This concept focuses on sensory-motor integration—helping children process and respond to tactile (touch), vestibular (balance/movement), and proprioceptive (body position) information. Using the Bewegungsrucksack elements, students develop body schema awareness and sensory regulation skills that directly support classroom learning and emotional regulation.
Before teaching this lesson, understand the three sensory systems targeted:
Tactile System (Touch)
What It Does: Processes touch information through skin receptors Why It Matters: Touch discrimination helps children identify objects without looking (like finding a pencil in a desk), understand pressure (how hard to press a pencil), and feel secure in physical contact.
Signs of Difficulty:
Avoids certain textures (clothing, food, materials)
What It Does: Processes movement, gravity, and head position through inner ear Why It Matters: The vestibular system tells us where our head is in space, helps us maintain posture, and coordinates eye movements (essential for reading).
Signs of Difficulty:
Avoids or seeks excessive movement
Gets dizzy easily or never gets dizzy
Poor posture, slumps at desk
Difficulty with reading (eyes jump around)
Academic Connection: Sitting posture, visual tracking for reading, copying from board
Proprioceptive System (Body Position)
What It Does: Processes information about body position from muscles and joints Why It Matters: Proprioception tells us where our body parts are without looking. This allows us to write without watching our hand, walk without watching our feet, and know how much force to use.
Signs of Difficulty:
Uses too much or too little force
Clumsy, bumps into things
Difficulty with motor planning
Leans on things, seeks heavy work
Academic Connection: Letter formation, spacing, force regulation, sitting without slumping
Sensory Focus: Tactile + Proprioceptive Why This Equipment: The bean bag provides weight (proprioceptive input) and texture (tactile input). Unlike a ball, it stays where placed, providing immediate success. The weight creates “deep pressure”—calming input that helps regulate the nervous system.
Benefit: Calming deep pressure, body awareness, tactile discrimination, and secure success experience.
Jonglierbälle (Juggling Balls)
Sensory Focus: Tactile discrimination + Bilateral coordination Why This Equipment: Juggling balls have distinct weight, texture, and size. Children learn to discriminate these properties through touch alone. The cross-midline movements required for juggling integrate brain hemispheres.
Benefit: Tactile discrimination, fine motor touch sensitivity, cross-midline integration, concentration.
Kreideset (Chalk)
Sensory Focus: Visual-motor + Creative expression Why This Equipment: Drawing requires connecting visual planning with motor execution. The chalk provides tactile feedback (dry, powdery) and creates permanent visual records of body awareness (outlines, paths).
Benefit: Visual-motor integration, body mapping, creative expression, spatial planning.
Setup: Children lie on the floor on their backs, arms at sides, eyes closed. Dim lights if possible. Use calm, slow voice.
Body Scan Script:
“Find stillness. Feel the floor beneath you.” (30 seconds)
“Bring attention to your feet… wiggle your toes… feel them against the floor… now let them rest.” (20 seconds)
“Move up to your legs… feel your calves, your knees, your thighs… where do they touch the floor?” (20 seconds)
“Notice your back… feel the whole length of your spine against the floor… feel your shoulders settle.” (20 seconds)
“Bring attention to your hands… feel your fingers… make a fist, then release… feel the difference.” (20 seconds)
“Notice your face… your jaw… your forehead… let everything soften.” (20 seconds)
“Feel your breath… your belly rising… falling… rising… falling…” (30 seconds)
Awakening:
Slowly deepen breath (3 breaths)
Wiggle fingers and toes
Stretch arms overhead
Roll to one side, then slowly sit up
Open eyes softly
Methodology: This body scan develops interoception—awareness of internal body states. Children learn to notice body sensations, a foundation for self-regulation.
Key Learning: “Your body is always sending you messages. You can learn to listen.”
Main Part: Sensory Stations (25 min)
Three stations rotating every 8 minutes. Children work in pairs.
