Children dived in and started creating their maps, developing their ideas.A great amount of energy and buzz about the class as they all focused on what they were doing.
Some fascinating discussions went on (I wished I’d audio recorded them) – talking about all aspects of their maps within their groups – what it should/should not show, where things should appear on the paper, how big it should be (should smaller roads be shown the same size or smaller?). A lot of drawing & rubbing out (making the curve of the road just right, children talking about how it bends and connects to other roads was interesting hearing them discuss the nature of the curve and coming to a consensual agreement).
Though they are still seeing their maps as the conventional map showing rds, shops, etc. I’m asking them to mark aspects you do not usual see on these coventional maps, which some are doing more then others.
The group of boys who are mapping a woodland bike jumps asked if they could make their map 3d – I hadn’t anticipated this! This 3d aspect was then picked up by some girls mapping tescos (which I’m a bit worried might become too much like a dolls house) – this might mean I’ll have to amend my last session where i was going to digitailse their maps & then go into the computer suite for them to finish.
but lets see what develops next session.
