Itineraries and labyrinths

1st Grade – Geography   (Italian educational system)

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Materials for the lessons

White Sheets A3, pencils, markers

Layout of the Classroom

–        Classroom

–        Inner spaces of the school

Phase 1

Teacher explains the subject to the students, initially trying to start a discussion with them to understand what they know about  paths and a mazes. To help them tell some stories (e.g.: Arianna’s thread) and show some famous labyrinths

Phase  2

Teacher  identifies a few points, a beginning and an end, within the school space. They can be for example class / copier, bathroom / canteen, fifth class / courtyard, and so on. The pupils are divided into groups according to the number of pairs identified. Each group of children will try to think of a path that unites the starting point and the end point. Exercise can be done by using memories in memory over the school spaces, with a subsequent check in the end. Each group realizes on a sheet A3 the most realistic route from the beginning to the end. If it is not too complex you can also mark the number of steps to be taken in the other directions.

Phase  3

The teacher collects the sheets created by the different groups. Then distributes to each group a path designed by their classmates and different from the one realized. Each group must try to follow the path shown in the sheet to test its accuracy. The game ends when each group has tried the assigned path

Phase  4

Teacher resumes the subject with the children trying to understand, through discussion, any difficulties and impressions. The paths of the trails can be hung in the classroom to remember the experience.