Help Me Read

Multiple Intelligences

An Overview

What are Multiple Intelligences?

Multiple Intelligences states that we humans are not smart in just a few ways, but in many ways. Our learning experiences and skills vary greatly, and this variance produces a need for varied teaching methods.

The 8 Intelligences are:

  • Verbal/Linguistic
  • Bodily/Kinesthetic
  • Logical/Mathmatical
  • Naturalist
  • Visual Spacial
  • Interpersonal
  • Musical/Rhythmic
  • Intrapersonal

Teaching and Celebrating the Intelligences

As our students learning experiences vary, our teaching methods should also vary. Teaching with the Multiple Intelligences in mind will bring more students the chance to succeed.

Our students should also be taught about their uniqueness so that they can value their diverse intelligences. Students will enjoy knowing where they have strengths, instead of measuring themselves to one standard.

The 8 Intelligences

Verbal and Linguistic

Students with verbal and linguistic intelligences are strong verbal linguistic learners when they are strong readers, writers, speakers, read frequently, have a good vocabulary, tell stories and play with words. These students learn best through lectures, reading, writing and discussing.

  • read a book
  • discuss and debate
  • write a research paper
  • learn vocabulary words
Naturalist

Howard Gardner describes the naturalist as the individual who "is able to recognize flora and fauna, to make other consequential distinctions in the natural world, and to use this ability productively [in hunting, in farming, in biological science]". A famous example would be Charles Darwin.

  • go to a farm, forest or zoo
  • enjoy a nature hike
  • take a field trip
  • log development stages or list characteristics
  • classify by color, size, weight, form or function
  • sort and categorize
  • collect specimens
Logical and Mathmatical

Logical and mathmatical students, as one might deduce, are strong with numbers, symbols, computations, algorithms, and logical sequences. These students learn best through logic, or when math and numbers are involved.

  • play with patterns
  • compare and contrast
  • evaluate ideas
  • test hypotheses
  • use a calculator or compass
Bodily and Kinesthetic

Students with strong bodily and kinesthetic intelligences can use their mind and body together in harmony. They can easily perfect physical tasks, are good at dancing, athletics, and acting. These students often learn most easily by hands-on activities or when physical movement is involved.

  • touch or feel parts
  • act out roles or words
  • accomplish tasks without talking
  • put together puzzles
  • play sports
  • build models
Visual and Spatial

These are your strong artists. They have a keen eye for color and detail, spatial awareness. They might enjoy painting, drawing, carving or sculpturing. They think visually in pictures. These students benefit from the use of films, videos and visual aids. Visual and spatial learners include photographers, designers, architects and decorators.

  • create collages
  • illustrate a book
  • design visual aids
  • paint, draw, or photograph
  • watch films
  • create a map
  • organize visually
Musical and Rhythmic

These students learn through music, listen to it frequently, make music and are aware of pitch, timing, tone and rhythm. These students will also learn easily with music playing in the background. Famous types include Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne and Ted Nugent.

  • compose a song
  • learn about instruments and music
  • listen to background music
  • write and perform a song about a topic
Intrapersonal

These students are people smart. They're good communicators, they make and keep friends easily, they're sensitive to the feelings and moods of others. They're also good mediators, organizers and see things from other people's viewpoints easily. These students learn best often when they can discuss the content with others. Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa and John F. Kennedy are examples.

  • make an action plan
  • set priorities
  • keep a journal
  • read silently
  • work independently
  • choose between options
  • respond to dilemmas
Interpersonal

Students with a strong interpersonal intelligence are aware of their own feelings, moods, values, beliefs, set personal goals, and enjoy private time to reflect. These students sometimes need time to process information. Gandhi had strong interpersonal intelligences.

  • debate
  • work with teams
  • organize a group project
  • tutor a classmate
  • practice mediating and compromising
  • practice motivating

Adapted from several of the resources below by Charles Stuart.

Resources

Site developed by Page Ahead, Fremont Public Association, Family Literacy Coalition of Puget Sound and Washington Reading Corps.

Site Map or Search

Suggestions or comments? .

Creative Commons License