Developed by:
Il Salone dei Rifiutati
Improving language skills and orientation through creative urban exploration and mapping
- Group size limits: from 6 to 13 learners
- Time required: 2 hours
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Learn & Gain:
- Enhance vocabulary.
- Improve oral and written expression.
- Foster observation skills.
- Strengthen the ability to explore and describe spaces.
Language skills developed
- Reading comprehension
- Spelling
- Written expression
- Pronunciation
- Vocabulary skills
other extra-linguistic and communication skills developed
- Creativity
- Artistic skills
- Organizational skills
- Spatial awareness / Orientation skills
- Non-verbal expression
- Self-confidence
- Intercultural competence
Materials and tools needed
- Sticky name tags
- Smartphones
- Blank A4 sheets
- Small white paper sheets (10 per participant)
- Wax crayons (preferably black or dark colors)
- Pencils, black pens and markers
- Small plastic or cloth bags
- Sticky notes
- Large sheet (or board) for vocabulary collection
- Large poster board for feedbacks
- Evaluation sheets with emoticons or color coding
- Adhesive tape and scissors
- Access to online image search tools for learners without personal photos
Step-by-step
Step 1 – Introduction and getting to know each other (indoor or outdoor)
- Learners write their names on sticky name tags and wear them.
- The educator briefly introduces the activity.
- Each learner selects a photo from their phone representing their idea of “home.” If unavailable, they may take a photo or search for an image online.
- Learners share their images and explain their selections. The educator provides linguistic mediation as needed.
Step 2 – Outdoor exploration and Hands-On activity
- Each learner receives ten small white sheets, a black crayon, and a pen.
- Going outdoors, learners explore the surrounding area and collect textures using the frottage technique. They may rub a tree, wall, bench, car license plate, road sign, street asphalt, café chair, or any other rough surface.
- Each rubbing is labeled with the name of the object or surface it was taken from, in any language they prefer.
Step 3 – Street or neighborhood glossary
- Upon returning to the classroom or indoor space, learners display their collected rubbings on a table.
- Learners write the names of each surface and object in the target language, using colored sticky notes and black markers.
- The group focuses on spelling, pronunciation, and translation from various languages, creating a shared glossary of textures found in the area.
- The educator assists with translations and writing in the target language.
Step 4 – Inventory of natural and artificial surfaces
- A poster divided into two sections — Natural and Artificial — is displayed.
- Each learner selects two words to add on the poster, focusing on new or challenging vocabulary.
- The educator facilitates the process by creating a catalog of non-repetitive words, then invites learners to reflect on their selections.
Step 5 – Feedback session (if needed)
- A large sheet with three columns — “I liked it,” “I’m not sure,” and “I didn’t like it” — is displayed on the wall.
- Learners place sticky notes in the relevant column to express their feedback.
- Additional verbal feedback is encouraged to gather more insights about learners’ engagement and experience.
Potential risks and challenges
- Weather conditions affecting outdoor activities (in this case, the activity can be transformed into the mapping of a room or a building and its objects/surfaces)
- Emotional distress triggered by discussions about “home”
- Issues related to multilingual mediation
recommendations for educators
- Prepare vocabulary lists adapted to learners literacy levels
- Encourage peer support and use of native language when necessary
- Reduce drawing anxiety, reassure that artistic/drawing skills are not needed
- See in advance the outdoor/indoor space you want to explore
- Be sure to invite all learners to move and explore the space
- Carefully choose the materials and colors so that the result is also aesthetically pleasing
resources and references
Exploring themes through learners’ personal photos:
Communication skills seveloped through City-Crossing Activities:
- Creative City Crossing –
- Map Me Happy – Communication skills developped throgh city crossing activities
More about Exploring Textures:
