OPPOSITES SENSORY MOTOR ACTIVITY FREE PRINTABLE

The Opposites Sensory Motor Activity Free Printable is an easy, no-prep way to combine movement, body awareness, and cognitive flexibility in one engaging activity. By acting out opposite actions, students practice listening skills, motor planning, self-regulation, and social interaction, all while moving their bodies.

This printable works well as a whole-group movement game, a small-group activity, or even a more individualized option with just one or two students. The visual cards make it accessible for a wide range of learners and simple to adapt to different environments. You can download it for FREE at the bottom of the post.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE OPPOSITES SENSORY MOTOR ACTIVITY

The printable includes illustrated cards that show opposite actions such as fast/slow, arms up/arms down, stop/go, big/little, bent legs/straight legs, short/tall, pull/push, and happy/sad. Each card provides a clear visual cue so students can quickly understand the action and focus on moving their bodies.

The directions printed on the activity explain how students move around the room to find the person performing the opposite action, creating a fun mix of movement and problem-solving.

DIRECTIONS FOR GROUP USE

This activity works best with a small group or whole class, but it can be scaled easily depending on your space and number of students.

• Cut out the cards and shuffle them
• Give each child one card
• Students act out the action shown on their card
• Children move around the room looking for the student performing the opposite action
• When opposites are matched, students can perform the actions together
• Collect the cards, reshuffle, and deal again to continue playing

If you are working with more than 16 students, make copies of the cards before cutting so everyone can participate at the same time OPPOSITE ACTIONS

MODIFICATIONS FOR 1–2 STUDENTS OR VERY SMALL GROUPS

If you only have one or two students, this activity is still very effective with a few simple adjustments.

• Cut apart all of the cards and hide them around the room
• Students search the room to find all of the cards
• Once all cards are found, students match up the opposite pairs
• After matching, students perform each set of opposite actions together

This version adds an extra layer of movement, visual scanning, and problem-solving. It works well in therapy sessions, small-group instruction, or during indoor movement breaks when space is limited.

Another option is for the adult to hold the cards and present one at a time, asking the student to perform the action and then immediately switch to the opposite action when shown the matching card.

SKILLS SUPPORTED BY OPPOSITE ACTION GAMES

Opposites-based sensory motor activities support multiple developmental and learning skills at the same time.

• Gross motor coordination and body awareness
• Motor planning and movement transitions
• Listening and following directions
• Cognitive flexibility and concept development
• Social interaction and turn-taking
• Self-regulation through purposeful movement

Because students are actively moving, this activity is especially helpful for learners who benefit from physical input to stay engaged and organized.

WHEN TO USE THIS ACTIVITY

This printable fits easily into many parts of the day.

• Brain breaks between academic tasks
• Movement warm-ups or cool-downs
• Therapy sessions focused on motor planning or regulation
• Indoor recess or rainy-day movement
• Small-group instruction or centers

It is quick to set up, easy to repeat, and flexible enough to meet the needs of different learners.

MORE FUN SENSORY MOTOR ACTIVITIES

If you are looking for more ways to keep kids moving while supporting regulation and learning, check out these related activities:

• Body Parts Song
• Freeze Dance
• High Energy Brain Break
• 10 Simple Activities to Encourage Physical Activity in the Classroom

These activities pair well with the Opposites Sensory Motor Printable and give you multiple options for keeping movement fresh and engaging throughout the day.