Teaching Children about the
Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Your Brain
is like a Chandelier -
Ten Light Bulbs of Different Intensities
Children can grasp the idea that they
possess many different intelligences in various amounts if you use what
I call the "Chandelier" analogy.
Have your students hold their two hands cupped together with their fingers
curled upwards. Let them imagine that their fingernails are bulbs
on a chandelier. Each bulb represents an intelligence:
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Children can then imagine their strength intelligence (s) as the brightest bulb(s) of their lamp (brain). Let's say a child has a proclivity for mathematics, you might explain to the child that he/she must have a "floodlight" bulb in their chandelier when it comes to math. Personally, math is my weakest area. I tell my students that I think I have a 'night light' bulb in my lamp in that area!
We all have a variety of strengths and weaknesses, therefore our chandelier shines brightly with varied "bulbs." This analogy helps children visualize how they are 'smart." They begin to see that although they might not "shine" in one area, they have other areas where they do. They learn to see and accept the differences among their peers and realize no ONE person is better than another. Together, all of our intelligences (bulbs) work to make us who we are so that we may "shed light" upon the lives of our friends and classmates. Wishing you all a bright future!
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M.I. Smart! Program
© 2002-2006