An elementary education class in classroom management at Fort Hays State University would normally create “sensory hallways” as part of the semester. This semester, that didn’t happen because of the COVID-19 shutdown.

Instead, students created sensory sidewalks in their hometowns and posted videos to #tigersensorylearning on Twitter. They are available to the public.

The senses are engaged through drawings, artwork, activities, toys and other objects. In an elementary class setting, a sensory hallway is a method to provide “extra sensory input for kids and adults throughout the school day,” said Dr. Betsy Crawford, assistant professor of teacher education.

Last semester, she said, the class was able to create a sensory hallway for students, Tigertots, and others to enjoy in the second-floor hallway of Rarick Hall. This year, the fun is shared through video.

Crawford said sensory hallways are used to get students and adults “up and moving,” she said. They can be use between assignments, for instance, or at other times when a full recess is not feasible.

“Sensory hallways or sidewalks are a fun way to get up and move throughout the day to help regain focus and release some energy.”

This class, TEEL 340, teaches skills in classroom management and in working with students in all educational settings. Crawford and Scott Gregory, field experiences coordinator for FHSU’s College of Education, team teach the class.