MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES THEORY Howard Gardiner- Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

What does “smart” mean? I think “smart” means….

Who or what determines if a person is smart and how is it determined? Smart is determined by…

Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory “It’s not how smart you are; it’s how you are smart.” Linguistic Intelligence: Word Smart Musical Intelligence: Music Smart Logical-Mathematical Intelligence: Logic/Math Smart Spatial Intelligence: Picture Smart Bodily- Kinesthetic Intelligence: Body Smart Intrapersonal Intelligence: Self Smart Interpersonal Intelligence: People Smart Naturalistic Intelligence: Nature/Reality Smart

Look at the eight intelligences (“smarts”) on the wall above the screen. Which ONE do you predict will be your strongest area? Take your best guess.

I think my strength is ______ smart and ______ others did too.

Complete the Survey

__1__ I enjoy categorizing things by common traits (making lists) Part I Complete each section by placing a “1” next to each statement you feel accurately describes you. If you do not identify with a statement, leave the space provided blank. Then total the column in each section. Section 1 __1__ I enjoy categorizing things by common traits (making lists) _____ Ecological issues are important to me (ecological means the relationship between living things and the environment they live in) __1__ Hiking and camping are enjoyable activities _____ I enjoy working on a garden _____ I believe preserving our National Parks is important _____ Putting things in order by their importance makes sense to me __1__ Animals/ pets are important in my life _____ My home has a recycling system in place _____ I enjoy studying biology, botany and/or zoology __1__ I spend a great deal of time outdoors __4__ TOTAL for Section 1 X10 = _____40______

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4

Complete the questions What are my strengths? (80-100) What areas am I OK in? (40-70) What areas do I need to stretch myself in? (0-30)

What areas do I need to stretch myself in? What are my strengths? (80-100) What areas am I OK in? (40-70) Nature smart What areas do I need to stretch myself in? (0-30)  

I found out that I am ________ smart and ____ others are too. Look at your highest strength and go and stand under the sign that you picked and fill in following: I found out that I am ________ smart and ____ others are too.

What is the dictionary definition of “smart”? Mentally alert bright

What is an “intelligence” according to Howard Gardner?

Gardner says, “An intelligence is an ability to solve problems and/or create solutions.” They also tend to favor those that most closely fit their own personal mental wiring (learning style). To truly prepare a student to be successful in life ALL students need to develop ALL their intelligences. Each of us is born with all of these intelligences, but individuals tend to develop those valued most by their culture (home, school, church, community).

Naturalistic Intelligence: Nature/ Reality Smart likes to hike, camp and be outdoors enjoys caring for, taming, and interacting with animals cares about environmental issues enjoys identifying and classifying different plants, flowers & animals enjoys growing things (flowers, gardens, etc.) appreciates the impact of nature on people understands the impact of people on nature (carbon footprint) wants a practical application of knowledge

Linguistic Intelligence: Word Smart likes to write likes to tell tall tales, jokes and stories has a good memory for names, places, dates, or trivia enjoys reading books spells easily and accurately appreciates nonsense rhymes and tongue twisters likes playing games such as crossword puzzles, Scrabble or Anagrams enjoys the sounds and rhythms of language

Musical Intelligence: Music Smart play a musical instrument remember melodies of songs tell you when a musical note is off key say they need to have music in order to study collects music sing songs to themselves notices background and environmental sounds keep time rhythmically to music sensitive to melody and tune

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence: Logic/Math Smart compute arithmetic problems quickly in their head enjoy computer games and puzzles ask questions like, “Where does the universe end?” or “When did time begin?” Play chess checkers or other strategy games and win reason things out logically and clearly devise experiments to test out things they don’t understand spends a lot of time working on logic puzzles notices and uses numbers, shapes and patterns organizes thoughts has a systematic approach to solving problems

Spatial Intelligence: Picture Smart spends free time engaged in art activities likes to draw or doodle uses color to organize things reports clear visual images when thinking or reading about something (they can picture it in their head) easily reads maps, charts, and diagrams draws accurate representations of people or things likes to be shown movies, slides or photographs enjoys jigsaw puzzles or mazes daydreams a lot likes to draw, build and design enjoys pattern and geometry in math

This is the way a Picture Smart person might fill in the graph. Notice that the score for # 4 is 100%. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Section 8

Bodily- Kinesthetic Intelligence: Body Smart does well in competitive sports engages in physical activities such as swimming, biking, hiking, skateboarding needs to have frequent contact with others, especially when talking to them enjoy scary amusement park rides demonstrates skill in crafts like woodworking, sewing, or carving can cleverly imitate other peoples gestures, mannerisms or behaviors loves to learn by doing move, twitch, tap, or fidget while sitting in a chair coordinated and agile

Intrapersonal Intelligence: Self Smart independent and strong-willed has and expresses strong opinions on controversial subjects seems to live in their own private, inner world; daydreams likes to be alone to complete projects and pursue interests and hobbies seems to have a deep sense of self-confidence marches to the beat of their own drum (doesn’t feel a need to dress, act or behave like everyone else) self motivated; sets and achieves personal goals knows their own strengths and weaknesses is insightful and reflective

Interpersonal Intelligence: People Smart enjoys group games and learning situations understands the feelings of others; sympathetic has lots of friends prefers group problem solving can mediate conflicts at school and at home understands and recognizes stereotypes and prejudices volunteers help when others need it socializes a great deal at school or around the neighborhood gets involved in after school activities

Can teachers teach to ALL of the intelligences ALL of the time?

What do I do when my teacher doesn’t teach the way I learn?

Set a goal to turn one of your weak areas into a strong one. What was the most interesting or surprising thing you learned about multiple intelligences? Explain why.