Since kinesthetic learners prefer muscle movement and action for the best results, the movements inherent in dramatic acting help set the scene for optimal learning. This is especially true for children with special needs. By acting out anything, from a mathematical scenario to a lesson in English literature, special needs students have the opportunity to invigorate and simplify learning material that otherwise could seem daunting or dull. For example, the classic story "The Tortoise and the Hare" is something that children can dramatize while drawing literary conclusions, such as "slow and steady wins the race." Or, they could also practice calculating time.
Technology, while perhaps less physically invigorating, offers special needs students additional kinesthetic techniques to use. The Smart Board, which has been described as a combination of a traditional white grease board and a computer, allows children to learn from the computer without the burden of sitting and staring at a computer screen. Computer games played on the Smart Board come in various styles. One of them, called Cloud Dreamer, allows children to use their imaginations and create their own clouds that they place across the virtual sky. Encouraging special needs students to use their imaginations helps inspire original thinking and problem solving skills.
Creating visual art, too, allows the imagination to run free while exercising the muscles. Special needs children can gain much from drawing pictures, making sculptures or painting. Here, again, "The Tortoise and the Hare" can serve as inspiration for this kinesthetic technique, by having the children draw their favorite scene from the story. Also, when a child makes a sculpture out of simple materials, such as Lego's or blocks, or paints a picture, he's given the chance to express himself in new ways, which may reveal hidden talents or simply exercise his communication skills.
The universality of music should definitely have a place in a special needs curriculum. Playing notes on an instrument, such as a piano, and involving students by having them raise their hands if they think the notes are high, or bending over and dropping their arms if they think the notes are low, engages students and teaches them about pitch. Also, simply playing a song and having the students keep the beat by snapping, stomping or clapping also works well. Whatever method you choose, take note of individual students and adapt your technique to fit them as best as possible.