What is Walking the Line?

Every day at preschool the children practice walking the line.  What is this activity, why is this important, and why is it a core activity in Montessori classrooms?  The article below (from the Montessori blog, "To The Lesson), explains:

What is Walking the Line, anyway?

The Walking the Line activity is inherent to the overall culture of the classroom.  It is during this lesson the child learns to coordinate his movements so the he is able to function in the environment.  It is with the same concentration and coordination with which the child uses as the navigates the environment.  The activity is also a source of stabilization not only for the coordination of movement, but also the  development of the child within. 

The lesson involves showing the child how to carefully walk on the line in a slow, graceful, conscious manner.  First, the child simply walks while looking down at the line and gradually moves to more advanced variations.  These can include looking up while walking, holding an object while walking - such as a bell or cup of water and keep it from ringing or spilling.  Some teachers enjoy incorporating music which would further influence the child's control of movements. 

All of these activities work in tandem with the child's ability to progress in the classroom.  Walking the Line, therefore, plays a vital role in creating a general consciousness of controlled movement in the environment.