As a classroom teacher, you have students with a wide variety of skill sets, talents, and preferences.
And you would like to honor the gifts they have.
Traditional instructional tools normally teach to a certain type of learner.
However, you can change that by teaching a variety of learning styles using multiple intelligence activities for students.
The use of multiple intelligence activities in the classroom is based on the work of Howard Gardner and his Multiple Intelligence Theory.
Essentially, his theory suggests that all individuals possess some type of intelligence.
Some of us are talented kinesthetically, others musically, some verbally, etc.
Unfortunately, traditional teaching is primarily based on one, maybe two, types of intelligence.
But you can be the one to expose students to a wider variety of teaching and learning styles. Doing so guides them as they develop their talents, skills, and gifts.
They’ll have opportunities to explore, and you’ll observe with which activities they thrive.
This helps you to plan future instruction based not only on their needs but their strengths.
To help you with planning, I’ve put together a collection of engaging multiple intelligence activities that you can use in your classroom starting this week.
Following you will find examples of activities for each intelligence.
Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence Activities
Students who are “Word Smart” have a way with words. They are comfortable expressing themselves verbally, whether in spoken or written form.
Here are examples of these types of multiple intelligence activities…
1. Give oral presentations.
2. Recite lines in a reader’s theater play.
3. Compose poetry.
4. Conduct an interview.
5. Complete crossword puzzles.
6. Write stories, essays, articles, jokes, etc. (various types of genres)
7. Blog.
8. Journal.
9. Play games such as Scrabble.
10. Debate with others about an important issue.
11. Read aloud.
12. Write story problems.
13. Give speeches.
14. Participate in discussions.
Logical-Mathematical Intelligence Activities
Children with Logical-Mathematical intelligence do well with interpreting data and analyzing patterns.
They generally excel with numbers and are very logical in their reasoning.
Because of their skill in using numbers, “Math Smart” individuals tend to make good accountants, bankers, and engineers.
Here are examples of these types of multiple intelligence activities…
1. Perform scientific experiments.
2. Solve Sudoku puzzles (and similar math-focused puzzles).
3. Play math games.
4. Create and analyze patterns.
5. Code.
6. Do computer programming.
7. Create timelines.
8. Solve word problems and math equations.
9. Create a spreadsheet.
10. Collect and organize data.
11. Play chess.
12. Analyze budgets.
13. Problem-solve.
14. Play strategy games.
Spatial Intelligence Activities
Students who possess visual-spatial intelligence process information via images and pictures.
They visualize how something works, and then they use their artistic abilities to design and create it.
Students with “Picture Smart” talents manipulate objects mentally (think about a memory game) because they have excellent visual memory.
Following are examples of these types of multiple intelligence activities…
1. Take photographs for classroom projects/activities and school events.
2. Record a video.
3. Create objects using Play Dough or clay.
4. Design various types of charts, graphs, diagrams, and posters.
5. Create, analyze, and process information using graphic organizers.
6. Build with blocks, Legos, or other objects.
7. Put together jigsaw puzzles.
8. Study maps to find geographic locations.
9. Illustrate written work.
10. Sketch, draw, or paint.
11. Play memory games.
12. Visualize an idea before materializing it.
13. Make 3D projects.
14. Put together a scrapbook.
15. Create a collage.
16. Explore origami.
17. Put together a puzzle with LOTS of pieces.
18. Create art.
19. Build models.
20. Design maps.
21. Solve spatial problems.
Musical Intelligence Activities
Do you have students that process information better through sound and rhythm?
Are they adept at showing mastery of content by performing musically or by composing some type of melody or song?
These “Music Smart” learners have an ear for sound. They excel in their ability to use melody, rhythm, sound, and/or songs to express their learning.
Find here examples of these types of multiple intelligence activities…
1. Sing songs or jingles.
2. Compose music or a melody.
3. Write songs.
4. Play an instrument.
5. Memorize words in different languages.
6. Play musical games.
7. Create games that incorporate music.
8. Listen to and analyze music.
9. Incorporate clapping and rhythm.
10. Differentiate tone, pitch, and sounds in a song.
11. Listen to audiobooks.
12. Develop a podcast.
13. Create sound effects.
14. Write new lyrics to a song.
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence Activities
“Body Smart” activities involve physical activity.
With these kinds of multiple intelligence activities, learners do best with “hands-on” lessons that incorporate body and mind coordination.
Here are examples of these types of multiple intelligence activities…
1. Design costumes or props for readers’ theaters.
2. Play a game of Charades to act out vocabulary words or characters from a book.
3. Build a model of something.
4. Repair equipment.
5. Choreograph a dance sequence.
6. Play and design interactive games such as Simon Says or Twister.
7. Participate in scavenger hunts related to a class assignment.
8. Perform in a play or skit.
9. Use manipulatives.
10. Role-play.
11. Play sports.
12. Dance.
13. Do martial arts.
14. Practice yoga.
Interpersonal Intelligence Activities
When you have students work collaboratively, you’re developing their interpersonal intelligence.
“People Smart” individuals make exceptional leaders because they’re good at persuading, negotiating, and working well with others.
Find below examples of these kinds of multiple intelligence activities…
1. Debate an issue with a team.
2. Collaborate with peers.
3. Participate in community service.
4. Interview others.
5. Participate in group projects.
6. Lead a book club or literature circle group.
7. Play team sports.
8. Work in cooperative groups in order to complete projects.
9. Teach peers a skill through reciprocal teaching.
10. Share constructive feedback with classmates.
11. Act in a play.
12. Tutor younger students.
13. Take part in group discussions.
14. Be a mentor.
15. Volunteer.
Intrapersonal Intelligence Activities
Compared to interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence is focused on the individual, the ability to be “Self-Smart“.
Learners with a knack for intrapersonal intelligence need time alone to process their thoughts.
They have a healthy perception of their limitations and strengths.
While “Self-Smart” students do enjoy being around others, they’re okay and quite comfortable working alone.
Here are some examples of intrapersonal intelligence activities for students:
1. Journal.
2. Complete individualized projects.
3. Write an autobiography.
4. Pursue a new goal.
5. Evaluate your own work.
6. Create goals with an action plan.
7. Analyze text-to-self connections.
8. Read independently.
9. Write from different points of view.
10. Participate in independent study activities.
11. Express feelings through music or writing.
12. Create mind maps.
13. Practice mindfulness activities.
14. Meditate.
15. Do a self-analysis.
Naturalistic Intelligence Activities
“Nature Smart” students have a heart for the environment and the beings that live within it.
They’re strongly focused on animals, plants, Earth, Earth-related issues, and nature in some way, shape, or form.
Here are examples of these types of multiple intelligence activities…
1. Care for classroom plants.
2. Provide care to animals.
3. Organize a recycling campaign.
4 Lead beautification projects.
5. Explore with binoculars, magnifying glasses, and microscopes.
6. Research a particular plant or animal.
7. Develop an outdoor classroom.
8. Collaborate with environmental groups.
9. Participate in nature clubs.
10. Collect, sort, and classify rocks, leaves, or other natural objects.
11. Research and report on global issues.
12. Complete nature-focused science projects.
13. Camp.
14. Explore gardening.
Final Thoughts
These ideas help you to shape lessons around students’ unique learning styles.
Incorporating a variety of activities for multiple intelligences in your classroom will ensure that all learners have several opportunities to work in their zone of genius.
Though one or two intelligences may dominate a child’s learning style, most students naturally possess parts of several.
Nurture whichever intelligences they excel in while helping them to discover and develop others.
If you found these classroom activities for multiple intelligences helpful, have students fill out a Multiple Intelligence Survey to discover their preferences and strengths.