1.8.1 Understand effective learning styles.

1.b Identify individual learning styles and

strategies of application.

Activity: What’s your learning style?

Time Needed: 45 minutes

Materials:
Story: Animal School
Learning Styles Inventory: What’s Your Learning Style?
Charades slips from P.5&6
P.7&8 Overheads of Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory,
Kinesthetic
Learning Styles Bookmarks

Objective:
Students will identify their learning style and strategies of
application.

1.
.
Intro:

To learn, you depend on your senses to bring information to your

brain. Most people tend to use one of their senses more than the
others. Some people learn best by listening. They are called
auditory learners. Other people learn best by reading or seeing
pictures. They are visual learners. Still others learn best by
touching and doing things. They are kinesthetic learners.

Scientists and psychologists don’t know why people use one sense
more than the others. Maybe the sense they use just works
better for them.

Knowing your learning style may help you to learn. It may also
explain why some things just don’t make sense to you.

Today we will explore your learning styles and practice strategies

you can use to study.

Lesson:

1. Read the Animal School story.

2. Give the learning styles inventory.
3. Brainstorm learning style strategies on overhead.
4. Play charades with strategies having students guess which
category they fall into. Visual, Auditory, or Kinesthetic
5. Students will have 5 minutes to create a strategy from
their learning style related to any academic learning task
and present to the class as time allows.
6. Give bookmarks to students and instruct them to add
strategies that they use in the future.

2.
 The Animal School
By Dr. G.J. Reavis
Assistant Superintendent, Cincinnati Public Schools

Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic
to meet the problems of a “new world”. So they organized a school.
The classes they selected were running, climbing, swimming, and
flying. To make it easier to schedule the classes, all the animals took all
the subjects.
The duck was excellent in swimming, in fact better than his
instructor: but he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in
running. Since he was slow in running he had to stay after school and
also drop swimming in order to practice running. This was kept up until
his web feet were badly worn and he was only average in swimming. But
average was acceptable in school so nobody worried about that except
the duck.
The rabbit started at the top of the class in running, but had a
nervous breakdown because of so much make-up work in swimming.
The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in
the flying class where his instructor made him start from the g round up
instead of from the tree top down. He also developed “Charlie horses”
from overexertion and then got “C” in climbing and “D” in running.
The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely. In the
climbing class he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted
on using his own way to get there.
At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well
and also run, climb, and fly a little had the highest average and was
valedictorian. 3.
 The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the system because
the administration would not add digging and burrowing to the
curriculum. They sent their children to work for a badger and later
joined the groundhogs and gophers to start a successful private school.

Does this fable have a moral?

4.
 Charades
Visual
Study text book- Visual
Look at pictures in book to relate- Visual
Make lists- Visual
Highlight with different colors or use colored stickers- Visual
Use chalkboard or whiteboard- Visual
Use charts and maps- Visual
Filmstrips, notes, videos- Visual
Visualize words and concepts in your head- Visual
Draw pictures next to notes and flash cards- Visual
Diagrams- Visual
Posters- Visual
Watch TV/VCR about subjects- Visual
Create games for learning: Chess, Pictionary, puzzles- Visual
Auditory
Listen to lectures – don’t miss class!-Auditory
Books on tape-Auditory
Make tapes of class notes and listen to them-Auditory
Say new spelling words out loud-Auditory
Participate in class discussions-Auditory
Ask questions and volunteer answers-Auditory
Whisper new information to yourselves-Auditory
Read out loud-Auditory-Auditory
Someone read to you-Auditory
Sit close to teacher-Auditory
Summarize out loud-Auditory
Review materials with a friend-Auditory
Make poems or songs with information-Auditory
Create games for learning: Musical Chairs, Simon Says, Taboo,
Outburst, Trivia-Auditory

5.
 Charades
Kinesthetic
Experiment -Kinesthetic
Be involved in ‘hands on’ projects and labs-Kinesthetic
Take field trips whenever possible-Kinesthetic
Move around quietly when you need to concentrate-Kinesthetic
Change pencils and pens frequently-Kinesthetic
Use manipulative for math-Kinesthetic
Study in small, frequent chunks-Kinesthetic
Study with another kinesthetic learner-Kinesthetic
Model-Kinesthetic
Flash cards – Draw pictures-Kinesthetic
Trace important words with finger as you read-Kinesthetic
Role play-Kinesthetic
Re-write your notes-Kinesthetic
Create games for learning: Jenga, sports games, board game
blocks, jump rope, puppets -Kinesthetic
Associate class material with real world -Kinesthetic

This lesson was created by Fargo Public School counselors.

Materials come from the Psychology for Kids by John Kincher

6.
4.
 Visual
Study text book
Look at pictures in book to relate
Make lists
Highlight with different colors or use colored stickers
Use chalkboard or whiteboard
Use charts and maps
Filmstrips, notes, videos
Visualize words and concepts in your head
Draw pictures next to notes and flash cards
Diagrams
Posters
Watch TV/VCR about subjects
Create games for learning: Chess, Pictionary, puzzles
Auditory
Listen to lectures – don’t miss class!
Books on tape
Make tapes of class notes and listen to them
Say new spelling words out loud
Participate in class discussions
Ask questions and volunteer answers
Whisper new information to yourselves
Read out loud
Someone read to you
Sit close to teacher
Summarize out loud
Review materials with a friend
Make poems or songs with information
Create games for learning: Musical Chairs, Simon Says, Taboo,
Outburst, Trivia

7.
 Kinesthetic
Experiment
Be involved in ‘hands on’ projects and labs
Take field trips whenever possible
Move around quietly when you need to concentrate
Change pencils and pens frequently
Use manipulative for math
Study in small, frequent chunks
Study with another kinesthetic learner
Model
Flash cards – Draw pictures
Trace important words with finger as you read
Role play
Re-write your notes
Create games for learning: Jenga, sports games, board game blocks,
jump rope, puppets
Associate class material with real world

This lesson was created by Fargo Public School counselors.

Materials come from the Psychology for Kids by John KincherWhat’s
8.
4.
4.
 Your Learning Style?
To learn, you depend on your senses to bring information to your brain. Most people tend to
use one of their senses more than the others. Some people learn best by listening. They are
called auditory learners. Other people learn best by reading or seeing pictures. They are
visual learners. Still others learn best by touching and doing things. They are called
kinesthetic learners.

Scientists and psychologists don’t know why people use one sense more than others. Maybe
the sense they use the most just works better for them.

Knowing your learning style may help you to learn. It may also explain why some things just
don’t make sense to you.
For these questions, choose the first answer
that comes to your mind. Don’t spend too
much time thinking about any question. 5. How would you rather study for a test?
a. read notes, read headings in a book,
1. Which way would you rather learn how a look at diagrams and illustrations
computer works?
b. have someone ask you questions or
a. watching a movie about it repeat facts silently to yourself
b. listening to someone explain it
c. write things out on index cards and
c. taking the computer apart and trying to make models or diagrams
figure it out for yourself
6. When you see the word “d-o-g”, what do you
2. Which would you prefer to read for fun?
do first?
a. a travel book with a lot of pictures
a. think of a picture of a particular dog
in it
b. say the word “dog” to yourself silently
b. a mystery book with a lot of
c. sense the feeling of being with a dog
conversation in it
(petting it, running with it, etc.)
c. a book where you answer questions
and do puzzles
7. What do you find most distracting when you
are trying to concentrate?
3. When you aren’t sure how to spell a word,
a. visual distractions
which of these are you most likely to do?
b. noises
a. write it out to see if it looks right
c. other sensations like hunger, tight
b. sound it out
shoes, or worry
c. write it out to sense if it feels right
8. What do you prefer to solve a problem?
4. If you were at a party, what would you be
a. make a list, organize the steps, and
most likely to remember the next day?
check them off as they are done
a. the faces of the people there, but
b. make a few phone calls and talk to
not the names
friends or experts
b. the names but not the faces
c. make a model of the problem or walk
c. the things you did and said while
through all the steps in your mind
you were there

9.
9. Which are you most likely to do while standing rather not go to?
in a long line at the movies? a. one with the lights too bright
a. look at the posters advertising other b. one with the music too loud
movies c. one with uncomfortable chairs
b. talk to the person next to you
c. tap your foot or move around in some
other way
What’s Your
10. You have just entered a science museum. Style?
What will you do first?
a. look around and find a map showing the
locations of the various exhibits
b. talk to a museum guide and ask about Total your a’s, b’s, and c’s:
exhibits
c. go into the first exhibit that looks a’s b’s c’s
interesting, and read directions later

11. When you are angry, which are you most like  If you scored mostly a’s, you may have
to do? a visual learning style. You learn by
a. scowl seeing and looking.
b. shout or “blow up”  If you scored mostly b’s, you may have
c. stomp off and slam doors an auditory learning style. You learn by
hearing and listening.
12. When you are happy, what are you most likely
 If you had mostly c’s, you may have a
to do?
kinesthetic learning style. You learn by
a. grin
touching and doing
b. shout with joy
 If you circled more than one letter
c. jump for joy
about the same number of times, you
depend on more than one learning style.
13. Which would you rather go to?
a. an art class
b. a music class It’ not unusual to use different learning
c. an exercise class styles for different tasks. For instance,
you might repeat your German lessons out
14. Which of these do you do when you listen loud to prepare for a test, but study your
to music? textbook to prepare for your math quiz.
a. daydream (see images that go with the And you might repeat some experiments
music) you did in class to prepare for your
b. hum along chemistry test.
c. move with the music, tap your foot, etc. In these cases, you’re using an auditory
style to learn a language. You’re using a
15. How would you rather tell a story?
visual learning style to learn math. And
a. write it
you’re using a kinesthetic style to learn
b. tell it out loud
chemistry. Each one helps you learn what
c. act it out
you need to know.
16. Which kind of restaurant would you

Excerpted from Psychology for Kids: 40 Fun Tests That Help You Learn About Yourself by Jonni Kincher, copyright © 1995. Used with
permission of Free Spirit Publishing Inc., Minneapolis, MN: 800-735-7323; www.freespirit.com. All rights reserved

10.
 WHAT IS YOUR
LEARNING STYLE?
WHAT IS YOUR
Visual LEARNING STYLE?
- Study text book WHAT IS YOUR
Visual LEARNING STYLE?
- Look at pictures in book to relate
- Make lists - Study text book
Visual
- Highlight with different colors or - Look at pictures in book to relate
use colored stickers - Make lists - Study text book
- Use chalkboard or whiteboard - Highlight with different colors or - Look at pictures in book to relate
- Use charts and maps use colored stickers - Make lists
- Filmstrips, notes, videos - Use chalkboard or whiteboard - Highlight with different colors or
- Visualize words and concepts in - Use charts and maps use colored stickers
your head - Filmstrips, notes, videos - Use chalkboard or whiteboard
- Draw pictures next to notes and - Visualize words and concepts in - Use charts and maps
flash cards your head - Filmstrips, notes, videos
- Diagrams - Draw pictures next to notes and - Visualize words and concepts in
- Posters flash cards your head
- Watch TV/VCR about subjects - Diagrams - Draw pictures next to notes and
- Create games for learning: Chess, - Posters flash cards
Pictionary, puzzles - Watch TV/VCR about subjects - Diagrams
- Create games for learning: Chess, - Posters
Pictionary, puzzles - Watch TV/VCR about subjects
Auditory
- Create games for learning: Chess,
Pictionary, puzzles
- Listen to lectures – don’t miss Auditory
class!
- Books on tape - Listen to lectures – don’t miss Auditory
- Make tapes of class notes and class!
listen to them - Books on tape - Listen to lectures – don’t miss
- Say new spelling words out loud - Make tapes of class notes and class!
- Participate in class discussions listen to them - Books on tape
- Ask questions and volunteer - Say new spelling words out loud - Make tapes of class notes and
answers - Participate in class discussions listen to them
- Whisper new information to - Ask questions and volunteer - Say new spelling words out loud
yourselves answers - Participate in class discussions
- Read out loud - Whisper new information to - Ask questions and volunteer
- Someone read to you yourselves answers
- Sit close to teacher - Read out loud - Whisper new information to
- Summarize out loud - Someone read to you yourselves
- Review materials with a friend - Sit close to teacher - Read out loud
- Make poems or songs with - Summarize out loud - Someone read to you
information - Review materials with a friend - Sit close to teacher
- Create games for learning: - Make poems or songs with - Summarize out loud
Musical Chairs, Simon Says, information - Review materials with a friend
Taboo, Outburst, Trivia - Create games for learning: - Make poems or songs with
Musical Chairs, Simon Says, information
Taboo, Outburst, Trivia - Create games for learning:
Musical Chairs, Simon Says,
Taboo, Outburst, Trivia
 Kinesthetic Kinesthetic Kinesthetic
- Experiment - Experiment - Experiment
- Be involved in ‘hands on’ projects - Be involved in ‘hands on’ projects - Be involved in ‘hands on’ projects
and labs and labs and labs
- Take field trips whenever possible - Take field trips whenever possible - Take field trips whenever possible
- Move around quietly when you - Move around quietly when you - Move around quietly when you
need to concentrate need to concentrate need to concentrate
- Change pencils and pens - Change pencils and pens - Change pencils and pens
frequently frequently frequently
- Use manipulative for math - Use manipulative for math - Use manipulative for math
- Study in small, frequent chunks - Study in small, frequent chunks - Study in small, frequent chunks
- Study with another kinesthetic - Study with another kinesthetic - Study with another kinesthetic
learner learner learner
- Model - Model - Model
- Flash cards – Draw pictures - Flash cards – Draw pictures - Flash cards – Draw pictures
- Trace important words with - Trace important words with - Trace important words with
finger as you read finger as you read finger as you read
- Role play - Role play - Role play
- Re-write your notes - Re-write your notes - Re-write your notes
- Create games for learning: Jenga, - Create games for learning: Jenga, - Create games for learning: Jenga,
sports games, board games, sports games, board games, sports games, board games,
blocks, jump rope, puppets blocks, jump rope, puppets blocks, jump rope, puppets
- Associate class material with real - Associate class material with real - Associate class material with real
world world world