It will perhaps be more interesting to follow a lesson actually given, and accepted as a model for teachers in general. I therefore reproduce one of the lessons which gained a prize at a competition of teachers held in Italy. [3] In this, according to the subject or theme, only one primary psychical activity was to be dealt with: viz. sensory perception. (The compositions were distinguished not by the names of the authors, but by mottoes.) [Footnote 3: This was published in the review, _La Voce delle Maestre d'Asilo_, Year viii.] _Motto_.--Things are the first and best teachers. I set myself the following limits: _To give an idea of icy cold in contrast to that of heat_. [This would be amply sufficient in itself, for these ideas are not grains to pick up one after the other, but sublime psychical facts of great complexity, and, consequently, very difficult to assimilate.] _Combine with the idea to be imparted, the cultivation of a sense of compassion and pity for the very poor_, to whom winter brings such severe suffering; a feeling I have already tried many times to arouse. The above is for my own guidance; what follows is for the children. "Children, how comfortable we are here! Everything is clean; everything is in order; I am so fond of you; you are so fond of me. Isn't this true, children? _Children_.--I am, I am. Me too (correct). Tell me, Gino, are you cold? You said no at once. Well, no, you are right; we are really very cozy here. There, in that corner (I point) there is a thing which gives out much ... _Children_.--Heat. It is the stove. But outside, where there is no stove, over there, towards the horizon (the children are to a certain extent familiar with this word), there is no warmth. _Children_.--It's cold there (an answer due to the clarity of the laws of contrast). Last night ... while we were asleep, while your mother perhaps was mending your clothes ... dear mother, how kind she is!... well, last night, so many, many white flakes fell softly from the sky!... Snow, snow! exclaim the children. Children! let us say: so many snowflakes fell. How beautiful the snow is! Let us go and look at it closely. _Children_.--Yes, yes, yes, yes.