Resources › For Educators Kinesthetic Learners Share Flipboard Email Print Geri Lavrov/ Photographer's Choice RF/ Getty Images For Educators Teaching Teaching Resources An Introduction to Teaching Tips & Strategies Policies & Discipline Community Involvement School Administration Technology in the Classroom Teaching Adult Learners Issues In Education Becoming A Teacher Assessments & Tests Elementary Education Secondary Education Special Education Homeschooling By Melissa Kelly Melissa Kelly Education Expert M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Florida B.A., History, University of Florida Melissa Kelly, M.Ed., is a secondary school teacher, instructional designer, and the author of "The Everything New Teacher Book: A Survival Guide for the First Year and Beyond." Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on March 08, 2017 A Look at Kinesthetic Learners: Kinesthetic learners typically learn best by doing. They are naturally good at physical activities like sports and dance. They enjoy learning through hands-on methods. They typically like how-to guides and action-adventure stories. They might pace while on the phone or take breaks from studying to get up and move around. Some may seem fidgety, having a hard time sitting still in class. Key Learning Methods: Kinesthetic learners learn best through doing including manipulating items, simulations and role plays, and other methods for presenting subject matter that physically involve them in the learning process. They enjoy and learn well from experimenting and first hand experience. Further, they learn best when activities are varied during a class period. Ways to Adapt Lessons: Vary instruction not only from day-to-day but also within a single class period. Provide students with as many opportunities as your curriculum warrants to complete hands-on work. Allow students to role-play to gain further understanding of key concepts. Provide students with the opportunity to work in small discussion groups as they study materials. If possible, plan a field trip that can help reinforce key concepts. Allow students to stretch partially through the class if they seem to become restless. Other Learning Styles: Visual Learners Auditory Learners Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Kelly, Melissa. "Kinesthetic Learners." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/understanding-kinesthetic-learners-7997. Kelly, Melissa. (2020, August 27). Kinesthetic Learners. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/understanding-kinesthetic-learners-7997 Kelly, Melissa. "Kinesthetic Learners." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/understanding-kinesthetic-learners-7997 (accessed March 24, 2023). copy citation