Walking on the Line

Walking on the Line
Practical Life - Control of Movement
Level	Pre-Primary, Primary
Age	3 - 4
Materials	taped or painted line on floor

The purpose of this activity is ....

Presentation

The children begin by standing on the line at spaced intervals.

They begin to walk slowly, placing the whole foot on the line, and taking natural steps. 

Gradually the children shorten their steps, until finally they walk touching the heel of the foot with the toe of the other. The foot should be always directly on the line, the back straight and the head held high. There should be much practice of this

Points of Interest

The purpose of these exercises is to aid the children in establishing perfect equilibrium and to help coordinate movements and the development of attention and will.

Variations and Extensions

Variations

• The child could walk on a line of bricks edging a garden, or on the edge of a rug.

Extensions

• The child could walk on a low balance beam.

In order to help the children refine posture and reinforce holding their heads high, a variety of objects is gathered for the children to carry (one at a time) while walking on the line. The objects, which vary from time o time, may include: a stand with flags of all nations a tray containing four spoons with a small ball-like object in each one a box with small bells tied to long ribbons a tray with several candles with paper shields a cloth twisted into a circle to form the base for carrying a basket of fruit on the head the Pink Tower

Further Reading

• Basic Montessori: Learning Activities for Under-fives by David Gettman, pages 58-60
• Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock, page 57