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Movement-Based Activities

Movement-Based activities can benefit a child's attention, behavior, fine-motor/ pencil control, motor planning/gross motor, body awareness, and vestibular system. 

 

"The body learns ten times faster than the brain and forgets ten times slower.  If you want to change the brain, change the body"- Dr. David Richos

 

• Within the classroom, it is best to use controlled, predictable movements, such as:

  • “Simon says”

  • Yoga and deep breathing

  • Stretching can be used for transitions between activities

  • Hopping or jumping from one place to another, or dancing to the next spot

  • Jumping jacks, sit ups, push ups, running in place to music, or walking around the perimeter of the room can engage the whole class

  • Musical Chairs is a fun, quick way to get the entire class up and moving

  • Playing “Mother May I” can incorporate movement into learning. Students will be able to be creative when thinking of movements, while also abiding by the rules of the game and of the classroom by asking before doing something. 

  • Placing materials across the room requires the child to get up and move

  • Have students "combat crawl" around desks and chairs, using their arms and legs to push them across the floor. This is a fun activity using the resources you have in the classroom. 

 

• The following exercises can be completed individually while the students are in their seats. These are meant to allow the child to regulate themselves at their own pace:

  • Push the palms of your hands together at chest level for a few seconds. 

  • Chair push-ups and pull-ups.  Grasp sides of the seat of the chair and pull up for several seconds as if you are trying to lift a heavy box.  Then push on the seat of the chair for several seconds as if you are trying to lift yourself off of the chair.

  • Shrug your shoulders up to your earlobes and hold for 5 seconds. Relax your shoulders down and repeat 3 times. 

  • Place your right palm on your right knee. Push your knee up and push your hand down at the same time. Hold for a few seconds and repeat with the left hand on the left knee. 

 

• For a fun, quick activity that the entire class can participate in:

  • Have the class march around the room and pretend they are trees waving in the wind. As they march, the breeze slowly dies down and the trees stop waving

  • Have the class pretend they are balloons that are being blown up. Start on the floor and blow, blow, blow until they are standing and fully blown up. Slowly let air out until they are lying on the floor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

 

https://sites.google.com/a/dcsdk12.org/cammievodicka/sensory-strategies-for-the-classroom 

 

http://occupational-therapy.advanceweb.com/Web-Extras/Online-Extras/Sensory-Strategies-for-the-Classroom.aspx