First choose 2 children of the same gender who would be willing to take a physical ability assessment. One child should be 3-4 years old and the other 5-6.
To administer the physical ability assessment, each child will be asked to perform the following:
Balance
1) Walk 10 feet.
2) Hop on both feet (note how high the child hops).
3) Stand on one foot for 5 seconds.
4) Stand on one foot and clap hands.
5) Walk while balancing a book on the head.
Locomotion
1) Walk up stairs (does the child go up one stair at a time or use alternate feet?).
2) Walk down stairs (does the child go down one stair at a time or use alternate feet?).
3) Walk a straight line (put masking tape on the floor and have the child walk on the tape).
4) Walk backward for 10 feet.
5) Lay on the floor and roll like a log (note the direction).
Fine Motor
1) Observe the child’s hand preference (hand the child objects and observe which hand reaches out).
2) Cut paper in a straight line (you might model this but do not draw a line on the paper).
3) Draw a person.
4) Button and button.
5) Tie a shoe.
Create a table/chart/matrix that presents a comparison of the two children. Be sure to comment on how the children approached the tasks.
Based on the assessment, recommend activities that might help each move to his/her next developmental level in these areas.
