Pool Noodles in the Classroom

I love pool noodles for so many things besides swimming. They make great obstacle courses, balance challenges and more! Have you ever used pool noodles in the classroom? Here are four quick and easy hacks to help with positioning and fidgeting in the classroom. These hacks are great for at home learning too!

Pool Noodle Stability Ball Base

If you use stability balls for alternative seating, this is a super easy hack using a pool noodle. Simply take a piece of a pool noodle, make it into a circle shape and tape it closed to create a ring shape.

Put the pool noodle ring on the floor. Place the stability ball right on top. Woohoo no more rolling balls all over the classroom and all for the cost of one pool noodle.

If you do not use alternative seating yet but want to start, check out Wiggle Worms: A Guide to Alternative Seating for the Classroom . This digital download includes all of the resources you need to begin implementing alternative seating strategies in a classroom.

Pool Noodles in the Classroom – Fidget or Stress Reducer

This one is so simple but yet so amazing. Slice off a small piece of pool noodle – about 1.5 inches. Give it to a student who likes to fidget or needs to reduce their stress. You can squeeze it gently to relax. BONUS – it will work on hand strengthening too. SECOND BONUS – it doesn’t make any noise and it is low profile for students of all ages.

If you need more hand strengthening activities, check out the The Hand Strengthening Exercises PDF Bundle for Children. It includes 7 digital resources (plus BONUS mini packets) to help children strengthen their hands and fingers with super fun activities!

Pool Noodle Fidget

Pool Noodle Seat

Grab a pool noodle for the classroom and create this simple adaptation – a pool noodle seat! Do you have any students who struggle with body awareness who need just a little extra reminder of where the chair ends? Maybe an external cue of where to put their hips? Grab a pool noodle. Measure it to fit the seat of the chair and cut off the excess. Use some duct tape and strap it to the chair. That’s it – for just a dollar now you have a classroom chair with that extra cue to help students with body awareness issues or balance concerns. Give it a try!

It can also help reinforce teaching your students about their personal space bubble. This pool noodle in the classroom can help provide a tactile cue for personal space.

Personal Space Journey is a digital collection of activities to teach children about personal space. You can choose how to utilize the materials. Some children may benefit from reading the story first with follow up. Others may need to work on body awareness activities in order to maintain personal space.

Pool Noodles in the Classroom – Foot Fidget

If you have students that need to burn off extra energy and brain breaks are not enough, try this using pool noodles in the classroom to make a foot fidget. Cut a piece of pool noodle that will fit between the metal uprights of the chair. Slide a bungie cord or elastic through to create this foot fidget. Students can roll and spin it with their feet while they work.

Don’t forget to encourage children to take movement breaks at least every 30 minutes and get up and move. Need ideas? Exercises for the Classroom and Home is a set of 5 posters to encourage simple fitness activities for students. This is available as a digital download OR printed posters.