Lines & Charcoal

November 2

Lines—the children have noticed that charcoal easily makes lines. Perhaps it is the intensity of the lines charcoal makes that fascinates the children. Perhaps it is the power of lines themselves that keeps the children engaged?

A few moments tell us that lines are not just marks on paper. It seems as if the lines have come alive for the children.

A child shares a line with me tracing a thick charcoal mark on the paper that starts where he is and ends on my foot (about a metre away from him). I immediately pass the line back to the child who quickly marks another long, thick line on the paper until he reaches my other shoe. Another child quietly waits until the line is passed him. Another child sitting beside me, watches intently. This child is invited to join into the activity of line creation This has become a lively collective: children, lines, charcoal, paper mingle in the middle of a busy classroom.

This game of lines is repeated several times throughout the morning.