Level I Sensory Strategies:
Sensory integration is the brains ability to interpret sensory information (visual, auditory, touch, movement, taste, and smell) and how
it contributes to the individuals’ response to their environment. Proper organization of the environmental stimuli allows for
appropriate responses which contribute to the individuals learning and growth. If an individual is unable to process and organize
sensory input effectively he or she may respond negatively impacting how they perform their daily roles. Qualified professionals
(Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist) may consult or provide suggestions to classroom staff and teachers as part of a behavior
intervention plan in the classroom environment.
Interventions you can do with your whole class or a group of students that you can do without a therapists direct input
Balance and Motion
Touch
Body Awareness
o Crawling on hands and
o Water Play
knees
o Play with stuffed toys
o Vibrating toys, pens, balls, or stuffed toys
o Commando crawling
o Make Mud Pies
o Jumping
with full body
o Use finger paint or
o Wall Pushups
o Walk
other paints
o Scooter boards
o Run
o Use glitter glue
o Jump Rope
o Jump/jumping jacks
o Use foamy soap or
o Crawl through tunnels
o March
shaving cream
o Bubble wrap to pop with finger/hands or jump on
o Floor/wall push ups
o Play with whipped
o Peg boards
o Sit ups
cream
o T stool
o Play Catch
o Mix cookie dough or
o Push Toys
cake batter
o Squeeze Toys
o Play in sand box
o Rapper Snapper (Pop tube)
o Use playdough, putty,
o Any type of massager
gak, floam
o Weighted Balls
o Sensory Bin with dry
o Log Rolling
rice, beans, or other
materials
Auditory/Listening
o Listen to Favorite
Music
o Play Musical
Instruments
o Singing
o Whispering
o Blow Bubbles
o Observe Silence
o Identify and Label
Sounds
o Humming
o Nature Sounds (Ocean,
rain, burds, etc)
o Relaxation or
Meditation CD’s
o Using Telephone
o Following Multi Step
Directions
o Sound of a fan
o Sound of a water
fountain
o People Talking
o White Noise
o Music Box
o Classical Music
Vision/Looking
o Look at mobiles, lava
lamps, bubble lamps
o Avoid fluorescent
bulbs (visual flicker,
noise)
o Respect color
preference in clothing,
objects, etc
o Waterfalls
o Cloud formations
o Fish in a tank
o Art work
o Look at photos, picture
books
o Wear sunglasses, wide
brim hat, or visor
outdoors
o Games and activities
that develop visual
skills-mazes, dot-todots, I Spy, flashlight
tag, etc
Planning and Ideas
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Crawling on hands and knees
Commando crawling with full body
Jump/jumping jacks
March
Floor/wall push ups
Sit ups
Play Catch
Balloon Tennis
Hop Scotch
Stretching
Level II Sensory Strategies
Level II Sensory Strategies are activities that can be performed by all students in the classroom but should have initial
precautionary training from the Occupational Therapist. Refer to precaution sheet.
Level II
Balance and Motion
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Glider rockers
Swing
Teeter totter
“Dizzy Disc”
“Sit ‘n Spin”
Balance boards and balance beams
Crawling on hands and knees
Commando crawling with full body
Walk
Run
Jump/jumping jacks
March
Floor/wall push ups
Sit ups
Bounce on a Therapy Ball
Mini Trampoline
Inflatable Seat Cushions
Play Catch
Balloon Tennis
Hop Scotch
Stretching
Lifting Weights
Yoga/Tai Chi
Touch
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Water Play
Explore various textures
Jump on Crash Pad
Log Rolling
Use hand fidgets
Play with stuffed toys
Make Mud Pies
Use finger paint or other paints
Use glitter glue
Use foamy soap or shaving cream
Play with whipped cream
Mix cookie dough or cake batter
Roll up in a “burrito” blanket
Sandwich between pillows
Play in sand box
Use playdough, putty, gak, floam
Sensory Bin with dry rice, beans, or
other materials
Body Awareness
o Vibrating toys, pens, balls, or
stuffed toys
o Jumping
o Wall Pushups
o Scooter boards
o Jump Rope
o Crawl through tunnels
o Bubble wrap to pop with
finger/hands or jump on
o Peg boards
o T stool
o Push Toys
o Weighted back packs
o Squeeze Toys
o Rapper Snapper (Pop tube)
o Any type of massager
o Weighted Balls
o Scooter boards
Auditory/Listening
o Listen to Favorite Music
o Discover Calming vs Excitatory
Music
o Play Musical Instruments
o Singing
o Whispering
o Blow Bubbles
o Observe Silence
o Identify and Label Sounds
o Humming
o Nature Sounds (Ocean, rain, burds,
etc)
o Relaxation or Meditation CD’s
o Using Telephone
o Following Multi Step Directions
o Ear plugs or sound cancelling head
phones
o Sound of a fan
o Sound of a water fountain
o People Talking
o White Noise
o Music Box
o Classical Music
Vision/Looking
o Look at mobiles, lava lamps,
bubble lamps
o Colored lightbulbs
o Avoid fluorescent bulbs (visual
flicker, noise)
o Respect color preference in
clothing, objects, etc
o Waterfalls
o Cloud formations
o Fish in a tank
o Art work
o Look at photos, picture books
o Wear sunglasses, wide brim hat, or
visor outdoors
o Games and activities that develop
visual skills-mazes, dot-to-dots, I
Spy, flashlight tag, etc
o Provide quiet corner to help
improve attention and decrease
over-stimulation
o “Safe space” with minimal visuals
o Reduce clutter in classroom (walls,
ceiling, desk, etc
Planning and Ideas
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Crawling on hands and knees
Commando crawling with full body
Jump/jumping jacks
March
Floor/wall push ups
Sit ups
Bounce on a Therapy Ball
Mini Trampoline
Play Catch
Balloon Tennis
Hop Scotch
Stretching
Lifting Weights
Yoga/Tai Chi
Scooter board
Level III Sensory Interventions:
Level III: In general any sensory activity/strategy that is individualized to one specific student regardless of the strategy level
is considered a level III intervention and it must be initiated and supervised by the Occupational Therapist. A Sensory
Behavior Intervention Plan (S-BIP) must be created for these students. The following sensory strategies are always considered
Level III sensory strategies which are invasive interventions that must be supervised by a Trained Occupational or Physical
Therapist and parental permission must be given. However they must only be performed under the supervision and
consultation of the Occupational Therapist. It is important that they be done correctly and safe.
Level III
o Bear Hug Vest
o Weighted Items: vest, lap pad, balls, arm/wrist/neck, or
any other weighted device
o Proprioceptive Pressure with Therapy Ball
o Deep Pressure-Sensory Brush with Joint Compressions
o Blanket Wrap
o Body Sox
o Vibrating toys
o Deep Massage
o Roll up in a Burrito/Blanket
o Sandwich between pillows
o Weighted back packs
o Any type of massager
o Also any individualized Sensory Diet