Classroom Activities for Multiple Intelligences

Different students learn differently, which is why teachers need classroom activities for multiple intelligences. Teachers have to engage students in activities that teach to each of the eight different types of intelligences in order to help all students succeed.

Eight Multiple Intelligences

The theory of multiple intelligences posits that people have differing levels of eight different types of intelligence. According to the theory of multiple intelligences developed by Howard Gardner of Harvard "we are all able to know the world through language, logical-mathematical analysis, spatial representation, musical thinking, the use of the body to solve problems or to make things, an understanding of other individuals, and an understanding of ourselves. Where individuals differ is in the strength of these intelligences - the so-called profile of intelligences - and in the ways in which such intelligences are invoked and combined to carry out different tasks, solve diverse problems, and progress in various domains".

The eight multiple intelligences include the following: verbal/linguistic, math/logical, spatial, musical, body/motion/kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic.

Teachers can learn which type of intelligence a student has by testing them, and then design classroom activities for multiple intelligences. Breaking students into smaller groups according to their intelligence strengths, teachers can help assure that each student is participating in activities that will help him/her learn.

For Marketing lessons teachers can use following activities:

1. Verbal/Linguistic Activities

Students with high verbal/linguistic intelligence are often well-spoken, and they write well. They have highly developed auditory skills and often think in words. They like reading, playing word games, making up poetry or stories. They can be taught by encouraging them to say and see words, read books together. Tools include computers, games, multimedia, books, tape recorders, and lecture.

The following classroom activities favor this type of intelligence:

·         Create a blog

·         Have a debate/class discusion

·         Play vocabulary games

·        Create advertising materials: flyers, catalogues, brochures, magazine ads, digital brochures, slogans

·         Compare good and bad commercials.

2. Math/Logical Activities

Students who have math/logical intelligence are logical thinkers who enjoy solving puzzles. They think conceptually, abstractly and rhey are able to see and explore patterns and relationships. They like to experiment and to ask cosmic questions. They have ability to use reason, logic and numbers. Always curious about the world around them, with an appreciation for data, these learners ask lots of questions and like to do experiments.

They can be taught through logic games and investigations. They need to learn and form concepts before they can deal with details.

 Classroom activities that work well with this type of intelligence include the following:

·         Make a Business Plan

·         Host an event

·      Play Bull and Bear Market 

·      Compare name brand and generic clothes

·      Create their own home business and make their own income

·         Do financial planning for an imaginary business.

3. Spatial Activities

Students with high spatial intelligence often think in pictures. They do well with art activities and spatial puzzles. They  think in terms of physical space,  they are very aware of their environments. These learners tend to think in pictures and need to create vivid mental images to retain information. They enjoy looking at maps, charts, pictures, videos, and movies. They like to draw, do jigsaw puzzles, read maps, daydream.

They can be taught through drawings, verbal and physical imagery. Tools include models, graphics, charts, photographs, drawings, 3-D modeling, video, videoconferencing, television, multimedia, texts with pictures/charts/graphs.

Classroom activities to highlight spatial intelligence include the following:

·         Create and publish websites

·         Create a logo

·         Make posters

·         Use visual organizers: Venn Diagrams, flow charts, matrices (e.g. BCG matrice)

·         SWOT analysis.

4. Musical Activities

Students with high musical intelligence learn well through rhythm. They often enjoy musical activities. They love music, but they are also sensitive to sounds in their environments. They may study better with music in the background. These musically inclined learners think in sounds, rhythms and patterns. They immediately respond to music, either appreciating or criticizing what they hear. Many of these learners are extremely sensitive to environmental sounds.

They can be taught by turning lessons into lyrics, speaking rhythmically, tapping out time. Tools include musical instruments, music, radio, stereo, CD-ROM, multimedia.

Classroom activities for musical intelligence include the following:

·         Create a videoclip

·         Put a slogan to music

·         Design a theme song for a business

·         Create songs or raps about marketing concepts.

5. Kinesthetic Activities

Kinesthetic learners love motion. They are often very physical children and sometimes gifted athletes. Keen sense of body awareness. They like movement, making things, touching. They communicate well through body language. They have Ability to control body movements and handle objects skilfully. These learners express themselves through movement. They have a good sense of balance and eye-hand coordination (e.g. ball play, balancing beams). Through interacting with the space around them, they are able to remember and process information.

They can be taught through physical activity, hands-on learning, acting out, role playing. Tools include equipment and real objects.

Activities for kinesthetic learners include the following:

·         Dramatic re-enactments events

·         Do creative Power Point

·         Use charades to act out parts of speech

·         Make a movie.

6. Interpersonal Activities

Interpersonal learners are those students who work well cooperatively and thrive on building friendships and relationships. These students learn through interaction. They have many friends, empathy for others, street smarts. These learners try to see things from other people’s point of view in order to understand how they think and feel. They often have an uncanny ability to sense feelings, intentions and motivations. They are great organizers, although they sometimes resort to manipulation. Generally they try to maintain peace in group settings and encourage cooperation. They use both verbal and non-verbal language to open communication channels with others.

They can be taught through group activities, seminars, dialogues. Tools include the telephone, audio conferencing, time and attention from the instructor, video conferencing, writing, computer conferencing, e-mail.

Activities to teach interpersonal learners include the following:

·         Work in small groups on a project

·      Create an invention or innovation and the tools needed to market and sell their creation

·         Mentoring or teaching concepts to another student

·        Create a Sales Pitch 

·         Conduct interviews in marketing research

·        Create e-mail campaigns

·         Team building exercises.

7. Intrapersonal Activities

Intrapersonal learners are those who are very aware of their own motivations. They often have a high level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. These learners tend to shy away from others. They're in tune with their inner feelings; they have wisdom, intuition and motivation, as well as a strong will, confidence and opinions. They have the ability to self-reflect and be aware of one’s inner state of being. These learners try to understand their inner feelings, dreams, relationships with others, and strengths and weaknesses.

They can be taught through independent study and introspection. Tools include books, creative materials, diaries, privacy and time. They are the most independent of the learners.

Intrapersonal classroom activities include the following:

·         Keep a journal

·         Host an event

·         Work independently

·         Do personal marketing plan project. 

8. Naturalist Activities

Naturalists are nature lovers who often have an excellent understanding of, or interest in earth sciences. In respect to how this intelligence manifests in the urbanized world, Gardner comments on ‘…the extent to which  our consumer society is built on naturalist intelligence’:

The ability to distinguish one sneaker or sweater from another, to discriminate among brands of automobiles, airplanes, bicycles, scooters, and the like, draw on pattern-detecting capacities that in earlier eras were used to distinguish varieties of lizards, bushes, or rocks from one another.

Activities for naturalist learners may include the following:

·         Categorize species of goods

·         Discriminate among brands of goods

·         Mount a campaign to advertise raw materials.

These are just a few of the many activities teachers can do in classroom to accommodate the different learning styles associated with multiple intelligences.