Paths to knowledge: Labyrinths can be educational tools for children

Ancient Greeks, who first conceived of labyrinths, probably never thought of children calculating distances or playing games inside the elaborate paths, but a Las Vegas educator said they can be effective education tools.

Gael D. Hancock, author of “108 Ways To Use Labyrinths in Schools,” said this week at Bright School they can be windows of communication.

“What they can allow people to do for themselves is pretty powerful,” she said.

Bright School, which erected a labyrinth in 2007 as part of its hillside playground, is one of more than a half dozen area sites with such a structure.

Children, according to Ms. Hancock, can walk the circuitous paths in contemplative fashion before tests or particular challenges. Or, she said, since they have been used on almost every continent and by most religions, they can be used to connect cultures.

Teachers, she said, can have children draw labyrinths, use math in determining the number of stones (or other items) in their construction or draw in the community as a collaborative labyrinth construction project.

Bright headmaster O.J. Morgan said they help children move from concrete to abstract thinking.

“I just love the multicurricular role (labyrinths) can play,” he said.

Ms. Hancock said while labyrinths are fun for all children, they also have shown to be especially effective with special-needs children.

“They give students and teachers ways to do something that’s not standard,” she said.

LABYRINTH FACTS

* Parts include the mouth (where it’s entered), the wall (whatever separates the circuits of the path), the path and the goal (the center).

* Lacy edges found on some labyrinths are known as lunations.

* A full labyrinth has 11 circuits; a petite Chartres labyrinth has seven circuits.

* The rosette center in most labyrinths has six petals representing rocks and minerals, plants, animals, mankind, angels and all that is above.

AREA LABYRINTHS

* Alexzanna Farms, Wildwood, Ga. (outdoors)

* First Presbyterian Church, 581 Hillcrest Circle, Etowah, Tenn. (outdoors)

* New Hope Presbyterian Church, 7301 Shallowford Road (outdoors)

* Rock Ridge Retreat Center, Valley Head, Ala. (outdoors)

* St. Mary’s Sewanee, 770 St. Mary’s Lane, Sewanee, Tenn. (outdoors)

* St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St., (outdoors)

* St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 630 Mississippi Ave., Signal Mountain (indoors)

* Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church, 1607 W. 43rd St. (outdoors)