#  >> K-12 >> K-12 For Educators

Activities for Students Using Spatial Intelligence

While standard intelligence tests measure competencies like mathematical ability and language acquisition, students with advanced spatial intelligence don't always get the recognition they deserve. Spatial intelligence refers to students' capacity for mentally manipulating visual images, a key aspect of abstract reasoning and artistic ability. While some students might be more predisposed toward spatial intelligence than others, you can cultivate spatial intelligence in all your students with a variety of classroom activities.
  1. Drawing and Painting Activities

    • Getting your students to represent objects visually is one way to encourage the development of spatial intelligence. Have your students paint a picture of the classroom from a different perspective, such as from overhead. Similarly, ask your students to draw an object from behind while looking at it head on. These sorts of activities will help your students develop the capacity for rotating objects mentally, a key component of spatial intelligence.

    Mapping Activities

    • One aspect of spatial intelligence is the ability to imagine the connections between different spaces. Have your students draw and illustrate a map from school to their home. Let them represent objects and buildings on the way. Alternatively, have your students draw a floor plan of your classroom or of the entire school. Leave it up to students to decide on what aspects of the classroom or school are most important to focus on.

    Logic Activities

    • Students with advanced spatial intelligence aren't always good at conventional forms of thinking, which tend to emphasize logical and linear progress. Use this to your advantage and help students think about logical argument in spatial ways. Have your students draw a mind map in advance of developing an argument for an essay or assignment. Instead of a conventional written outline, have students draw idea bubbles that link to each other horizontally and vertically. This should allow students to imagine the various links between all kinds of different ideas.

    Writing Activities

    • You can cultivate spatial intelligence in your students by having them write in nontraditional or nonlinear ways. Show your students a picture or drawing and have them write instructions for how to draw it. Alternatively, have students write a story from the perspective of someone inside the painting. Finally, instead of having your students write a story in the conventional way, have them write one by positioning the words vertically on the page.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved