When the student's ideas and space on the craft paper are exhausted, the teacher can ask the students to brainstorm for names for the town. As each contribution is made, the student is asked to provide a reason for his or her choice. The teacher keeps a record of all suggestions on chart paper. When the suggestions have been exhausted, the children are given a moment to consider the choices and are asked to vote to name their town. Whole Group Drawing the map of the proposed town serves to help students build belief in the work.
Students can work two or more at a time if there is room.
The map provides a fine backdrop for further work on this topic. Referring to the map and to the earlier statements by the students regarding their role in the town, he asks them to create a typical weekday afternoon in the life of the new town. The students readily set this scene in motion while the teacher moves unobtrusively around the room observing and listening to the action. The teacher now asks the students to consider the sorts of issues which would concern a new community. He suggests that such concerns could be either problems or causes for celebration.