hand dominance - mini unit

8/3/2019 Hand Dominance - Mini Unit

1/24

www.leapingintolearning.com

Hand Dominance


2/24

This document was created by www.leapingintolearning.com If you wish to share the document with others

please refer them to our website. We thank you for your help and understanding in this matter.

NOTE: This mini unit was created for my own children to go with

their human body studies. Please keep this in mind as you use this

resource and check that its content and the contained links aresuitable for your children and your personal family values.

Under NO circumstances is this unit to be reproduced for sale or

redistribution. I also ask that in the event that you wish to share

this mini unit with others please refer them to our site

(www.leapingintolearning.com). I thank you for your understandingand cooperation in this matter.
http://www.leapingintolearning.com/http://www.leapingintolearning.com/http://www.leapingintolearning.com/


3/24



What is hand dominance?

Well the easy answer is that it is the hand that is your dominant

hand, or the hand that you use to perform everyday tasks. Most

people have one hand that they do most things with; this is referred

to as their dominant hand.

For many people the dominant hand is the right hand, weather this is

because of natural or learned responses remains to be seen.

There used to be a time, probably when your Grandparents were your

age that being left handed was considered to be in-appropriate.

During these times teachers would often go to extremes to correct

the issue of a child using their left hand. If you talk to some older

people you may here horror stories of left-handed children getting

the cane across their knuckles if the teacher caught them usingtheir left hand. Others report having their hand tied behind their

backs to force them into using their right hand. There were also

less physical punishments, including being publically humiliated or

shamed in front of the class or entire school.

Take a moment to think what it would be like to be forced to do

things with your non-dominant hand. What do you think it would be

like; how bad do you think it would be to be publically shamed for

something you had no control over?


4/24



Pre-writers

Activity 1:

For this activity you will need a copy of worksheet 1 - Found at

the end of this unit study

Have the child complete part 1 with their dominant hand

Then have them complete part 2 with the other hand Once complete take the time to look at the two samples. Then

discuss with the child about what they notice when looking at

the two samples.

Activity 2:

For this activity you will need a selection of small objects and

containers. We like to use small food items like rice, edible seeds,pasta but we have also used small beads and other such objects.

Bottle caps, baby food jars or any other simular item will work as the

containers.

Encourage the child to use two fingers to pick up the items andto place them into the containers.

Now encourage them to repeat the process but using the otherhand.

After the child has completed the above processes discuss withthem what they noticed. Depending on age you may need to

prompt them with questions like which hand was it easier to

pick things up with?


5/24



Beginning writers

Activity 1:

Worksheet 2 - Found at the end of this unit study

Try writing your name with your non-dominant hand.

What did it feel like? Did you write fast of really slow? Was your writing neat of messy?

Activity 2: (1 4 players)

Head outside for this activity. You will need a small ball (tennis

ball), a paved area, chalk (2-4 players) or a flat (preferably

brick or something simular) wall if there is only 1 player.

For this activity you will be playing a version of handball (seethe link for instructions)http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-

handball/

Start by playing a short game with your dominant hand Now try playing again but these times try using your non-

dominant hand.

What do you notice; what was different about using your twodifferent hands to play the game?
http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/


6/24



Intermediate / Advanced Students

Activity 1:

Worksheets 3-5 - Found at the end of this unit study

Follow the directions on the worksheets

Activity 2:Head outside for this activity. You will need a small ball (tennis

ball), a paved area, chalk (2-4 players) or a flat (preferably

brick or something simular) wall if there is only 1 player.

For this activity you will be playing a version of handball (seethe link for instructions) http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/

Start by playing a short game with your dominant hand Now try playing again but these times try using your non-

dominant hand.

What do you notice; what was different about using your twodifferent hands to play the game?

Optional extra: try using your non-dominant hand for other

activities that you do regularly.
http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/http://www.weekendnotes.com/play-handball/


7/24



Worksheet 1 trace over the shapes


8/24



Worksheets 2 choose your line size & write your name.


9/24



Worksheet 3 - Fill in with your Dominant hand

(the hand you usually use to write with)

What do you think it would be like to be forced to write with

your non-dominant hand?


10/24



Worksheet 4 - Fill in with your Non - Dominant hand


Write a couple of sentences about yourself; What is your

favourite colour, food, place, sport ECT? (remember use yournon-dominant hand)


11/24



Worksheet 5 - Fill in with your Dominant hand


Now that you have used your non-dominant hand to write with,

explain what it was like. Would you be happy if your teachersaid you had to write like that all the time?


12/24



Hand Dominance Puzzle 1

R E K A E W O KT H G I R J F V

R E G N O R T S

H J Q L E F X D

M A E W G O I GM F N T E S F K

T Z G D A Z M M

T N A N I M O D

DOMINANT

HAND

LEFT

RIGHTSTRONGER

WEAKER


13/24




A R Y Q I A Z P E A M Y

B E C Z V K H C W M P DP K K C L T E D F B G U

G A Z K H E O W C I Y U

J E H G T M B L O D A B

Q W I A I L E F T E W L

P R L N N I Z T E X U S

P V A P I D R C N T O H

J N O A H K O C B R M Q

T S T R O N G E R O I N

X Y U X N Z C D T U R CA P C L I Z H X F S R G

AMBIDEXTROUS

DOMINANT

HANDLEFT

RIGHT

STRONGER

WEAKER


14/24




K E D W W Q D O M I N A N T S

L U T E T F E L U J U I S U FT E N A D E Z F V Q X S O N X

D G A K Q N X K X R U R X H D

A R N E R C A C X U T K E S R

D C I R A V W H S X V M U K Q

M P M U F Y Z T E L R M B R N

R F O C S P P D I I J G T Z PN E D Y B T I G G Y F R G R A

R I S M A B R H U Y C B I Q H

W V S J M M T O G V G S I S M

P E O A E P W M N Q W C Z C B

H K R Z H I H N I G G R I B T

I B C B I X L S H S E P H B GK K A R O W F V H K O R X U C

AMBIDEXTROUS

CROSS-DOMINANT (CROSSDOMINANT)

DOMINANT

HANDLEFT

RIGHT

STRONGER

WEAKER


15/24




16/24




17/24



Optional Data to be used in math


18/24



ANSWERS

Solution Hand Dominance Puzzle 1

R E K A E W+ +T H G I R + + +

R E G N O R T S

H + + L + + + +

+ A E + + + + +

+ F N + + + + +

T + + D + + + +

T N A N I M O D

(Over,Down,Direction)

DOMINANT(8,8,W)

HAND(1,4,SE)LEFT(4,4,SW)

RIGHT(5,2,W)

STRONGER(8,3,W)

WEAKER(6,1,W


19/24




+ R + + + + + + + A + +

+ E + + + + + + + M + +

+ K + + + T + D + B + +

+ A + + H + O + + I + +

+ E H G + M + + + D + +

+ W I A I L E F T E + +

+ R + N N + + + + X + ++ + A + + D + + + T + +

+ N + + + + + + + R + +

T S T R O N G E R O + +

+ + + + + + + + + U + +

+ + + + + + + + + S + +


AMBIDEXTROUS(10,1,S)

DOMINANT(8,3,SW)

HAND(3,5,SE)LEFT(6,6,E)

RIGHT(2,7,NE)

STRONGER(2,10,E)

WEAKER(2,6,N)


20/24




+ + + W + + D O M I N A N T S

+ + T E T F E L + + + + + U +

+ + N A D + + + + + + + O + +

+ + A K + N + + + + + R + + +

+ + N E + + A + + + T + + + +

+ + I R + + + H + X + + + + +

+ + M + + + + + E + R + + + +

+ + O + S + + D + I + + + + +

+ + D + + T I + G + + + + + ++ + S + + B R H + + + + + + +

+ + S + M + T O + + + + + + +

+ + O A + + + + N + + + + + +

+ + R + + + + + + G + + + + +

+ + C + + + + + + + E + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + R + + +


AMBIDEXTROUS(4,12,NE)

CROSS-DOMINANT(3,14,N)

DOMINANT(7,1,E)

HAND(8,6,NW)

LEFT(8,2,W)RIGHT(11,7,SW)

STRONGER(5,8,SE)

WEAKER(4,1,S)


21/24




22/24




23/24



Links with more information

Determining Hand Dominance

http://www.zaner-bloser.com/about/newsandresearch/research/detail.aspx?id=58

Determining Hand, eye, foot and ear Dominance

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/rightl.html

Being Left-Handedhttp://www.lefthandersday.com/tour2.html

Establishing dominance and crossing the midline

http://www.kidzworld.co.za/parentingarticles/crossing-the-midline.htm

Cross

dominance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dominance

Changing Dominance

http://www.ergovancouver.net/Problems-Changing_Dominance.htm

Hands-On Hand Dominance: Information for Teachers and Parents (PDF)

http://www.writeoutofthebox.com/images/pagefiles/file/PDF/WOOTB%20Hand%20Dom

inance%20Article.pdf

Grip Strength: Effect of Hand Dominance (PDF)

http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4305/4305a3.pdf
http://www.zaner-bloser.com/about/newsandresearch/research/detail.aspx?id=58http://www.zaner-bloser.com/about/newsandresearch/research/detail.aspx?id=58http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/rightl.htmlhttp://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/rightl.htmlhttp://www.lefthandersday.com/tour2.htmlhttp://www.lefthandersday.com/tour2.htmlhttp://www.lefthandersday.com/tour2.htmlhttp://www.kidzworld.co.za/parentingarticles/crossing-the-midline.htmhttp://www.kidzworld.co.za/parentingarticles/crossing-the-midline.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dominancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dominancehttp://www.ergovancouver.net/Problems-Changing_Dominance.htmhttp://www.ergovancouver.net/Problems-Changing_Dominance.htmhttp://www.writeoutofthebox.com/images/pagefiles/file/PDF/WOOTB%20Hand%20Dominance%20Article.pdfhttp://www.writeoutofthebox.com/images/pagefiles/file/PDF/WOOTB%20Hand%20Dominance%20Article.pdfhttp://www.writeoutofthebox.com/images/pagefiles/file/PDF/WOOTB%20Hand%20Dominance%20Article.pdfhttp://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4305/4305a3.pdfhttp://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4305/4305a3.pdfhttp://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4305/4305a3.pdfhttp://www.writeoutofthebox.com/images/pagefiles/file/PDF/WOOTB%20Hand%20Dominance%20Article.pdfhttp://www.writeoutofthebox.com/images/pagefiles/file/PDF/WOOTB%20Hand%20Dominance%20Article.pdfhttp://www.ergovancouver.net/Problems-Changing_Dominance.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dominancehttp://www.kidzworld.co.za/parentingarticles/crossing-the-midline.htmhttp://www.lefthandersday.com/tour2.htmlhttp://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/rightl.htmlhttp://www.zaner-bloser.com/about/newsandresearch/research/detail.aspx?id=58


24/24


Advanced Student Links (high school + )

Left handed myths and misunderstandings

http://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/lh-info/myths.html

Long-Term Impact of Forced Right-Handedness

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/30/9/3271.full

Laterality - the preference for one side of their body over the other

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laterality

Do we have a natural tendency to turn to the right or left?

http://www.ergoweb.com/forum/index.cfm?page=topic&topicID=924
http://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/lh-info/myths.htmlhttp://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/lh-info/myths.htmlhttp://www.jneurosci.org/content/30/9/3271.fullhttp://www.jneurosci.org/content/30/9/3271.fullhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateralityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateralityhttp://www.ergoweb.com/forum/index.cfm?page=topic&topicID=924http://www.ergoweb.com/forum/index.cfm?page=topic&topicID=924http://www.ergoweb.com/forum/index.cfm?page=topic&topicID=924http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateralityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyhttp://www.jneurosci.org/content/30/9/3271.fullhttp://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/lh-info/myths.html

hand dominance - mini unit

Documents