The Sphere, Cylinder, Cube, Cone and Pyramid are solid figures. The cylinder can be explained from the sphere, the cone from the cylinder and the pyramid from the cube.
The pyramid points upward, so,
But it is square and flat below:
The cone is pointed, too, and round;
A sugar loaf like it is found.
The children soon learn the difference between the Cone and Pyramid, and if they are allowed to make all these solid figures in clay they will remember them more easily.
1. The oval shape is like an egg,
The circle’s round as all can tell,
The sphere is round, just like a ball,
The cylinder you know quite well;
2. We roll it gently on the ground,
For it is very smooth and round;
It has two faces flat, you see,
And stands, as well as rolls for me.
3. The cube has six square faces, flat,
And corners eight, just think of that!
And edges twelve, three fours you know,
Which round the faces always go.
The Pentagon, Hexagon, Octagon and other similar forms should be learned by drawing them on checkered slates or paper. These figures introduce the obtuse angle, and before the children learn the shapes, they should understand clearly the difference between the right, acute, and obtuse angles. The hexagon and octagon can be combined so as to make pretty designs which may be used for perforating and embroidery.
The “Forms” may be further impressed on the mind of the child by means of a [Story]; see the one given after “Color,” at end of this chapter.
COLOR
Color should be taught if possible from objects and pictures. The six colors can be illustrated by fruits, as an orange, a rosy apple, a purple plum, a red cherry. The children’s dresses, their eyes and hair, can all be brought into a lesson on color. In spring and summer flowers make charming illustrations, e.g., different colors seen in roses, and the autumn-tinted leaves can be used likewise.