Age group: Intermediate
Domain: Sensorimotor
Workout: Key Drop
Background
This workout encourages you to use your somatosensory abilities. These are the abilities to identify and remember objects based on how they feel. You will explore small object then close your eyes to test your memory and your sense of touch. It may help you if you create a picture in your mind of the object you are feeling. Doing so is called using visual imagery. By doing this workout you are targeting these abilities:
- Somatosensory abilities
- Fine motor (movement) skills
- Visual imagery
- Word retrieval
Materials
- Three to five different keys (e.g., car key, house key, mailbox key)
- Paper
- Pencil
Directions
Draw around each key and label the drawing with the function of the key. Example: Front Door Key- Hold the keys in your hands.
- Feel each key and think to yourself what the key is used for.
- Shake the keys.
- Drop the keys on a flat surface.
- Without looking, feel for a key.
- Feel the key with your hands.
- Try to identify which key it is by touch only. If necessary, place the key over each drawing until you have identified it.
- Count how many keys you can correctly identify
Draw around each key and label the drawing with the function of the key. Example: Front Door Key
Extend this workout
- Increase the number of keys that you drop, or add other items with the keys and see if you can identify what they are just by the way that they feel.
- With an adult’s permission, try this workout with different foods, e.g. a slice of apple, a slice of pepper, or different types of cereal. Wash your hands before doing this workout and keep the food on a plate if you intend to eat the food afterwards!
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