Tuning Into the Body: How Interoception Lessons are Empowering Our Students

In recent years, our Occupational Therapy (OT) department has piloted the Interoception Curriculum, developed by Kelly Mahler, OTR/L, in several classrooms. This framework explores one of the lesser-known—but critically important—senses: interoception.

Interoception is our awareness of the body’s internal state. It helps us recognize and interpret sensations such as hunger, thirst, or cold, as well as physical responses that often accompany emotions—like a racing heart when we’re afraid. Developing interoceptive awareness is essential for understanding our bodies, regulating emotions, and effectively communicating our needs.

During SPOT groups in several classrooms, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists have collaborated to bring the curriculum to life. Together, they’ve designed engaging, child-friendly lessons that position students as “body scientists.” Using a combination of direct instruction, class discussion, and interactive exploration stations, students investigate a variety of sensory inputs and reflect on their personal reactions to these experiences.

These lessons empower students to see themselves as experts in their own sensory systems and foster connections with their peers through shared, hands-on learning. For example, in a lesson focused on hand sensations, students clapped rapidly, squeezed a Digi-Flex tool, touched kinetic sand, and dipped their fingers into ice water for a few seconds. Following each experiment, the therapists guided students through reflective conversations to build a rich and descriptive sensory vocabulary.

Thank you to our dedicated OTs and SLPs for helping our students gain greater self-awareness and a deeper understanding of this often-overlooked sense!