As our students adjust to the new demands of virtual learning, we must take extreme care to ensure that they are continually connecting to their tactile senses by offering hands-on learning opportunities. In an age of technology, our students already have a ton of non-school screen time. Now, with the added 3-8 hours a day for virtual school, students are glued to their screens during most of their waking hours. Though technology can be a huge asset, especially in this time of necessary social distancing, it is also detrimental to a growing mind. Students need to employ their other senses to absorb the information.
Though it may seem hard to find hands-on learning activities for teaching virtually, they do exist! There are many activities you can assign that allow students a reprieve from technology. Activities that involve art (two-dimensional or three-dimensional), physical movement, and sensory deprivation will allow students to engage their other senses while unplugging (or at least looking away from the screen) for a few minutes. You may be wondering how to implement these hands-on approaches in your lesson plans.
Hands-on Learning: Art for your Social Studies Lessons
There are so many activities you can do to engage a student’s artistic side. A perfect virtually-adapted activity for your Social Studies classroom might be a follow-along drawing game. These drawing games require students to focus on auditory input while illustrating a historical scene. Ideal for an online learning environment, you can read instructions aloud while students follow along on their paper. Then, you can utilize breakout rooms or screen share options to have students present their drawings to the class.
Immigration into America Drawing Game
Westward Expansion Drawing Game
The American Revolution Drawing Game
American Civil War Drawing Game
U.S. History Drawing Game Bundle
Hands-on Learning: Physical Movement for your Social Studies Lessons
You don’t have to reserve physical movement for P.E. class! Think of the times in your classroom when your students may have gotten a little restless, or could have been served by a brain break. That wiggle time is even more necessary when they are plugged in all day! You can modify Walking Tours (Gallery Walks) for online viewing, and encourage your students to turn the music up and get jazzy with the 1920s Walking Tour.
Hands-on Sensory Deprivation for your Social Studies Lessons
Students also need a little time to detox. Consider assigning offline activities like writing prompts, bellringers, or other small assignments that students can complete on paper. Encourage them to shut the door for some quiet time or put on some headphones to block out any external distractions. Zoning in to complete their assignment will be much more productive without sensory overload!
And mapping is an essential skill that should be practiced with real paper and pencil! Assign map skills practice or allow students to map lessons in history as opposed to writing them out. Adding in that creative approach will not only engage, it may enlighten! You can take a look at my Mapping the Lands Series for ideas.
Use these ideas in a way that works for your virtual classroom. Lesson planning doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful. By implementing a few hands-on learning activities like these, your students will surely benefit. Withdrawing from the screen for even a few minutes per class period will benefit students by allowing them to recharge, unplug, and tune into their other senses.
Happy teaching!
