Walking on the line
WALKING ON THE LINE
How to Make the Ellipse
Materials:
Cloth or Plastic Tape (neutral in color)
String
Masking Tape
Chalk
Making the Ellipse:
You will need 1 or 2 helpers
Determine – the size according to your space such that a child walking with arms
outstretched would touch nothing.
Some small furniture can be moved to allow a larger space if necessary, but keep in mind
that it is best if the line can be available at all times for individual work.
Small items, such as tables and chairs and mat spaces, can go inside the line.
Measure the long axis of the Ellipse with a length of string.
Secure each end of the string with masking tape.
This is the distance A – B. Mark half way.
Measure the short axis of the Ellipse
Fold this piece of string into 4 equal sections
This will become the measure of A – E
Now use this quarter measure to mark from A (one end of the long length) back along itself.
Mark this point on the long string. Mark this point on the floor (E)
Detach the string at A. Make sure B is firmly attached.
Walking on the line
Stretch the length of string at point A, loop/ fold the excess string back, and secure the end
at E. Have your helper place a firm finger on the end string A to secure it now at point E.
The loop is loose.
In the loop, place a piece of chalk.
Arc the string/ chalk along one curved side of the Ellipse from A to B, then continue along
the opposite curved side from B to A.
Take whatever you are using to make the permanent line (tape or paint) and place it over
the chalk outline.
Use a sponge to remove any chalk residue visible on the floor.
THEORY ASPECT : -
WHEN WE LOOK AROUND US THERE IS ALWAYS A MOVEMENT
WE SEE Movements in animals as their survival depends on it
If we look in our lives as human beings is in a way defined by the kind of movements we
create
When we examine movement in our everyday life we being to realize there is movement in
every aspect of work we do
Walking on the line
Like taking care of ourselves or the environment there is movement required in these
activities
There is aspect of movement involved in every work of our life
Tendencies as human beings we have tendency for movement
Other tendencies are also directly or indirectly supported
As human beings we have this inner drive that is pushing us that identifies us as individuals
As a child he is born with involuntary and reflexive movements
In order for the child to become the part of the human species, in order to identify himself
as a part of the human and in order to belong he has to create these movements for himself
From involuntary movements he has to transfer them into voluntary movements
Voluntary movements is something that is under our control
These movements are now guided by the intelligence
From the moment of birth the child is becoming independent
In order for the child to become independent the movements are very essential
Movements doesn’t mean walking from one point to another its the refined movements
that the child creates for himself
As human beings we have tendency for self perfection so the child needs to perfect these
movements
Each of these activities is supporting the child to create perfection in his movements
Myelinization helps in the transmission of information from one neuron to another neuron
Myelinization begins from the moment of birth
The more the child moves the better the myelinization, the better the myelinization the
better the information that the child is receiving from the world around him
Both myelinization and movement goes hand and hand( directly proportional)
When we look at the idea of movements, in order to perfect that movement he needs to
practice it
To bring the coordination of movements is imp (intelligence, will and movement is work
together in harmony)
The intelligence, will and movements are all getting created independently however after
some point of time these needs to come together hence the coordination during this time
its coming consolidated, its coming together for the child
Walking on the line
This is when we being to see grace
Toddler wobbles but- 4- 6 yr old child will have more grace as intelligence, will and
movement is work together in harmony
Balance and equilibrium (B&E)– equilibrium is the composure and balance in terms of our
body posture, equilibrium and balance is the steadiness when we stand and maintain the
upright position, this act of standing in upright position is one of the greatest achievements
by human beings
The tendency of perfection – the child is perfecting these movements by bringing about B&E
within his movements, when the childs movements are balanced when he has equilibrium
then we see graceful movements outwardly
In order for the child to create these B&E within his movements he requires opportunities in
the environment to master these balanced movements
Walking on the line – dr Montessori discovered by chance- during her visit in the country
side she began to observe that the young children often walked on narrow surfaces.
She began to observe the same movements or need the children have even in the children
living in the cities
Country children would walk in planks, railroad.
City children would walk in on the pavements, narrow ones
She understood that this is the need that the young children have
Then this need has to be satisfied in the casa
Hence walking on the line came into been
She created a line so that the child can satisfy the need to create the B&E in them
She saw and observed the need within the children this is a universal need to bring B&E
within the children and she designed and created a piece of work around it
Now when we see the line on the floor it’s a piece of material and it needs to be available
for the children throughout the day to encourage children to walk on it whenever they
please
The line should not be occupied, at no point of time we are sitting on the line and doing our
work
The line must not be used as a space to gather the children around it to do a piece of work
and then asking them to go back to work
The line is used only for walking
Don’t use the line to discipline the children or organize the children
Walking on the line
Line itself : = ellipse shape or oval – because this gives the child to move freely and
uninterrupted walking, any shape that has pointy edge it interrupts the natural flow of the
walk, no circle as you will feel dizzy
Thickness of the line:- if the line is very thick that means that the entire foot will sit very
comfortable on the line that means there is no challenge, if its too thin or narrow the
challenge increases, so the thickness of the line matters as it will give adequate challenge for
the child to work on it adequately
Unlike other activities which is represented in small groups or individual this activity can be
done by the entire community of children in casa.
Walking on the line is one such activity that can be offered to the community of children at
same time
As every child will participate in this there is also an aspect of social development within
children
When they are moving around they have to mindful about their own movements with
regard to the child walking in front and behind them,
When the children are walking on the line they have to mindful of their own movements
they need to control their own movements such that they do not walk into the child in front
of them or the child walking behind them doesn’t come in contact with them. SO the pace of
the movement is controlled by the children
In that when they begin to control their movements their pace of walking on the line they
are bringing control within themselves but also being mindful of the other children on the
line
No particular denotation as to where to start that means that the child can make the
decision when to start and where to start at his convenience
Movement of Getting on and off the line contributes to social development
They should be able to judge there is a space on the line to get into the line and exit the line
at what point such that it doesn’t disturb the flow of the other children who are walking on
it
This was designed in order to bring the coordination and equilibrium within the child so the
age is 2.5 years not immediately they enter the casa, but when they get used to
environment and you think they are ready. This will start at 2.5 years and progression will
continue till 6 years
No given point of time are we forcing the child to participate, the children who don’t want to
participate can be asked to carry on their work away from the line
Walking on the line
Materials for walking on the line
An elliptical shaped line drawn on the floor – its an uninterrupted line which allows the
children to walk on uninterrupted
Objects
