I’ve written about this before, but here are some more ways to use the routine element of making transitions that call for moving a group of children to another location into learning experiences.

Developmentally speaking, Infants and Babies do not line up, but are transported in strollers. Toddlers can travel for short distances in a “cat-herding” group with adults in front and behind and can go for longer walks with EXTREME supervision or the use of a ribbon, scarf, or knotted rope line moving only as fast as the slowest walker. Twos can move in a line, but must be allowed to pause when distracted (great learning moments). Threes will follow you anywhere if you sing, march, or walk like animals. Fours and Fives need to practice walking in a line for “Big School”.

Before lining up to travel, children need to be told where and why they are going to a different location and what the teacher expects behaviorally on the way. If you use a Line Learning technique, keep it developmentally appropriate in skill and time. Lining up can be one of the most valuable teaching tools of your day. Personalize these:

“Please line up if/when you:”

Body:  Gross Motor & Health – skip, tiptoe, gallop, slide, walk backward; catch the beanbag and toss it back to a friend; tell me what you ate for breakfast that was healthy; show me how you brushed your teeth; have washed your hands.

Fine Motor – show me how you can stack 3/5/10 blocks on the table; pick up 3 cotton balls with your hand/pincers/tweezers

Mind:   Intelligence – point to/tell me where you worked this morning; recognize this picture; go to the Nature Table and bring back a pine cone; are wearing (color, pattern, article of clothing).

Language-Literacy – hear me whisper/say out loud/say the first letter/make the sound of the first letter/spell your name; say your name/say the first letter/spell your own name; hear me say a word that rhymes with your name; recognize the first letter/full name in print; tell me the name of your favorite book or character; read this sight word.

Math – can make a line by tallest to shortest; can tell me how many people are in the line when you are added; can count to 5/10/20, etc.; can tell me which of these animals is bigger/smaller; can put your hands up/down/on tummy, etc.; can make a pattern in the line by color or clothes; can show us a shape.

Science – can show us a leaf (animal, bird, etc.,); name an animal or plant you saw on the way to school today; tell us what the weather is like today; can line up like animal; can show us something soft/hard.

Social Studies – can tell us the names of your family/friends; tell the work your mom or dad do; recognize this community helper; tell the name of this famous person; tell us who you played with today; tell us what you did to make our classroom better today.

Spirit: can tell us your name; tell us your teacher’s name; tell us a friend’s name; tell us what you like about school today; tell us a good thing about the friend next to you.