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Marzolf Primary School adds Sensory Path
 
Marzolf Primary art teacher Therasa Joseph
paints part of the new Sensory Path over the summer. 
 

Students at Marzolf Primary School have a colorful new addition to their playground that provides a space for “brain breaks” throughout the school day.

Over the summer, Marzolf Primary art teacher Therasa Joseph designed and painted a sensory path on the sidewalk behind the school. The sensory path is a colorful obstacle course that requires students to hop, step, and jump through the designs. The physical movement of completing the sensory path helps students focus better in the classroom and provides a “brain break” from classroom lessons.

“We have several students that need a sensory break during the day and the path outside gives them a change of scenery along with giving them an engaging activity for their body and brain,” Joseph said. “This will give some students a nice break to get some extra energy out. It also will provide our students with an extra activity during recess.”

In designing the sensory path, Joseph said she took into consideration the needs of the students. She incorporated gross motor skills into the path which is designed for students to hop, leap, side step, spin, and jump to different elements on the path. The path also has students applying foundational academic skills by moving along the letters of the alphabet and from numbers one through ten.

The idea for the sensory path came out of the school’s schoolwide positive behaviors and interventions and supports (SWPBIS) committee to provide a resource for all students in kindergarten to third-grade.