“Hands-on” Learning!

Technique 38 – Enrich “hands-on” learning with rich “sensory” input:

Sight          Sound          Taste          Touch          Smell

Sight: Think about the physical environment in your classroom and make it as appealing as possible.

Sound: Be as aware as possible of the impact of what your students might be hearing. Music can be very relaxing and add an element of calmness to your environment. Classical is outstanding. Other known favorites are Peruvian flute, Tibetan masterpieces, and the Celtic harp. Always avoid loud harsh sounds.

Taste: As you know tastes are memorable and can enrich the learning environment in many ways. Food patterns that start early can have a lasting effect.

Touch: Texture is a great touch concept. Since we do much exploration through feeling and manipulating, exposure to different kinds of surfaces are recommended.

Smell: Aromas are extremely powerful. Children remember them well and for a long time.

Insight…

People remember 10 percent of what they hear, 50 percent of what they see, and 90 percent of what they experience.                     — Anonymous

All experiences are important. Everything anyone does shapes what he or she will be able to do. Each decision or choice impacts all future ones. As Maria Montessori said, “There is no eraser.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *