Materials for the lesson

Papers A4, scissors, rulers, paper-glue.
Chalks in many different colors.
Many meters of natural, brown string,

Teachers Bell.

Layout of the classroom

The desks are at their usual place until we finish the design of the big grid and all the paper-cutting phase. Then they are set on the sides, leaving empty space in the middle.

The lesson would have greater interest if it takes place before the 2^nd longer intermission that the children eat. And even more if the second part took place in the yard (weather conditions allowing).

1^st Phase

The Teacher announces that today we will have a pick-nick under an orange tree.

In class: The teacher asks the children to cut a simple object/shape from selected magazine pages or photocopies.                                                                    The teacher can decide: the children can bring pages or the teacher can bring photocopies with selected images. For example a tree (orange tree), a table, an orange, many tree-leaves, a camping tent shaped like a pyramid, little houses for the background, a sun, one or more birds, various cubes that serve as seating etc. We choose relatively simple shapes.                                          Then the children glue the shape on a white A4 paper so as to have plenty of space around it.

The teacher can decide how to prepare the class according to the skills of the class (in drawing, team-working etc.)

It will be revealed in the end that all these shapes and objects belong to  a scenery where the orange tree is in the middle and next to it, above it and around it, all the other shapes are placed (oranges, leaves, birds , the table and the cubes and in the horizon the little houses etc.)
We try to make the best possible image, but if not it doesn’t matter.

2^nd Phase

With their teachers help, the children draw a grid over their objects images. 6 lines vertical and  5 lines horizontal with specific distance between them. The children put letters as numbering for the vertical lines and with numbers the horizontal lines of the grid.

3d Phase

The desks are set aside. The children divide into 2 groups. Hey will make a live grid. The Letters/vertical lines and the Numbers/ horizontal lines, stand in a square shape of 21 children with extended strings between them. They will need all the floor of the class or this.

In a class of 25 children, 21 will create the grid and 4 will help draw their image on the floor. Then the roles are alternated. So, all children can draw their image on the floor.

4^th Phase

Always with the teachers assistance that follows the A4 images of the children and points out where, in which squares the lines will pass (in different colored chalks), if  the students have any difficulties.
Difficulties are normal, but as the lesson progresses, the class acquires knowledge and technique and everything is easier.

When (last) the big Orange tree with the branches is created, the teacher explains that from the paper to the Grid, we have a large magnification.
Then the teacher chooses one square in the grid and creates a new smaller grid in the big one. Extending again strings in it with the help and participation of the childrenι, creating a smaller grid.  In it a student can create a (i.e.) bird.

The same happens with the other images, the table & cubes down near the tree, houses at the back so upper in the image of the tree, the birds on the branches etc.

Summing up, we have :

One large grid, with large squares where the tree is designed. And every square of the large grid becomes anew smaller grid (with 6 by 6 lines again) to place all the other images fruit, leaves, birds, houses, table etc.  Many of these objects are smaller than the original A4 paper (here we see also perspective:  a bird far away in the sky is smaller than a bird on the branches close to us).

5^th Phase

 The teacher asks the children to remove the strings and admire the work. Now they can all eat and have a pick-nick in the environment of their creation.

6^th Phase

The teacher makes his/her lesson as usual (in class or in the school courtyard explaining Reduction & Magnification in the way the book does.