Book Review of Learning in Motion 101+ Sensory Activities for the Classroom

Since my retirement from teaching nothing has made me miss my classroom more than reading Learning in Motion 101+ Sensory Activities for the Classroom by Patricia Angermeier, Joan Krzyzanowski and Kristina Keller Moir. Readers will appreciate the exciting sensory activities dreamed up by these three occupational therapists. They have combined their knowledge about pediatrics, neurodevelopmental treatment techniques and occupational therapy gained through their work in clinics, schools and raising their own children. Patricia Angermeier, Joan Krzyzanowski and Kristina Keller Moir have compiled a must-have resource for all who work with children, especially children with Sensory Processing Disorder.

Parents, Learning in Motion 101+ Sensory Activities for the Classroom is not only for the classroom, you will find a wealth of practical, easily doable sensory activites to be enjoyed the twelve months of the year right in your homes. Learning in Motion is perfect for children in any group setting like preschools, kindergartens, after school programs, summer camps, etc.

This book provides teachers, therapists, home-schooling parents, parents in general and other professionals with a variety of sensory activities to help children improve their ability to learn and respond appropriately to the learning environment. Many children struggle with sensory issues; therefore, to address these needs, sensory integration has become a staple in early education. This book, covering the twelve months of the year, can be your bible of sensory activities.

Picture this teacher: It has been a long year, school in almost over as it in mid June. The forecast for next day gives an uncomfortable, sticky, rainy day. How to plan for the next day an activity that is fun and meaningful? Read this teacher’s thought process in italic:

“Where is that book the size of a telephone book, Learning in Motion 101+ Sensory Activities for the Classroom ? It is filled with great ways to improve learning and behavior.

Great, it is right here on my shelf with all the other teaching resource books.”

Skim Table of Contents…September, October, Nov… JUNE Activity Finder. Circus Tricks page 255? No, too active already. Clowning Around page 256, No …JUMPING ROPE ~ perfect it can be done indoors.

Page 269: All that I need to read is on one page. Each carefully, crafted lesson plan is always in the same format so it is simple and practical to use.

Activity Goals: Example: Gross-Motor Skills Development…

Time: 20 to 30 minutes

Objectives: Example: Jump over a moving rope…

Materials: Rope 10 to 15 feet long

Procedure: Great, the seven easy steps to carry out this activity are clearly stated here.

Adaptions: My differently-able student in her wheel chair will participate by going under the rope…

Multilevel Instruction: Vary the height or movement of the rope…for various skill levels.

This Jumping Rope activity is easy to do at home also. With no pangs of guilt, the book says I may copy the Letter to Parents that goes with this activity. I appreciate this letter after each activity as it gives the parents a chance to see what we do at school and many will want to repeat it at home.

After school

Bell rings and I prepare for the next day. Reading my notes on the Jumping Rope activity, I notice a few children had trouble with the Activity Goals: Gross-Motor Skills Development.

Back to the Learning in Motion 101+ Sensory Activities for the Classroom book.

Table of Contents…JUNE

On the first page in the section for June, like for each month, I find a chart with the fifteen Educational Goals by Activity listed in alphabetical order. I locate the Gross-Motor Skills Development column. Skim down the column, look for a checked box, skim across to the listed activity. Yes, an activity called Mountain Goats also develops this skill which we will do tomorrow.

Each month’s sensory activities include a variety of ways to make learning fun and exciting. When you start turning the pages you feel like a kid in a candy store that cannot decide because everything looks so delicious.

The 101+ SENSORY ACTIVITIES like the following make every day worth going to school for:

Textured Finger Paints

Forsythia Branches

Flying Bats and Ghosts

Making Pottery

Dr. Seuss Day

Balloon Tennis

Windsocks…

The Introduction on the Theories of Motor Development and the description of the fifteen Educational Activity Goals will help you understand the reason behind each activity.

The last few pages have a special section suggesting activities to reinforce learning the alphabet. There are further adaptations and modifications to assist children with special needs. Some activities have recipes included, but as an added bonus, three full pages of recipes for finger paint, clay, play dough… round off the book.

Do not let the size of this book discourage you. It is well organized in a logical, easy to navigate format. Once you have used one activity, all the others are presented in the same way. This user-friendly guide is a wonderful timesaver, written in easy to understand language. Fun-filled activities correspond with seasons, holidays, and educational goals that make even a retired teacher want to go back to school.

Buy Book

BuyLearning in Motion 101+ Sensory Activities for the Classroom from Future Horizons here and get 15% off PLUS free delivery in continental USA! Add the coupon code KIDCOMPANIONS when you checkout of the store for discounts!