Why Movement Matters: Kinaesthetic Learning in the Primary Classroom
Some children learn best by reading, while others learn by listening, but for many pupils, it’s movement that helps information sink in. These are kinaesthetic learners: children who grasp concepts more effectively when they’re physically involved in the process. And in today’s classrooms, recognising the power of movement is more important than ever.
How We Do It
At Teach Rex, physical engagement is built into every workshop. Children might act out a story, respond to a dinosaur’s roar, or take part in green screen filming, but in every case, they’re learning through doing, and that makes a lasting difference. Here’s how kinaesthetic learning helps boost focus, memory, and understanding in primary school pupils.
Movement Strengthens Memory
When children move while learning, they’re using more of their brain. Physical activity increases blood flow, sharpens attention, and helps encode information more effectively. For example, a child who mimics the way a dinosaur walks while learning about its anatomy is far more likely to remember key facts than one who reads them passively.
Teach Rex workshops use this principle to great effect, turning learning into an immersive, full-body experience. Instead of simply hearing about prehistoric creatures or mythical dragons, pupils react to them, interact with them, and become part of the story.
Helping Active Learners Thrive
Traditional classroom settings can be challenging for children who need to move to stay focused. These learners may fidget, lose concentration, or disengage entirely when asked to sit still for long periods. Kinaesthetic learning gives them a chance to shine.
In a Teach Rex session, movement plays a central role in supporting focus, engagement, and understanding. Children are encouraged to get involved physically through:
- Roleplay and drama
- Story-led movement
- Green screen filming
- Group tasks involving space and action
For some children, it’s the first time they’ve felt truly successful and engaged in a learning environment.
Movement Enhances Focus and Behaviour
In addition to being beneficial for memory, physical engagement is also an effective way to boost concentration and manage classroom behaviour. When pupils are actively participating, there’s less room for distraction. Movement provides a productive outlet for their energy while keeping them fully engaged in the task at hand.
Teachers often report that children who struggle in more sedentary lessons flourish during a Teach Rex workshop, showing greater focus, confidence, and enthusiasm for learning.
Building Confidence Through Physical Expression
Teach Rex sessions are designed to be inclusive and non-threatening. Pupils are never put on the spot but are always invited to participate. This approach provides children with the opportunity to express themselves physically through facial expressions, gestures, movement, and voice.
For quieter pupils, movement can be a powerful way to build confidence without relying solely on words. For children with additional needs, movement can make abstract ideas more concrete and accessible.
Kinaesthetic Learning in Action
Teach Rex workshops support kinaesthetic learning across the curriculum:
- In science, children explore animal movement and anatomy through action and drama.
- In literacy, storytelling is enhanced by roleplay and expressive movement.
- In digital literacy, pupils physically plan and act out scenes before filming them with iPads and green screen technology.
- In PSHE, emotions are explored and acted out, helping children develop empathy and social awareness.
Each one is an integrated learning moment, designed to help information stick, connect, and come alive.
The Takeaway
Physical activity plays a purposeful role in how children learn and engage. It is a tool for memory, focus, and transforming passive learning into meaningful understanding. At Teach Rex, we see the impact of kinaesthetic learning every day, and we believe it has a place in every classroom.
Ready to see the difference a movement-rich learning experience can make?
Explore our workshops or get in touch to book your visit today.