Using Kinesthetic Methods To Represent Math

Engaging in Kinesthetic Activity. Kinesthetic activities are those that involve physical movement. By definition, physical movement associated with specific knowledge generates a mental image of the knowledge in the mind of the learner. (Recall from the previous discussion that mental images include physical sensations.) Most children find this both a natural and enjoyable way to express their knowledge. The following example below illustrates this in the context of a math class.
Often, to take a brief pause in math class, Ms. Jenkins asks her 4th grade students to think of ways they can represent what they are learning. For example, during the lesson on radius, diameter, and circumference of circles, Barry uses his left arm outstretched to show radius, both arms outstretched to show diameter, and both arms forming a circle to show circumference. During a different lesson on angles, Devon depicts obtuse and acute angles by making wide and not-so-wide “Vs” with her arms as the children yell out the degrees. They even have ways to show fractions, mixed numbers, and turning fractions into their simplest forms.
Ms. Jenkins started the activity she called Body Math just to give the students a break from the routine of doing math drills, but then realized that it was a powerful way for students to show whether or not they understood the concept behind the problems. Once the word got around, other students could be seen peeking in the classroom to see what they were doing that day with body math.