Walking on the Line - in the Atrium

Walking on the line is one of those iconic primary Montessori experiences - that fades away in elementary.

Yet I still see the need for it in us all: children and adults alike.

Past Seeking the Plan of God posts on the line:
Adding the Line
Anecodotes
Some background

My returning Level 3 children this year - in all 4 level 3 groups I have - requested the line on the first day. They knew it - they loved it - they gained so much from it.

The relaxation; the challenge; the inner balance it achieves especially in these level 3 children whose bodies are growing faster than they can handle and whose emotions are being affected by new hormones.

This year, I am changing the line to a ribbon - leftover from creating a Fettuccia a few years ago. Our carpeting does not hold tape well in the atrium I can place it permanently; the other two atrium spaces, we are not allowed to have tape on the floor.

Walking the Line

Well, I did it. I added walking the line to each of the atriums. I have not yet photographed anyone's feet actually on it yet, but I will.


In Monday's combined atrium and Wednesday level 3 atrium (and I anticipate Sunday's level 3), the children were all, "Oh, walking the line is SO easy! What's the big deal!?"

"Ah," I said, "but is it REALLY!?"

That got their attention ;)


As older children, I will get them going on "challenges" much more quickly than I would do with 3 year olds. But they must demonstrate certain competencies on some skills before moving on:

• keep a stack of beanbags on the head without tipping before getting to use ONE beanbag with a small glass of water half-full
• use that small half-full glass before one that is filled to the brim
• walk while carrying objects before carrying a bell - aiming for silence
• walk while carrying the bell silently before carrying one object on top of another within the hands
• walk heel toe successfully and prove control of self/will and control of movement before walking on the line blindfolded (blindfolded is one person at a time on the line; otherwise more than one child can work with it). 

We have a green crocheted (chain stitch) yarn line for each atrium, with it being picked up by the knot (which indicates where to get on and off - children must commit to going around the whole way when they get on, and they can go around as many times as they like, but they MUST complete a circuit if they start it), hook that part into a slit on the cardboard tube, wrap it all around the tube and clip the end into another slit. Keeps it all together and flexible for the atrium spaces where a permanent line is not an option. 

In my Wednesday evening atrium, one 6th grade boy who insists he does not remember being in the atrium for sacramental preparation in 2nd grade, spoke up when someone said that walking a line on the floor was way too easy. "Oh NO it's NOT!" he said. "Ah! He remembers being in the atrium in 2nd grade with me!" to which he replied, "Yeah, I suppose I do - I didn't even know that I remembered that - but I do remember that walking on the line is NOT easy!"

One 4th grade girl, whom I had in kindergarten in a level 1 atrium (along with a boy in her school class who likely had genuine ADHD and was very well-served by the line activity) also remembered that it wasn't so easy as one would think. She had an eager look on her face because she remembered some of the challenges being very fun - and very tricky. The other 4th graders had a different catechist their kindergarten year; and the 5th graders did not get the line in their sacramental preparation. The other 6th graders remembered it and were also interested, though they did not seem just too overly exuberant ;) They didn't need it or use it as much as the one boy above. 

The girl from the level 1 atrium had a strong experience, because I heavily use it, where the other catechists in the area didn't/don't emphasize it quite so much. More this year in level 1 for sure they are, because there are more people in there that want that Montessori flavor - and there is a great Montessori co-op room (teehe - that's the room I rent for a Montessori co-op), complete with an elliptical line that they can use when the children are preparing themselves to come into the atrium. 

It will be interesting to see the differences in the children and attempt to observe how much of the normalization of the children is directly impacted by the use of this key Montessori work compared to previous years where it was under-used or totally ignored. 

Walking the Line for Older Children !?

I firmly believe that children in all atrium levels should have the walking on the line.

WHY!? Haven't they outgrown it? Isn't walking the line the point of departure for normalization and the silence game the point of arrival?

Why NOT!? Do you not still do practical life for the pure joy of it in between much harder tasks? Do you as an adult not still occasionally walk on a line when no one is looking? (and if you don't, have you become a fuddy-duddy as an honest child would say? ;) ). Do you not walk in processions in the church? Do you not still need normalization from time to time? A re-centering? A refocusing? What adult who acknowledges their spirituality does not gain relaxation from walking a labyrinth? What about the Stations of the Cross? What are these but a walking of the line that Jesus walked in His final hours?

Self-control; master of one's will; do not touch others; do not pass; commit to going around one whole time (can only enter/exit at one point); do not speak or make any sound; keep moving. Most of our walking is done in silence, but we can also play music while walking, marching, or tiptoeing on the line.

Children of all ages should have access to the walking on the line activity. Not in a circle (it makes one dizzy) and not with sharp corners (it doesn't flow as well and becomes a focus on the line rather than a focus on the inner self) - an ellipse is ideal but a gently curving wandering line is beautiful too.

Set up small stepping stones in the garden and create a wandering path - a beautiful labyrinth.


I shared in my last entry about second graders walking the line before hearing the Good Shepherd - a parable that continues through all 3 levels. The Good Shepherd calls His sheep - and like sheep, we follow... in a line. Did you know that sheep walk in a line one behind the other? (there may be multiple lines, but each is independent of the one beside it). They keep moving; they do not pass; and they do not touch. Just like our walking on the line activity....

Walking the Line

In the level 1 atrium, we have a material called the line.

Without getting into all the Montessori principles behind it, or the whys and hows and details and extensions, let me just say that this line is CRUCIAL to a child's development. Period.

What children do you know that DON'T seek out lines to walk in - balance beams, parking bump things, cracks in the sidewalks, curbs, garden edging, stone walls - you name it, kids walk it!

The line in the level 1 atrium 

Montessori observed this and utilized it to its maximum potential.


I once had a young man, kindergarten. He had a wonderfully responsive school teacher and a wonderfully set up (non-Montessori) classroom, but he just wasn't settling in. His needs were being met, yet something was still amiss - and they were considering testing for ADHD. He came with his classmates to a level 1 atrium for 45 minutes once a week.

I introduced the walking on the line and it set off a spiral of events that allowed this child to do seriously productive work in that short span of time in the atrium. His regular teacher brought in a make-shift line for use in her classroom and it worked WONDERS. If he could just whip around that line a few times, of his own accord, he could then SIT and WORK for 5 minutes at a time! (the first time he sat for 30 seconds at a time we thought a miracle had occurred!).

The line in our Montessori co-op for ages 3-10

In one of my level 2 sacramental preparations sessions, with children who were not in atrium for their regular faith formation (only for sacramental preparation - in fact, the children I am about to describe are my 6th graders this year :) ) --- I had the children come into the level 1 atrium space where we had the Good Shepherd material. I brought them into the level 1 because I also wanted them to walk on the line.

In the process of walking on the line, they centered themselves, refocusing; peace was brought to their internal selves and even Abbot and Costello found some level of quietude (more on these two another day - I have one of them now again, but I am missing the other...).

I rang the bell to pause walking and to gather around the Good Shepherd material. As I began the presentation, you could have heard a pin drop onto the carpeted floor.

I firmly believe it was a combination of the line and the presentation itself.

There are so many benefits to walking on the line - the only one that matters is inner peace.