ABL CALMING CART
Action Based Learning Mobile Carts offer schools more flexibility to implement Action Based Learning Strategies without compromising space and budget. Carts provide ABL equipment and support materials content specific for the elementary level to assist educators in integrating academics with purposeful movement.
The purpose of this cart is to provide tools for students in need of self regulation and to reset their emotional state. Students will eventually recognize which tools work best for them and when is a good time to use them.
This cart can be used as a whole class/group. Place the cones around your space where you will put the equipment and or materials. There are 10 cones, so you can have up to 10 stations. Feel free to add more as you need. Find the corresponding Station Cards and place them in the slot at the tip of the cone. Model the expectations and proper use for each station. Model how you will have the students rotate through the stations. Instructors can use the timers from the set the duration for the stations. Adjust the amount of time at each station according to how many stations there are, how much time you have, and if you want each child to get to every station. This could be anywhere between 1 and 3 minutes.
This cart can be stored in a classroom or a central location to share with other classrooms. After modeling the expected use of each activity, students can be directed to use the calming cart when they are demonstrating behavior that is escalating; (overly excited, frustrated, sad, angry, etc). This can be done by themselves or with the supervision of another adult.
Support materials provide over 120 Activities and 35+ tools and equipment stations on board the mobile classroom cart. The provided activities can be easily modified and adapted to provide hundreds of additional activities for students as they progress. ABL accessories and equipment that can be quickly pulled off the cart and used in the hallways, classrooms or common areas for quick purposeful movement activities that prepare the brain to learn throughout the day.
In addition to the items on the cart, the package includes wall mounts that can be set up to establish a more consistent setting.
Calming Carts Include:
- (2) Boomerboards
- (2) Balance Boards
- Balance Rope
- (5) Sensory Seat Cushions
- Turtle Shell
- Standing Eye Tracker
- Handhelf Eye Tracker
- Learning Ladder and Cards
- (2) Stability Fitness Balls
- Padded Scooter Board
- (10) Assorted Cones
- (9) Juggling Scarves
- Ribbon Wands
- Tactile Domes
- Raindrop Body Sock
- Product Guide
- Activity Card Sets
- Station Cards
- And more!
Who are these carts for?
Recommended for those with or without an ABL Lab! Also, excellent for those who are already operating an existing ABL Lab within their school and looking to bring ABL beyond the lab. The equipment is versatile to accommodate various elementary grade levels (K-5), and allow students of varying capabilities to practice the 12 Foundations of Learning Readiness. Carts are portable and assist in creating a school-wide environment of Action Based Learning.
Why are purposeful movement activities important?
Neuroscience shows the relationship between the brain and body plays a critical role in the child's overall development and ability to learn. Research shows practicing specific movements can strengthen these connections and improve reading, writing, memory tasks, and allow children to absorb and retain information more efficiently.
What types of purposeful movement activities are critical to learning?
There are 12 critical areas necessary for a child to develop in order to achieve their full academic potential. These are called the 12 Foundations of Learning Readiness:
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1- Crossing the Midline - Cross Lateralization
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2- Body in Space - Vestibular/Proprioception
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3- Balance - Spatial Orientation
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4- Visual Development - Encoding Symbols
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5- Rhythm - Beat Awareness and Beat Competency
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6- Tactile Learning- Sensory Motor and Fine Motor Skills
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7- Motor Skills - Locomotor and Nonlocomotor Skills
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8- Eye/Hand Eye/Foot Coordination - Manipulative Skills
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9- Physical Fitness- Strength and Flexibility
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10- Cardiovascular Fitness- Aerobic
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11- Problem Solving: Embodied Cognition
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12- Self Management: Mindfulness and Self-Awareness
