Gross Motor/Fine Motor Development Lesson inspired by Hans Hoffman

Gross motor adaptations encourage the development of the larger muscles which support and affects the development of fine motor skills. I began this lesson using my interactive whiteboard with a great website by PBS.  http://www.pbs.org/hanshofmann/index.html
This website allowed me to introduce the students to his work with color theory, while allowing my students to be engaged in an interactive activity which illustrates Hans Hoffman's "Push and Pull" theory regarding color. Working on a vertical surface increases trunk stability. Using the interactive pen encourages students to cross their midline which also increases gross motor development.

Having students paint squares was not an option for my students with gross and fine motor disabilities. I adapted this lesson by having pre-cut squares in a variety of warm and cool colors and warm and cool backgrounds. Prior to having the students glue the squares on we looked at three piles of different size squares and rectangles and the students reviewed small, medium and large sizes. The students then glued the large squares first, followed by medium and small. We discussed how cool colors receded and warm came forward.

Show rather than say how to glue.

Part two of this lesson was a print making lesson where students used fine motor skills to select and place cardboard rectangles on cardboard sheets to create print plates. Once dry the students applied ink with a brayer, great for gross motor strength building and then printed warm colors on cool paper. A barren was used independently or for several of my students with limited strength a "hand-overhand" technique was used. Another option would be a weighted sleeve, available from  your schools physical therapist.

Adapting the lesson in this manner allowed students to work independently as they were engaged in the creative process of art making. The result a finished product which illustrated the concept and was aesthetically pleasing allowing for the students self-esteem to blossom as they successfully created their art.

Hand-over-hand if needed