First maps

A rich workshop based programme for children in their first three years of primary school, which aims to develop logical visual strategies, train certain significant mental operations and enable pupils to independently build their first min maps. With the progressive consolidation of cognitive abilities starting with logical prerequisites, pupils will learn how to understand and be able to use the building blocks of maps with ease, until they can produce and effectively use cognitive diagrams and maps which become gradually more articulated.
The 160 activities presented in the book, to be carried out mostly cooperatively or in groups, are divided into ten chapters and organised into three sections:
• «Before maps: prerequisites» (Identifying, Building relationships, Comparing, Classifying): to consolidate logical prerequisites and build diagrams according to the main topological concepts;
• «Towards maps: elements and actions» (Codifying, Laying-out, Gathering information): to learn the building blocks of mind maps (topics, arrows, connections, directionality of a relationship);
• «Maps in action: first mind maps» (Building, Analysing, Reflecting): to formalise the building of different kinds of mind maps and reflect on personal strategies for their creation.

Addressed for primary school teachers, the book also contains an Appendix with material which can be cut out and used in class.