Introductory techniques

Read Elmer’s Walk by David McKee and lay on the floor an artefact to represent each location that he visits… a flower, stick etc. and explain that what you have made is a physical linear map of Elmer’s journey and they are going to create their own versions.

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Mapping technique

Linear map making

Provide each pair of pupils with an egg box with the numbers 1-6 written in the bottom of each cup. Ask pupils to take a walk around the space to observe and explore what is there by walking 10 steps, stopping to observe and collecting an artefact to represent something that they could see, hear, smell or touch (texture). They add this artefact to the first egg cup and then repeat until all six cups are full.

Join pairs together and ask each pair to share their journey, observations and map with each other.

Return to Elmer’s linear map and ask if the order of his locations was changed could the map also be re-ordered? Back in their pairs, ask them to lay their artefacts on the floor as a linear map and then change the order and imagine walking the route in this new order. Ask them to replace the artefacts back in the egg box in this new order. Now follow the new linear map to revisit each location in a different order.

Questions to explore

• What is a symbol?
• Can there be different routes to visit the same destinations?
• Is one route better than others – why?
• Can everyone access their route – how might they change it?

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