In today’s classrooms, students are often sitting passively behind desks for hours at a time. However, research shows that movement and kinaesthetic learning boosts engagement, information retention, and overall academic performance. In this post, let’s explore easy ways to get students up and active in fun, stimulating ways.
Kinaesthetic Learning Benefits
- Improves focus and on-task behaviour.
- Increases blood flow to the brain, sharpening cognition.
- Provides outlets for nervous energy.
- Activates different learning styles.
- Boosts dopamine levels for positive associations with learning
Everyday Strategies
- Use hand motions and gestures to teach concepts, vocabulary, and counting.
- Take occasional “brain breaks” for students to stand, stretch, and dance.
- Act out stories, historical events, and science concepts.
- Play Simon Says to review material.
- Use classroom space creatively with stations.
- Make worksheets movable with clipboards or wall space.
Interactive Lesson Ideas
- Math relays/races
- Body geography (form maps with bodies)
- Science experiments/demonstrations
- Vocabulary charades
- Historical role playing
- Spell-It-Out challenges
- Slap Cup vocabulary reviews
While it takes creativity and classroom management skills, the benefits of a stimulating, interactive learning environment are immense. Students retain more when multiple senses and modalities are activated. Provide a supportive environment for healthy movement, and watch students thrive!