What is "object lesson"

Object \Ob"ject\ ([o^]b"j[e^]kt), n. [L. objectus. See Object, v. t.]

1. That which is put, or which may be regarded as put, in the way of some of the senses; something visible or tangible and persists for an appreciable time; as, he observed an object in the distance; all the objects in sight; he touched a strange object in the dark.

2. Anything which is set, or which may be regarded as set, before the mind so as to be apprehended or known; that of which the mind by any of its activities takes cognizance, whether a thing external in space or a conception formed by the mind itself; as, an object of knowledge, wonder, fear, thought, study, etc.

   Object is a term for that about which the knowing subject is conversant; what the schoolmen have styled the ``materia circa quam.''
   --Sir. W. Hamilton.

   The object of their bitterest hatred.
   --Macaulay.

3. That toward which the mind, or any of its activities, is directed; that on which the purpose are fixed as the end of action or effort; that which is sought for; goal; end; aim; motive; final cause.

   Object, beside its proper signification, came to be abusively applied to denote motive, end, final cause . . . . This innovation was probably borrowed from the French.
   --Sir. W. Hamilton.

   Let our object be, our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country.
   --D. Webster.

4. Sight; show; appearance; aspect. [Obs.]
   --Shak.

   He, advancing close Up to the lake, past all the rest, arose In glorious object.
   --Chapman.

5. (Gram.) A word, phrase, or clause toward which an action is directed, or is considered to be directed; as, the object of a transitive verb.

6. (Computers) Any set of data that is or can be manipulated or referenced by a computer program as a single entity; -- the term may be used broadly, to include files, images (such as icons on the screen), or small data structures. More narrowly, anything defined as an object within an object-oriented programming language.

7. (Ontology) Anything which exists and which has attributes; distinguished from attributes, processes, and relations.

   Object glass, the lens, or system of lenses, placed at the end of a telescope, microscope, etc., which is toward the object. Its function is to form an image of the object, which is then viewed by the eyepiece. Called also objective or objective lens. See Illust. of Microscope.

   Object lesson, a lesson in which object teaching is made use of.

   Object staff. (Leveling) Same as Leveling staff.

   Object teaching, a method of instruction, in which illustrative objects are employed, each new word or idea being accompanied by a representation of that which it signifies; -- used especially in the kindergarten, for young children.

n. 1 A lesson taught (especially to young children) using a familiar or unusual object as a focus. 2 An example from real life that typify/explains a principle or teaches a lesson. 3 Anything used as an example or lesson which serves to warn others as to the outcomes that result from a particular action or behavior, as exemplified by the fates of those who followed that course.

n. punishment intended as a warning to others; "they decided to make an example of him" [syn: example, deterrent example, lesson]

An object lesson is a teaching method that consists of using a physical object or visual aid as a discussion piece for a lesson.