USSH – MTCNE 2020 Trainer: Diwo Lhamo Pemba

Walking On the Line

Material: The line, assorted objects to carry housed on a tray

Purposes: Refinement of movement

The hand is engaged and the focus is outside
The child becomes aware of the tools being used and the activity
Awareness shifts to movements within the activity
Movement for movement’s sake

Age: When the child enters the Casa

Preparation: Children can prepare for this exercise by balancing on a balance beam outside

Presentation: This presentation is given to the whole group. It is under the guidance of the adult during
the time of the group activity. This exercise can be presented to an individual child.

Individual Presentation:
1. Invite child.
2. Take off shoes and socks.
3. Sit on floor/chairs outside the Line. Ask child to observe.
4. Walk normally, hands by your sides, head looking straight, back straight
5. After walking on the Line twice, stop and invite the child to walk on the line behind you.
6. Fade when you think the child can enjoy the exercise on his own.
7. Encourage repetition. Observe the child over some period of time and if he has refined his
movements then present the next exercises.

Group Presentation:
1. Invite the whole group.
2. Everyone takes off shoes and socks. (Show them where to store them, in cubbies or by the wall.)
3. Ask the children to sit and observe you walk on the line. Walk normally, hands by the side and
silently at least for two rounds. It is a walking meditation, a spiritual experience. The children should be
able to feel that when you are presenting it.
4. Stop and invite the children to join you by placing themselves on the line. Make sure the children are
well spaced out along the line with space in front and back of them. The youngest children are placed
along the curve. Everyone places their hands by their sides and face the same direction, heads up.
5. There is no fixed point of entry or exit. Everyone walks as normal as possible when you give them
the signal and in the same direction. Later you can guide the older ones who have been in the Prepared
Environment to walk “heel to toe.” There is no talking when walking on the Line.
6. Everyone stops when you give the signal and quietly leave to get their socks and shoes. Having the
whole group together harmonizes them, they learn of cooperation and they learn to pace themselves.
The will of the individual child works in harmony with the collective will of the group.
 USSH – MTCNE 2020 Trainer: Diwo Lhamo Pemba

Following Exercises: It is important to remember that the element of difficulty holds the child’s interest.
It should be the right level of difficulty, too easy the child is bored and if too difficult the child does not
want to repeat it.

1. The child is encouraged to take smaller steps than a normal walking gait.
2. Present how to walk “heel to toe” which narrows the center of balance, increases the precision and
the difficulty of movement.
3. Present how to carry objects when walking on the line, initially one object e.g. a flag, a bell, the
objective is to carry the bell without ringing it, a glass with water in it, the objective to carry it without
spilling the water. Later the child can carry two objects and then balance an object on his head such as a
basket with objects in it.

Points of Interest:
1. The shape of the line is a point of interest as it requires the child to modify his movement according
to the variance of it.
2. Ask questions to bring awareness of the exercise such as “Are your feet on the Line? Is your back
straight? Is there space between you and the person in front of you?”
2. Children can distribute their attention after they have mastered the walking e.g. spilling water when
paying attention to walking
3. Children become aware of how to space themselves along the Line and move in harmony

Pedagogical Notes:
1. You can dim the lights during the exercise for effect
2. Do not use bean bags as children can get silly with them
 USSH – MTCNE 2020 Trainer: Diwo Lhamo Pemba

The Line
1. The Line is a piece of material so it should be respected and be available for the child to work with at
any time, so no furniture or rug over it. It is not a place to gather (children sitting on the tape will peel it
when distracted) either.
2. The Line should be set before you place the shelves in the classroom, so you can see where to place it
and make sure that its big enough to accommodate the whole class. Some consultants prefer a large one
that allows the child to view the classroom and the materials, so place a table in the center to hold the
objects for the exercise as well as some tables and chairs.
3. The Line originally was done in chalk but now we use tape which is more permanent. The tape
should be two fingers wide, not too wide and would recommend blue.

How to draw the Ellipse

The ellipse has two points or foci unlike a circle that has one. The closer the points the more circular
your ellipse will be.

Materials needed:
1. Tape that is easy to remove yet resilient enough to withstand the work it should see
2. Twine/String that can be held taut rather than stretchy
3. A marker for the ellipse to be drawn on the floor. Consider the type of floor you have but a washable
marker, pencil, chalk works well, for you will erase the line as you place the tape on the floor. Use a
damp cloth or paper towel to erase the line as the tape is laid flat on the floor
4. Scissors to cut the thread when you have the length of twine required for the ellipse
 USSH – MTCNE 2020 Trainer: Diwo Lhamo Pemba

Drawing the ellipse on the floor

1. Ask two friends to help as three persons will be needed

2. Check the floor: is it clean, what size do you want your ellipse and how wide? If you have tiles on the
floor, they are useful landmarks.

3. Measuring the width of the ellipse: Once you know your length, select the width. Take the twine and
place midway of the length of ellipse, place the twine on one point that is A and pull to the full width to
mark point B. Then double the length of the twine (width) to make a loop. Get the scissors and cut the
required length.

4. Ask one friend to hold the ends of the twine and place it firmly on point A then place the marker in
the loop and holding the twine like a pendulum take it to a point C and mark the area with an arc, then
do the same on the other side to mark D. Then do the same from point B marking both points with an
arc. The points C and D are the points where the arcs intersect.

5. Marking the ellipse: Open the twine to its full length. Then ask the third friend to hold one end of the
twine at point C and the other friend the other end at point D. They have to hold firmly at the points.
Then take the marker, place it inside the loop of the twine and pull to the furthest point possible, then
start marking the ellipse going right around holding the marker upright. The ellipse will hold the points
C and D inside it. Keep the twine taut all the time.

6. Once the ellipse is drawn on the floor, then get the tape and start placing it on the floor, the best
position is to sit on the floor and do it. Place the tape flat and firmly on the line, erase the line before
you place it, so do it slowly. When you get to the end blend the tape’s end into the starting point of the
tape so it will not curl up.