+
Kinesthetic Activities in the
Classroom: Ways to Motivate Your
Students
Annah Trunick
English Language Fellow
+
What’s your learning style?
nKinesthetic
nAudio
nVisual
+ Kinesthetic
n learn
Learners…
and remember by "doing”
n take
the initiative to touch and feel, rather than
just look or listen
n have
a lot of physical energy and enjoy being
active
n have
a lot of physical energy/Can't sit still for
too long
n like
to work and create with
their hands
+
Kinesthetic Learning
I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
- Confucius
+ The
7 Intelligences
Theory
Howard
Gardener
Educational
Psychologist
+
The 7 Intelligences Theory
n suggests
that there are 7
distinct intelligences
n recognizes
areas in which a
person's particular talent falls
n suggests
that education needs
to avoid narrow ideas of what
intelligence and achievement
are
+ 7 Intelligences
n1.
Language
n good
at learning languages/
putting ideas into words
n poets, lyricists, writers
n2.
Math and Logic
nPhilosophers,
jobs, etc.
technological
+ 7 Intelligences
n3.
Music
n good
n4.
rhythm, etc.
Spatial Reasoning
n Understanding
for how things
relate
n Architects, engineers
+ 7 Intelligences
n5.
Movement
n to
use your body to solve problems or
make something
n Athletes, craftsmen, doctors/sergions
n6.
Interpersonal
n Great
communicator/leader
n Psychiatrist, nurse
n7.
Intrapersonal
n who
knows his strengths, weaknesses,
desires and fears and can act on that
knowledge in adaptive ways.
+ Activities used in the classroom:
n Think
of examples for one of the
intelligences and suggest a fun activity
using it
n 1.
Language:
n 2.
Math and Logic:
n 3.
Music:
n 4.
Spatial Reasoning:
n 5.
Movement:
n 6.
Interpersonal:
n 7.
Intrapersonal:
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Let’s practice some activities!
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Why play games?
Games…
n make language learning fun
n encourage learners to take risks.
n add variety and are motivating.
nprovide a reason for using language
(learners want to get their ideas and
messages across, and they need to
understand others’ messages)
nwww.esl-games.net/articles/using-games.html
.
+ Drama in the Classroom
nActivity:
Charades
n Why
use drama?
n What learning style/intelligence
does it apply to?
nFor
later use: Using Drama and
Storytelling in the EFL Classroom
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Music in the Classroom
nActivity:
Song
n Why
use songs?
n What skills are used?
n What learning style/intelligence
does this activity apply to?
nHandout
n
for later use:
Using Music in the EFL Classroom
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More kinesthetic activities:
Snap dragon/fortune
teller
Disappearing Dialogues
+ Wrap-up Review
nWhy
is it beneficial to do a
warm-up activity with your
students?
nWhy
are games and other
kinesthetic activities beneficial
in the classroom?
nWhat
are some ways that you
keep students motivated and
interested in learning?
+ Feedback Card
1. What is ONE thing you liked
about today’s activities?
2. What is ONE thing we could do
differently?
3. What is ONE thing you did not
understand?
4. What is ONE thing that you
WILL use in your classroom?