This article contains a lesson overview of how to teach a literature unit using Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence. This is a great activity to challenge students who are not strong in that area or to allow students who flourish to participate in an activity they feel comfortable doing. While this activity is geared to a specific book it can be easily transferred to another book or another grade level. Other intelligences will be covered in other articles using this same book as an example.
The first part of this article is dedicated to the outline of what the activity is. The second section talks about what a readers' theater looks like and provides a rubric. Lastly, there is an explanation of what bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence is, what it means for the student, and what possible career paths it includes.
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
Activity:
Readers' Theater is a student presentation of text in a script form. Each student is assigned a reading part (or parts). There is no memorization, costumes, or special equipment. Presentations can start in early elementary school grades and go all the way up into 12th grade. The focus of the activity is for students to read with expression and make comprehending the text meaningful and fun. The key is for the teacher to select a piece of literature that is both short and full of dialogue. Books, poems, or short stories with lots of characters work well. Students should practice numerous times before presenting it.
This is organized by breaking up a typical class of 25 into three or four groups. Those groups may need a couple days to practice depending on the time allotted to the subject. Students will have a blast getting into character and will unconsciously start to pick up the subtleties in the language. To really allow students to see how well they have done it is good to incorporate a video camera, if at all possible. Then students can see how much expression really goes in to the text.
Assessment:
Readers' Theater Rubric
Name: _____________________ Date: ___________
Excellent (8-10 pts) Good (4-7 pts) Needs Improvement (0-3 pts)
Volume
- Consistently speaks loudly enough for the audience to hear.
- Usually speaks loudly enough for the audience to hear.
- Speaks too soft or loud to hear.
Clarity
- Words are pronounced correctly and easily understood.
- Most words are pronounced correctly and easily understood.
- Many words pronounced incorrectly, rate is too fast or too slow, or mumbles.
Reads with Expression
- Consistently reads with appropriate expression.
- Usually reads with appropriate expression.
- Reads with little or no expression.
Reads in Turn
- Takes turns accurately on a consistent basis.
- Takes turns accurately on a somewhat consistent basis.
- Rarely takes turns on a consistent basis.
Cooperation with Group
- Consistently works well with others.
- Sometimes work well with others.
- Difficulty in working with others.
Total points possible 50
Points earned ________ Percentage _______%
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
Information about the intelligences comes from: http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm
Ability to control body movements and handle objects skillfully. These learners express themselves through movement. They have a good sense of balance and eye-hand co-ordination. (e.g. ball play, balancing beams). Through interacting with the space around them, they are able to remember and process information.
Their skills include:
Dancing, physical co-ordination, sports, hands on experimentation, using body language, crafts, acting, miming, using their hands to create or build, expressing emotions through the body
Possible career paths:
Athletes, physical education teachers, dancers, actors, firefighters, artisans