My MI Lesson Plan

The theory of Multiple Intelligences was developed by Howard Gardner and his team at Harvard University.  According to Gardner, there are nine intelligences (the final one being added relatively recently).  The theory suggests that all persons have each intelligence to some degree but that generally, we all excel in one area or another. 

While intelligence is something that one is 'born with' it is also suggested that one can develop a higher level of either intelligence with diligence and practice.  That is, to a degree, intelligence can be 'learned'.

Visit THIS LINK for a host of resources on Gardner (biographies, interviews, etc) and his Multiple Intelligence Theory.

Click HERE to view Dr. Thomas Armstrong's site on Gardner's Multiple Intelligences.  The Existential Intelligence is not present here, as it was not developed at the time of the site, but it is an awesome resource!

The nine intelligences are:

• Linguistic Intelligence (words, sounds, phrases, writing, reading, etc.)

• Logical-Mathematical Intelligence (puzzles, addition/division, problems, etc.)

• Visual-Spatial Intelligence (thinking in pictures, representations, art, design, architecture, etc.)

• Musical Intelligence (being able to sing, play an instrument, hear different instruments, keep beat/rhythm, etc.)

• Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence (sports, dance, handling objects, dexterity, playing video-games, etc)

• Interpersonal Intelligence (getting along with others, feeling happy in groups, having many friends, relationships, etc.)

• Intrapersonal Intelligence (knowing yourself, your likes, abilities, limitations, etc.)

• Naturalistic Intelligence (being attuned to natural elements, walking in the woods, seeing connections between characteristics, etc)

• Existential Intelligence (asking the 'big' questions, pondering the universe, wondering where we come from, are we alone?, etc.)