I read a book called something like "In their Own Way" about learning and Multiple Intelligences- Similar to Learning Styles. About how kids have different areas they excell intellectually- the normal ways we think of are Math, Languages (reading writing), and sometimes music- But how their are other types of intelligence such as BODY (using the body-sports, etc) and Interpersonal (Self knowledge) and a few others. I mainly got the book becuase I know Ki's "Smarts" weren't what is normally thought of in scholastics. His area seems to be- story telling, people, role-playing... According to this book, his 'gifted area' is PEOPLE- Intrapersonal. Yes, I knew it was alearning style, but I knew it was almost more than that with Ki and I was hoping to get tips o n teaching Ki in a way he learns best and excells. Since I can b e such an introvert, his learning style was hard for me. This book really helped. And it showed me another way to look at "Unit Studies".. instead of seeing subjects (math, spelling, geography, reading,etc..) to use learning styles..So I have been working on a MultiIntelligent Unit Study.  Hopefully the things I have planned for ours will help you design your ow MultiIntelligence Study:

 

We have a famous skateboard park down the street. (GEESH! we get kids from N.Y. Indiana and other states JUST to skateboard!!! I guess it was designed by a famous skater..). anyway I thought i'd use the 'theme' of our skatepark to do a MultiIntelligence Unit Study. I made a collumn for each initelligence type and then thought of things based on what I read: (the author made sure to say allkids have some bit of strengths in ALL areas and though they may be better at 2 of them, they should use all of them.

 

Nature

1.  What in nature is like the

skate park?

{otters sliding? Maybe it reminds

your chiild of dragonflies darting?)

2.make the following observations

~ changes with weather

~different animals

~dicipher tracks

(is it from a scooter? Skateboard?

etc….)

~different flowers.

 

I can see NATURE as one of Connor's M.I.s I need to think of more things for this

 

 

 

Body

1. try using the different items

like rollerblades, scooter, skateboard)

go around and try different things.

learn a new trick

practice a current one

pantamine a great board trick

(using your body, but no board)

Use your body to make measurements

"How many arm spans is the ramp?"

Play a version of "Mother May I?"

making use of the ramps and stairs

 

This being another one Connor is good at andKi needs more practice with.

 

 

 

 

Math

1. count the number of

(certain action/person) that happens

or pass in a specific amount of time.

e.i. : how many falls can you count in

5 minutes?

e.i.  : How many times does that boy

in the red shirt go down a ramp …?

~~~for some things (like anyone falling

or total number of jumps) you can take

3 different recordings then find the

avarage, then multiply byminutes in

hour to get estimate of how often

per hour.

2. surveys:

ideas: When did you start skating?

1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 20+

make a chart, find percentages.

3. Graph making with facts from

other categories.

** research physics ideas***

(Gavin's M.I.--obviously..LOL)

 

 

Language

1. learn different terms

a.)   for actions,

tricks,

obsticles,

and equiptment

2. write a desriptive paper, explaining

different moves and how to do them.

(use terms)

3. write a paper through the eyes of

skater, talking about their

skate experience.

 

 

People

1. hand out waterbottles to the skaters

& ask them about skating.

{make a list of uestions beforehand}

2. Choose a famous Skateboarder to

Study. Use Pentawebs

3. gather info- 2-3 days a week for a

month- chart the different states

represented at our skate park

~~~~ make a  graph.

 

Ki's M.I.-- needs more ideas still

 

 

 

Self

this concept will be interspersonal

among the other concept  often.

1. making a goal and practicing.

2. timing yourself

3. making choices for yourself

in the other areas of this lesson

4. Design/make a skating outfit

5. Design your own skateboard décor

All 3 are good in this area, esp C&G

 

 

Auditory/music

1. close your eyes and listen to the

different sounds. Write down what

your brain sees when you hear them.

2. can you decipher between skates,

scooters, boards by the sounds?

3. Make up songs that make you think

think of skating (like The Flight of the

Bublbee makes  you think of a bee)

 

they all NEED this area

 

 

Spacial

1. Take 5-6 different pictures of

different areas of the skatepark.

descibe the different activities

that can be done in each area. Tell

why some areas are spefic to different

activities.

2. Draw or Paint a picture of something

you enjoy at the skate park.

3. make a photo collage of different

doing differnet things at the park

(ask permission first)

4. Make a movie!

5. make a large model (to scale).

6. Make a diorama

that's the last M.I. (Multiple Intelligence) category.... Hopefully it was helpful