steps to reading taken. Place the picture of an object and its name on the board, and the little one will delight in making both. For instance, draw a picture of a tree on the board, also the word "^tree," taking care to place them where they will cross the greatest number of holes. The trunk of the tree should be drawn along a vertical line of holes.

Several children may use the board at once by each taking an equal number of pegs and seeing who can make the best design which must use all their pegs within a certain time. By dividing the board into quarters, four children can play at once. A good supply of pegs and peg boards will furnish amusement not only for a children's party, but may furnish entertainment for older persons as well. The designs may be as intricate as desired, and as many or few pegs as the players prefer may be used. To add interest to the game, a prize may be given to the one doing the best work.

THE KINDERGARTEN.

KINDERGARTEN GIFTS.

THE SIX BALLS.

Children like to feel that their work amounts to something and so take great interest in making the six balls which constitute the first gift in Kindergarten schools. The making of these balls will furnish amusement for several children for many days, while they are making them, and for as long a time as the balls can be made to hold together after they are done. The most substantial balls are made of cloth, torn into strips, sewed together and then wound into a ball like the old-fashioned carpet rags. The cloth is merely snipped with the scissors along one edge, about one-half inch apart, then the smallest child will enjoy the tearing, while another one may sew the strips together, and a third may wind into a ball, after which colored worsted is wound carefully and evenly around, and then sewed back and forth, so as to hold the strands on, and the balls are done.

The colors to be used are red, yellow, blue, purple, green and orange. If, after finishing some of the balls, pieces of elastic are fastened to them, the child has a new plaything. "A bouncing Betty," made by itself, and which it will prefer to any expensive ball that could be purchased.

The cloth ball can even be made large enough for a football if one is desired, but the only objection to these is the weight of them. Good light balls may be made of crumpled newspaper instead of the rags, and covered as before with worsted. A target may be made of bright-colored circles, and these balls will furnish abundance of fun for a half-dozen children without any danger of broken windows or injury to the children themselves. Mothers generally object to ball throwing, but if they could but see the difference which exists in trained and untrained hands, they would urge this kind of activity. Children in Hawaii are very expert in throwing balls, and two boys will keep at least half a dozen balls in the air at one time — some coming and some going. Where a child must play alone, the half-dozen balls may be kept going on an inclined board, and the little player must keep muscles and mind both on the alert or a miss will be made. Balls of all sizes may be made and used in different games. Houses, barns, bridges, fences, etc., may be built with blocks and the balls rolled into them as pigs, horses, etc.

Rows of colored balls may be placed on a table and others rolled at them, or those with elastic may be hung up for throwing games. If there is a small baby in the family the larger children will enjoy making a pretty colored ball to be hung in its bassinet or over its cot, to which may be sewed small bells for the amusement and delight of the little one.

THE KINDERGARTEN.

BUILDING BLOCKS.

Blocks, blocks, and plenty of them. Everyone, from the tiny tot to the big boy, interested in architecture can find both amusement and instruction in them. No home can have too many. Big blocks, little blocks, long blocks, curved blocks, blocks of all shapes and all sizes. For the yard, huge blocks of wood may be built into houses large enough to admit the little builders themselves, while tables, chairs, etc., large enough to be used in playing "lawn parties" can also be built. Children like big playthings, and out in the yard big playthings can be used. Blocks for indoor use can be obtained cheap, and some of each kind shown in these pages should be secured. As in the other games, rivalry between children adds great interest, and each should take a certain number of blocks of the same shape and see which can build the best design, or a certain design is

built or laid by all, then competition as to who can make the greatest change by altering the position of four blocks, of six, etc.

The second Kindergarten gift consists of a sphere, cube and cylinder, and, as we shall use all of these, we should learn their correct name, and always refer to them by it. These may be suspended by a double thread, as in the cut, when they can be made to rotate around themselves. It will then be seen that the spear does not seem to change shape when in motion, but if the cube is suspended at the centre of one of its sides it appears like a cylinder, while the cylinder, suspended at the centre of one of its round sides, appears like a sphere. Suspended! in other ways the cylinder and cube present other forms, all of which are interesting to look at.

Building blocks is much more interesting if we associate som e form o life with what we build — Grandpa's chair, a pair of steps, a wall, a cross, a house, a box or a locomotive, are a few of the many things that can easily be built with a few cubical blocks which is the first kind used. Any child with an active mind will surprise a parent, both as to how readily they associate some form with their blocks, and as to their ingenuity in working out their thoughts. A small child will readily invent forms, and associate names with what it has built, but assistance and encouragement can be given by simply suggesting a form and encouraging a child to make it, and then kindly criticising or commending what is done.

THE KINDERGARTEN.

It is a common observation that a young child develops more rapidly than the older ones for the older ones give assistance and make suggestions which the younger ones are glad to accept. There is plenty of room to exercise originality in designing, as there seems to be an endless number of familiar forms that can be made with the cubes. The following are a few of the most simple ones.

A Bridge — Three cubes placed half a space apart, on the top of which four cubes are placed. The remaining block stands at a little distance to represent the bridge-keeper's house.

Staws — Place two cubes side by side, and on top, in pairs, place the remaining six cubes each pair projecting a little farther back than the others.

A Ttinncl — Place two rows of cubes, three in each row, a little space apart and cover with the remaining two cubes.

A CHEAP PASTE,

The best and cheapest paste is made of gum tragacanth and water. It is the best for many reasons : — It is cheap and besides a drop of it on furniture or carpet will not make a spot or injure it in the least. Half a dozen pieces dropped into a bottle of water over night will make a paste which is not sticky to the fingers and which can be made so thick that it will not run out if the bottle is accidentally overturned. Do not make too much as it will sour or spoil, if kept too long. A tooth pick or small slat makes a good brush as it does not carry too much paste.

A GIFT BOX.

Beautiful things will multiply very fast now, so a "gift box" should be started at once. If there is an orphans' home or hospital near by, the things may be presented to these little friendless ones, or they may be preserved until a birthday or Christmas calls for them. There need never now be any work done just for the sake of doing it, for in giving to others the pretty things we make, we will learn the blessed truth, that it is far more blessed to give than to receive, and this too, will obviate any tendency to leave a piece of work undone. Many bright papers will be needed now, so save all the colored wrapping papers you get, for many pretty things can be made from them.

lo THE KINDERGARTEN.

FORMS OF BEAUTY,

Starting- with a few blocks in a simple arrangement, we are able to design beautiful figures by means of a fixed law : — Every change of position is to be accompanied by a corresponding movement on the opposite side. In this way symmetrical figures are constructed in infinite variety representing no real object, yet by their regularity of outline adapted to please the eye and develop a correct artistic taste. Thoroughness is required in all the details of these occupations. The love of the beautiful cannot fail to be awakened by such an occupation as this, and with this emotion will be associated to some extent, the love of the good, for they are inseparable.

By turning the corner cubes of Fig. 8i, Fig. 82, is formed ; again moving the same four blocks we get Figs. 84, 85, 86, 87 or 88. A slight move now of the other four blocks brings Fig. 89, then dropping the central cubes to meet at the corners, we have Fig. 90, and so on throughout the list.

FURNITURE SEQUENCE.

By a sequence we mean a succession or series of forms, one being developed from the other. Let us first build a bureau and from it see what we can make.

Bureau — Four blocks lying one on the other represent the drawers ; two blocks standing form the sides, and two blocks standing on the back of the upper drawer represent the mirror.

Washstand — Remove the two bricks which formed the mirror and stand back of the drawers, then remove the upper drawer and let it sit on the standing bricks.

Writing Desk — Lift the sitting brick, also the two standing ones. Lay the two bricks across the three lying ones, allowing the two to project in front of the' others to form the table, and then let the remaining brick sit on top to form the back of the desk.

Hat Rack — Lift the four upper bricks ; stand two of them back of the remaining blocks and let the other two sit across the top of the two standing ones.

Chair and Table — Remove the two arms of the hat rack and the two

upper bricks ; this makes the chair. Let two of the bricks lie one on

the other and across them place the other two bricks lying side by side

for the table. This may be continued through a long series, and beds,

. wardrobes, sheets, etc., may be made.

THE KINDERGARTEN.

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OBLONG BLOCKS OR BRICKS.

These blocks are not so common as the cubes and with them we are able to construct a greater variety of forms than with the others. Also many philosophical truths may be learned with them as for instance, the law of equilibrium, shown by laying one block across another, or the law of continuous motion exhibited in the movement of a row of blocks set on end and gently pushing one against the other causing the whole row to fall.

As in the case of the cubical blocks, one figure or form is produced by a slight change in another. The bricks may be made to stand as soldiers, sit or lie flat. A play school may be made by having one to "stand" as teacher with the scholars sitting around, while the bad boy may be made to lie flat down on the floor. Bricks stood on end make a o-ood wall or fence and can be made -to form an enclosure within which houses, barns, etc., can be built of the cubical blocks, or of the cubes and bricks combined. On account of the different ways in which a brick may be placed, it is a most delightful block to have. On the next page are a number of forms of life, representing familiar objects, which can easily be made and by simply changing a standing block in a design to one sitting or lying, will make an altogether new form. Figure 19 shows us a closed garden wall ; by making two of the blocks stand, we have an open garden with high gate posts. Figure 27 by a simple change becomes 28, 29, or 30, which again by a simple division becomes two chairs and these can again be put together in such a way as to form a good pair of steps.

Four bricks lying between two others standing and having two bricks on top forms a good bureau with mirror. Two blocks lying with two other blocks lying crosswise on top of them, forms a table, while a chair may be made at the table of two blocks lying, with two blocks standing back of them. Two chairs pushed together make a good bed, while a door and two steps may be made with a row of 3 bricks lying, on which two bricks are put, then two bricks stood upon them for a door on which another brick laid crosswise, completes the whole. A garden house with two doors— stand two blocks side by side and opposite them two more blocks, cover with two blocks lying side by side for a roof, and stand two blocks at the entrance as open doors. A well with cover — make an enclosure of four blocks "sitting," on the opposite sides stand two blocks and cover the top with one block lying. In front of the enclosure place a lying block for a step.

THE KINDERGARTEN.

Fig. 19.— Closed Garden Wall.

Fig. 10.— An Open Garden.

Fig. 21.— An Open Garden.

Fig, 32.— Watering Trough.

Fig. 25.— Triumphal Arch.

Fig. 26.— Merry-go-round.

Fig. 27. — Large Garden Settee.

Fig. 28.— Seat.

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Fig. 23.— Shooting Stand.

Fig. 2g.— Settee.

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Fig. 30. — Sofa.

Fig 34.— Village.

Fig. 31. — Two Chairs.

14 THE KINDERCxARTEN.

FORMS OF BEAUTY.

Many beautiful forms may be made of the eight blocks lying flat and as in the other case, many different ones may be evolved by changing the blocks on the opposite sides so as not to destroy the symmetry. Figure 87, by a simple move, becomes Figure 88, and again is transformed into the beautiful design shown in Figure 89 ; then by simply pushing the four outside blocks to the center, we have a new cube. Again Figure 97 easily becomes 98, 99, or 100, and so throughout the list.

Each of these figures can be subjected to a variety of changes by simply letting the blocks " stand up " or " sit down," instead of lying flat as in the figures shown.

In inventing a new series, place a block above, below, or at the right or left of the center, and a second opposite and equidistant. A third and a fourth are placed at the right and left of these but in the same position relative to the center. The remaining four are placed symmetrically about the first ones laid. By moving the opposite blocks regularly in either direction a great number of figures may be formed.

REWARD FOR GOOD WORK.

Children as well as older persons do better work and are more interested in what they are doing if they know their work will be rewarded in some way. The law of reward and punishment runs through all nature and the best way to reward good work is to preserve it, and this can easily be done by cutting out of colored paper, pieces representing the bricks, cubes, etc., and pasting them on white card board.

For mats for mounting cut large squares, about six inches each way, out of white bristol board. Fi7id the center by drawing lines lightly from corner to corner on the wrong side of the mat, then a pin stuck through where the lines cross will give the center on the right side.

With a little mucilage the colored papers may be pasted on the white bristol board, and a beautiful design made which will make a nice decoration for the wall of the nursery. This will be an incentive for all to make their best designs and to keep their card clean in mounting. By using papers of contrasting colors, more beautiful designs maybe made; as for instance, in fig. 94, the a's may be made of red paper and the b's of blue. Where two colors are used, care must be taken to have the same colors used in opposites, so as not to destroy the symmetry of the figure.

THE KINDERGARTEN.

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