Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Wanda Lauer
Abstract
Title: Utilizing Occupation-Based Activities to Support Participation in Educational Tasks within the General Education Classroom
Background: The rise of technology usage has decreased the number of hands-on activities children participate in, impacting significant life skills (Caramia et al., 2020; Dadson et al., 2020; Gaul & Issartel, 2016; Genevieve et al., 2018; Lin et al., 2017). This trend has impeded children's ability to develop and strengthen the necessary skills to complete school-related tasks (Caramia et al., 2020; Dadson et al., 2020; Gaul & Issartel, 2016; Genevieve et al., 2018; Lin et al., 2017). Performing hands-on tasks builds fine motor skills, which are the small muscles of the hands that help with handwriting, cutting with scissors, zipping jackets, tying shoes, and opening milk cartons (Cameron et al., 2016; Fogo et al., 2020; Ohl et al., 2013). Children who have underdeveloped skills struggle with performance in writing, reading, spelling, and math and are at risk of falling behind (Cameron et al., 2016; Fogo et al., 2020; Michel et al., 2019; Ohl et al., 2013; Senapati, 2017).
Purpose: This scholarly project aimed to create a product containing occupation-based activities for kindergarteners to utilize within the general education classroom. The activities in the product provide hands-on experiences that allow students to develop skills needed for school participation. The product is entitled The Activity Tree: Toolkit & Resource for Enhancing Excellence.
Methodology: To complete the needs assessment, evidence was gathered through a literature review, skilled observation, and collaboration with kindergarten teachers, a school-based viii occupational therapist, an art teacher, a gym teacher, social workers, and special education teachers. The Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) was the theoretical framework used to guide this scholarly project's creation and the product's development (Dunn, 2017).
Conclusion: The Activity Tree: Toolkit & Resource for Enhancing Excellence was created to address the need for more hands-on opportunities for kindergarteners in the classroom. The outcome of the scholarly project resulted in 31 activities that target fine motor, executive functioning, and visual motor skills necessary for educational participation and academic success. Each activity has multiple methods to meet the needs of kindergarteners of all ability levels within the general education classroom.
Recommended Citation
Van Drehle, Molly, "Utilizing Occupation-Based Activities To Support Participation In Educational Tasks Within The General Education Classroom" (2024). Occupational Therapy Capstones. 596.
https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/596