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How did Helen discover beauty in the natural aspects of nature? chapter 5

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What kind of lessons did Helen Keller learn from nature?

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JAMEADOWS | CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

Many of Helen Keller's early lessons from her teacher, Anne Sullivan, took place out of doors because Helen enjoyed the outdoors immensely and because she relied on the sense of touch to learn new things. As Helen Keller writes:

"All my early lessons have in them the breath of the woods–the fine, resinous odour of pine needles, blended with the perfume of wild grapes. Seated in the gracious shade of a wild tulip tree, I learned to think that everything has a lesson and a suggestion. 'The loveliness of things taught me all their use.'"

From being out of doors, Helen Keller began to learn the ways of nature, such as the way grass grows and how birds find shelter in their nests. She also began to understand abstractions from her experiences in nature. For example, when the sun emerged from behind a cloud to shine warmly, Helen Keller began to understand what the word "love" meant--a concept she had been struggling to comprehend. Later, Helen Keller built mounds of earth to understand geography. She studied botany and zoology by experiencing at the growth of a plant. She loved nature, and this love helped motivate her to learn.