Taking the Scenic Route

I inadvertently created a new obsession in Zane.  Yesterday we were doing a study of “Maps” and I was a bit of a loss as to how to enrich it because he already knows what maps are (the lesson was “What is a Map?”) and knows how to use a basic map (like in games, or at the zoo).  It occurred to me that he might not understand directions, so I added that on to the lesson.  I explained that north is up on a map, drew a compass on the board, then realized I should apply it more concretely, so we headed outside and I drew a directional compass on the patio in chalk.  I tried to direct him to “face north, face south” and he seemed a little confused.  I then went out to the fence and wrote the direction on each fence and stood in the middle and showed him the directions again.   You could see the lightbulb flip on in his eyes.  To help him get it into his brain a little more, I modified the “listening game” we often do (a Simon Says type game that helps him develop his receptive abilities) to include directions.  For instance:  “run to the south fence, jump 3 times”, “jump to the east fence, then to the north fence”, ect.  The only problem was he didn’t want to stop playing it.  He kept begging me to keep playing “Map game” all day.  Later in the day I added “NE, NW,…” to each of the corners, and he seemed to get that right away.

Today, going to ST, I remembered that our truck has a directional indicator on it.  We had gone over the map to go to ST yesterday (he also wanted to know where Dillons, Target, Walmart and church were), and I think the road map clicked in his brain today.  During the drive I heard a blow by blow every time I changed directions, finishing with “go to the east” when he exited the car door to go into the front door of the building (which was, of course, to the east of where we were standing). 

Maybe I shouldn’t have taught him directions.  lol.