Multiple Intelligences Unit: Survey, Video, Activities & Posters

There are many resources designed to teach Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory...but none quite like this one! What makes this resource so unique is that it completely eliminates the concept of intelligence and the word ‘smart.’ Instead, this resource uses a famous quote by Albert Einstein to demonstrate that every person in the world is a genius in his or her own way. This simple tweak in verbiage helps students to shift their focus from ‘being smart,’ to discovering the genius that already exists inside of them. To hook their interest from the get-go, this unit asks students an intriguing 'Big Question': What Kind of a Genius Are You?

To answer that question, you and your students will dive right into an exploration of Gardner's nine intelligences (the eight mainstream ones, plus a ninth defined by Gardner) with a fully-narrated Video Mini-Lesson featuring upbeat music, modern graphics, and robust content. After completing a survey to identify their intelligences (which are referred to as 'geniuses' in this resource), students will learn that their geniuses are not fixed, and that with practice and hard work, they can be any kind of genius they want to be (a fantastic growth mindset tie-in!) You'll use the included printable activities to help students explore how to use their geniuses productively in everyday life: to make learning easier and more fun, to find careers that inspire them, and ultimately, to make the world a better place.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

Video Mini-Lesson (Click here to watch a preview!)

This dynamic, 12-minute video was custom-designed for this resource and isn't available anywhere else! The video is fully-narrated so that students can focus on the content without the stress of trying to keep up with captions. Music, sound effects, and humor keep the tone of the video fun and engaging, but it also packs a content-rich punch -- four new vocabulary words, an in-depth analysis of Einstein's genius quote, and a thorough introduction to the nine different types of genius, along with their practical applications, are all included.

Viewing the video is easy: simply click the link included with this resource, enter the password, and press play. All you need is an internet connection -- no pesky video files to download! Also note that the video is ad-free and housed on a private website (not YouTube), so it is safe for student viewing and will not be blocked by school media filters.

8 Printable Activities

The printable activities included with this resource are designed with clean, modern graphics, and come with tons of insights, discussion questions, teaching tips, and clear, meaningful connections to the Video Mini-Lesson. Please click the green Preview button above to be sure these activities are a good fit for your students before purchasing:

1. Student Genius Survey (two versions: grades 2-3 & grades 4-5)
2. Student Genius Graph
3. Vocabulary Review (two versions: grades 2-3 & grades 4-5)
4. Student Genius Profile
5. 'Ask Albert' Close Reading (two versions: grades 2-3 & grades 4-5)
6. Venn Diagram
7. How To Use Your Genius (two versions: grades 2-3 & grades 4-5)
8. Lap Book & Writing Craftivity

It's easy to reinforce concepts presented in the video and extend learning even further using these printable activities because they all come with extremely detailed lesson plans and teaching tips. But if you like the flexibility to just print-and-use, the printables are clear, straightforward, and easy-to-use. Structure the activities as in-depth lessons OR just print and use them on-the-go -- your choice! Please note that the printable activities are non-editable.

Bookmarks

To help your students connect the concepts from this unit to their own learning, a complete set of bookmarks and posters for all nine geniuses are included. The bookmarks list strategies for how to make learning easier and more fun -- and they make a great gift for students after they discover what kind of genius they are, or to celebrate all they've learned at the end of this unit! Bookmarks are in black and white, so they can be colored and personalized by students and then laminated. They also print beautifully on colored paper -- please see the Preview for examples.

Posters

The Genius Posters which detail each of the nine geniuses are bright, engaging, and incredibly versatile! Of course, they can be printed and displayed in the classroom to reinforce concepts throughout the unit, but these posters can also be used ignite background knowledge, aid discussion/review, play games, and more. Ideas for how to use them are covered in detail in the lesson plans. The bold colors and modern graphics of these posters make them an awesome centerpiece for a bulletin board -- be sure check them out in the Preview!

For your convenience, this resource also includes six Video Review Posters taken straight from the Video Mini-Lesson. They are perfect for reviewing vocabulary and concepts introduced in the video, and many ideas for use are included with the lesson plans.

Printing & Projection Tips

Do you hate buying ink? Me, too! That's why I made sure to include directions on how to project the posters and other color-heavy printables in this resource instead of printing them. With just a few simple steps that take less than 30 seconds, you can project the posters in this resource as slides in full-screen mode on your Smart Board or other projector, much like a Powerpoint slideshow.

Of course, you will want to print some of the pages in this resource as well, so I've included several features to make printing a breeze! This resource not only includes a clickable Table of Contents as well as clickable links throughout that make it easy to find whatever you are looking for, but also includes directions on how to quickly print specific pages without the tedium of printing one page at a time.

Perfect for Interactive Notebooks...or not!

Many of the printable activities can be printed to fit perfectly into a regular spiral notebook OR a composition book (instructions included). Or, you can simply print at full-size and use the pages as individual in-class activities -- some of them even work great in a classroom center or as homework. Once completed by students, the clean and sleek designs many of the printables will create an eye-catching bulletin board display.

Preview, Preview, Preview

I can't say it enough! Please click on the green Preview button at the top of this page before purchasing to be sure this resource is a good fit for you and your students, and take a peek at the video preview by clicking here. If you are uncertain if this resource is right for you or have questions, please email me before you buy and I'll be happy to help!

Smiling Customers Guarantee

I want this resource to bring fresh, meaningful learning to your classroom that leaves you and your students smiling, which is why I offer a 'Smiling Customers Guarantee.' Sometimes a resource just isn't what a teacher expects or doesn't work the way he or she hoped -- and that's ok! I'm happy to work with teachers who purchased this product if they need minor edits to printables. Together, we can find a solution :)

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