RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS
Multiple Intelligences - 8 Kinds of Smart
Explore activities and the materials that can support them.
Explore classroom activities organized around eight kinds of smart. The activity ideas below pair practical strategies with suggested materials.
The activity-to-material pairings organize the available materials by activity rather than assigning each item to a single source.
Early ChildhoodDevelopmentally appropriate ideas for younger learners.
MI Theory & ProgramExplore the theory, program structure, projects, lesson planning, and related teaching strategies.
One-Day Planning FormOpen the fillable Multiple Intelligences lesson-planning form.
1
1. Linguistics - Word Smart
Activities with suggested material pairings
Interactive read-alouds
Suggested materials
High-quality picture booksDiscussion promptsStory props
Partner and buddy reading
Suggested materials
Classroom libraryLeveled or interest-based booksReading partners
Story mapping and retelling
Suggested materials
Story sequence cardsGraphic organizersPicture books
Digital storytelling
Suggested materials
Tablet or computerDigital story appStudent drawings/photos
Readers theater
Suggested materials
Short scriptsPropsSimple costumes
Puppet storytelling
Suggested materials
PuppetsPuppet stageStory prompts
Poetry and rhyme
Suggested materials
Poetry booksWord cardsPaper and writing tools
Dialogue journals
Suggested materials
Writing journalsPencils or digital writing toolsTeacher response prompts
Comic strips and visual narratives
Suggested materials
Comic templatesDrawing materialsDigital drawing tools
Class or school newspaper
Suggested materials
Student writingPhotos or illustrationsDigital publishing tools
Vocabulary games
Suggested materials
Word cardsPicturesWhiteboard
Story starters
Suggested materials
Prompt cardsStory objectsDrawing materials
Bookmaking
Suggested materials
PaperStapler or book binderDigital publishing option
Current-events discussions
Suggested materials
Age-appropriate news sourcesMapsDiscussion questions
Oral storytelling
Suggested materials
Story objectsRecording deviceAudience or partner
Writing for real purposes
Suggested materials
MenusSignsListsNotes and messages
Additional materials from the original list
Digital audio recorderClassroom libraryGraphic organizersWriting center materialsPicture booksWord cardsStudent publishing tools
2
2. Visual/Spatial
Activities with suggested material pairings
Open-ended art
Suggested materials
PaintsClayCollage materialsDrawing tools
Digital drawing and collage
Suggested materials
Tablet or computerDrawing appPhotos or student artwork
Model building
Suggested materials
BlocksMagnetic tilesRecycled materials
Design challenges
Suggested materials
Building materialsDesign promptsSketch paper
Maps and mapmaking
Suggested materials
MapsGlobesMarkersGrid paper
Dioramas and 3-D scenes
Suggested materials
Cardboard boxesPaperModeling materials
Storyboarding
Suggested materials
Storyboard templatesDrawing toolsPicture or story prompts
Photography walks
Suggested materials
Tablet or cameraObservation checklistClipboards
Stop-motion storytelling
Suggested materials
Tablet or cameraModeling materialsSimple stop-motion app
Visual pattern exploration
Suggested materials
Pattern blocksTilesBeadsLoose parts
Puzzles and spatial games
Suggested materials
Jigsaw puzzlesTangramsSpatial reasoning games
Science drawing and diagrams
Suggested materials
Science notebooksPencilsMagnifiers
Architecture and classroom design
Suggested materials
BlocksMeasuring toolsGraph paper
Art response to music or literature
Suggested materials
MusicArt materialsPicture books
Virtual or in-person museum exploration
Suggested materials
Museum images or exhibitsSketchbooksDiscussion prompts
Visual schedules and sequence cards
Suggested materials
Picture cardsIconsClassroom routine cards
Additional materials from the original list
Digital camera or tabletProjector or interactive displayBlocks and magnetic tilesClay and modeling materialsMaps and globesPattern blocksArt and collage supplies
3
3. Musical
Activities with suggested material pairings
Rhythm pattern games
Suggested materials
DrumsRhythm sticksShakers
Call-and-response singing
Suggested materials
SongsRhythm instrumentsOpen space
Create sound effects for stories
Suggested materials
Everyday objectsInstrumentsStorybooks
Vocabulary through rhythm and chant
Suggested materials
Word cardsRhythm instrumentsWhiteboard
Math through songs and chants
Suggested materials
Number cardsCountersInstruments
Compose simple songs
Suggested materials
InstrumentsSong templatesRecording device
Explore musical contrasts
Suggested materials
InstrumentsMusic recordingsMovement space
Music from different cultures
Suggested materials
Authentic recordingsBooksGuest musicians when available
Movement and creative dance
Suggested materials
MusicScarves or ribbonsOpen space
Digital audio recording
Suggested materials
Tablet or computerMicrophoneAudio recorder
Sound investigation
Suggested materials
Rubber bandsCupsDrumsTuning or pitch tools
Class rhythm ensemble
Suggested materials
Hand percussionNotation cardsConductor baton
Write lyrics for a familiar tune
Suggested materials
Lyrics templatesWord banksWriting tools
Music response journals
Suggested materials
Listening selectionsDrawing paperWriting tools
Music and storytelling
Suggested materials
Picture booksInstrumentsSound-effect props
Live performance or virtual concert
Suggested materials
Local performersSchool performanceAge-appropriate concert recording
Additional materials from the original list
Hand percussionKeyboard or classroom instrumentsHeadphones when appropriateAudio recordingsMicrophonesMusic notation cardsSimple recording tools
4
4. Body-Kinesthetic - High Energy
Activities with suggested material pairings
Movement-based learning
Suggested materials
Movement cardsOpen spaceFloor markers
Act out stories and vocabulary
Suggested materials
PropsCostumesStory cards
Interactive spelling or word building
Suggested materials
Letter cardsFloor tilesMagnetic letters
Math movement games
Suggested materials
Number cardsDiceFloor markers
Obstacle courses
Suggested materials
ConesHoopsBalance equipmentFloor markers
Dance and creative movement
Suggested materials
MusicScarvesOpen space
Outdoor learning walks
Suggested materials
ClipboardsObservation cardsPencils
Scavenger hunts
Suggested materials
Picture or clue cardsClipboardsMaps
Build-and-test challenges
Suggested materials
BlocksCardboardConstruction materials
Large-motor cooperative games
Suggested materials
BallsBean bagsCones
Fine-motor maker activities
Suggested materials
ClayLacing materialsScissorsConnectors
Garden-based learning
Suggested materials
Garden toolsSeedsSoilWatering cans
Nature observation stations
Suggested materials
MagnifiersSpecimen traysObservation sheets
Movement breaks tied to learning
Suggested materials
Movement cardsMusicVisual timer
Drama and role-play
Suggested materials
PropsCostumesDramatic-play area
Accessible movement activities
Suggested materials
Adapted equipmentVisual directionsChoice of movement options
Additional materials from the original list
ConesHoopsBean bagsBalance equipmentFloor markersAdapted physical-education equipmentOutdoor learning materials
5
5. Math Logic Problem-Solving
Activities with suggested material pairings
Math manipulatives
Suggested materials
CountersLinking cubesPattern blocks
Real-world measurement
Suggested materials
RulersMeasuring tapesScales
Classroom surveys and graphs
Suggested materials
Chart paperCountersGraphing tools
Math store or classroom marketplace
Suggested materials
Play moneyPrice cardsCounters
Cooking and measurement
Suggested materials
Measuring cupsRecipe cardsSafe food-preparation tools
Patterns and sorting
Suggested materials
Loose partsPattern blocksSorting trays
Geometry challenges
Suggested materials
TangramsGeoboardsShape cards
Mapping and spatial reasoning
Suggested materials
MapsGrid paperBlocks
Logic puzzles
Suggested materials
Logic cardsPuzzlesManipulatives
Estimation and prediction
Suggested materials
JarsCollections of objectsRecording sheets
Building and engineering challenges
Suggested materials
BlocksMagnetic tilesRecycled materials
Data collection outdoors
Suggested materials
ClipboardsCounting toolsGraph paper
Coding and sequencing activities
Suggested materials
Unplugged coding cardsGrid matsOptional coding tool
Math games
Suggested materials
DiceCardsBoard gamesCounters
Problem-of-the-day investigations
Suggested materials
Visual problem cardsManipulativesWhiteboard
Explain-your-thinking activities
Suggested materials
Math journalsDrawing toolsNumber lines
Additional materials from the original list
CountersLinking cubesGeoboardsTangramsDice and cardsMeasuring toolsGraphing materialsUnplugged coding materials
6
6. Interpersonal-People Smart
Activities with suggested material pairings
Cooperative problem-solving
Suggested materials
Building materialsTeam challenge cardsReflection prompts
Partner learning
Suggested materials
Partner task cardsBooksManipulatives
Collaborative projects
Suggested materials
Project materialsPlanning sheetsShared workspace
Readers theater
Suggested materials
ScriptsPropsPuppets
Group storytelling
Suggested materials
Story promptsPicture cardsRecording device
Cooperative games
Suggested materials
Board gamesTeam gamesMovement equipment
Classroom jobs and teams
Suggested materials
Job cardsVisual schedulesTeam materials
Peer teaching
Suggested materials
Task cardsBig booksManipulatives
Conflict-resolution role-play
Suggested materials
Scenario cardsPuppetsVisual problem-solving steps
Class meetings
Suggested materials
Circle spaceDiscussion promptsVisual agenda
Community-building projects
Suggested materials
Art suppliesPlanning materialsService project materials
Collaborative design challenges
Suggested materials
BlocksRecycled materialsDesign sheets
Interview a partner
Suggested materials
Question cardsRecording sheetOptional audio recorder
Cultural sharing projects
Suggested materials
BooksFamily contributionsMaps
Digital collaboration
Suggested materials
Shared presentation or story toolTeacher-guided devicesProject materials
Group performances
Suggested materials
MusicScriptsPropsCostumes
Additional materials from the original list
Cooperative gamesTeam challenge cardsPuppetsPropsShared art materialsProject-planning sheetsTeacher-guided digital collaboration tools
7
7. Intrapersonal-Self Smart
Activities with suggested material pairings
Personal learning goals
Suggested materials
Goal cardsVisual trackersStudent work samples
Reflection journals
Suggested materials
JournalsDrawing toolsWriting tools
Choice-based learning centers
Suggested materials
Choice boardLearning centersVisual schedule
Quiet reading and reflection space
Suggested materials
BooksComfortable seatingReflection prompts
Personal interest projects
Suggested materials
Research materialsArt suppliesBuilding materials
My story or personal book
Suggested materials
PhotosDrawing materialsBookmaking supplies
Self-portrait and identity art
Suggested materials
MirrorsDrawing toolsArt materials
Strengths and interests inventory
Suggested materials
Picture cardsInterest promptsStudent reflection sheets
Mindful breathing and movement
Suggested materials
Visual breathing cardsCalm musicQuiet space
Emotion identification and regulation
Suggested materials
Emotion cardsCalm-down toolsBooks
Independent reading plans
Suggested materials
Book binsReading logsChoice boards
Portfolio reflection
Suggested materials
Student work samplesPortfolio folderReflection prompts
Independent inquiry
Suggested materials
Question cardsBooksTeacher-selected digital resources
Personal planning and organization
Suggested materials
ChecklistsVisual schedulesStudent planners
Self-paced practice
Suggested materials
ManipulativesLearning gamesTeacher-selected digital tools
Goal-setting conferences
Suggested materials
Student workGoal sheetsReflection questions
Additional materials from the original list
JournalsGoal-setting cardsVisual schedulesPortfolio foldersCalm-down toolsChoice boardsReflection prompts
8
8. Naturalistic
Activities with suggested material pairings
Nature walks and observation
Suggested materials
ClipboardsMagnifiersObservation cards
School garden projects
Suggested materials
SeedsSoilChild-sized garden tools
Weather observation
Suggested materials
Outdoor thermometerWeather chartRain gauge
Leaf and plant investigations
Suggested materials
LeavesMagnifiersPlant guides
Bird watching
Suggested materials
BinocularsBird guidesObservation sheets
Insect observation
Suggested materials
MagnifiersObservation containersField guides
Rock and soil investigations
Suggested materials
Rock samplesMagnifiersSorting trays
Build a habitat model
Suggested materials
Natural materialsBlocksModeling materials
Ecosystem investigations
Suggested materials
Pond or garden observationsBooksSimple collection tools
Nature journaling
Suggested materials
Nature journalsPencilsWatercolors
Cloud and sky observation
Suggested materials
Sky journalsWeather chartsDrawing tools
Outdoor measurement
Suggested materials
RulersMeasuring tapesScales
Classify and sort natural objects
Suggested materials
LeavesRocksSeedsSorting trays
Compost and recycling investigations
Suggested materials
Compost binSorting containersObservation chart
Plant growth documentation
Suggested materials
SeedsMeasuring toolsCamera or tablet
Create a pollinator-friendly space
Suggested materials
Native or school-approved plantsGarden toolsObservation sheets
Additional materials from the original list
Magnifying glassesBinocularsField guidesNature journalsWeather toolsGarden suppliesSorting traysCamera or tablet