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What is it?
Spatial intelligence is the ability to perceive the visual/spatial world and to transform those perceptions. It is sensitive to elements of art including colour, line, shape, form and space. This intelligence is related to the skills of visualisation and orientation.
Remember Spatial is not always visual. It is possible to be blind and have high spatial intelligence.
Everyday Uses
Finding your way around an unfamiliar town
Giving and using directions
Playing chess and checkers
Home decorating
Arranging flowers
Who is the student with this intelligence?
This student will notice colour distinctions that others will miss and see non-traditional patterns. They will focus for long periods on sketches, rendering, drawings and designs. When completed they will be show complex spatial relationships and geometric patterns.
Adult Examples
Charles Darwin
Louis Braille
Thomas Edison
Henry Ford
Pablo Picasso
Leonardo da Vinci
Vincent Van Gogh
Career Choices
Gardener
Sculptor
Surgeon
Mechanic
Housepainter
Carpenter
Photographer
Dancer
Athlete
What helps this student learn?
Having a classroom which is picture rich with brightly coloured posters, photos, mobiles, colour coding information and other visual devices using catchy writing to convey information. Use cartoons, video demonstrations, learning centres with picture collections. They love any opportunity to draw or do any activity that is visually creative.
What hinders this student?
Students are disengaged when using long passages of text with no pictures. They find it difficult to communicate with words and find long writing assignments frustrating. If not given enough opportunity to express their feelings through drawing these students will become silent.
What activities promote learning with this intelligence?
A variety of art materials at their disposal
Cognitive organisers
Art centre
Colour coding systems
Drawing and painting
Posters, charts, graphics and pictures
Sculpting and constructing
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