Multisensory learning doesn’t need to end after Pre-K. Hands-on learning is a valuable teaching tool long after preschool. In fact, A 2009 study conducted by researchers at Purdue University found that 8th graders retained higher levels of comprehension when the subject matter was taught through a hands-on learning method rather than the textbook and lecture method. Elementary school children are never too old to have fun learning with their hands! Here are five ways to keep your students busy with active learning:
1. Go beyond pencils!
Pencils and crayons are classroom staples—they get the job done! But it’s also important to continue to give older elementary students a variety of hands-on tools to appeal to all learning styles. Try our Blackboard with Double Lines to position your students for success with letter formation.
2. Create a makerspace
A makerspace is any physical area in a classroom that is designated for “making.” The space could be a table, a countertop, a cart, or something you’ve built yourself. Keep your makerspace well-stocked with odds and ends that can be assembled in a creative way. Cardboard, glue, ribbon, pipe cleaners become building blocks for innovation. Our Little Sponge Cubes and FLIP Crayons are versatile tools for making imaginative projects. Having a variety of materials at the child’s fingertips makes creating mini-masterpieces easy. Whether the finished result is a sculpture or a functional robot, makerspaces are a fun and effective way to promote hands-on, multisensory learning in your classroom.
3. Get into character
Bring your classroom to life! Having a classroom mascot—or a familiar character—keeps children engaged and motivated to learn. Magic C Bunny is an engaging puppet that helps you teach the C stroke for capital and lowercase letters and can also be used as a versatile, interactive classroom tool.
4. The right activities
As children graduate from pre-K and move on to elementary school, having a few go-to, hands-on activities will ensure that children of all grades have multisensory learning options in their classroom. For letter formation instruction, get children to roll up their sleeves and practice Wet-Dry-Try with our Little Sponge Cubes.
5. Don’t forget tech!
Digital learning doesn’t need to end at the computer. Taking tech instruction off-screen can be a valuable strategy for children who are struggling to build typing fluency. Build a Keyboard offers a tactile way for children to experience the layout of a keyboard before actually learning to type. Children actively memorizing the location of the keys on the rows as they put together the puzzle-like pieces.