Thanks, as always to Victoria for her monthly blog post of teaching ideas, activities, and inspiration to celebrate the month of April.
TL;TR: Ramadan, Find a Rainbow Day, National Superhero Day, The Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic, World Art Day, World Health Day and more!
Featured
- 22nd March – 21st April – Ramadan
- 1st April – 1st May – National Pet Month
- 3rd April – Find a Rainbow Day
- 7th April – World Health Day
- 15th April – Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic
- 15th April – World Art Day
- 22nd April – Earth Day
- 28th April – National Superhero Day
Just for fun!
- 22nd April – National Jellybean Day
- 29th April – National Zipper Day
Other Dates
- 2nd April – Autism Appreciation Day
- 14th April – Vaisakhi
- 23rd April – Shakespeare’s birthday
- April 17th – Yom HaShoah
- April 29th – International Dance Day
1st April – 1st May
National Pet Month
Raising awareness of responsible pet ownership.
Activity Idea
Set up a Pet Store Role Play Area
https://mash.ie/jobs-and-work-experience-multisensory-story-and-teaching-resource
3rd April
Find a Rainbow Day
A day to celebrate the rainbow which symbolises hope. The rainbow also symbolises inclusivity, diversity and friendship.
Engage in Scientific Investigation
Make a Rainbow
You will need
· Torch
· Glass
· Water
· Sheet of White Paper
Method
· 3/4 fill a glass with water.
· Place a white sheet of paper on a table.
· Hold the glass above the paper.
· Shine the torch from the top of the glass above the water
· Adjust the position of the paper until you see a rainbow.
The Science Bit!
When the light passes through the water it breaks up into all the colours it is made from creating a rainbow.
Rainbows End Treasure Hunt
This activity promotes problem solving skills and physical development.
Hide multicoloured ‘treasure’ items around the room, garden or outdoor area: Acrylic gems, baubles, buttons, coloured clothing pegs, costume jewellery, Lego/Duplo bricks, fabric & material, pom poms, ribbon, tinsel.
· Provide clues to help students to locate the treasure. This can be done verbally, through the ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ game, riddles, visual clues or provide a map.
· Provide a box or bag for the sensory explorer to store their discovered treasure as they find it.
· Alternatively provide a tick list or create a laminated visual board for the sensory explorer to tick off or circle as the treasure is found.
Alternative Treasure Hunt Activity
Place multicoloured ‘treasure’ inside a box of coloured shredded paper.
Can the students use their sense of touch to find the items?
Provide a torch to explore how the treasure sparkles and reflects in the light.
Explore a Kaleidoscope.
Can the student rotate the dial independently and watch the images and patterns created as the colourful beads, feathers and small pieces of glass rotate?
Colour Sorting Game
Develop fine motor skills and colour recognition
· Can the sensory explorer use safety tweezers/chopsticks/their fingers and thumbs to pick up coloured buttons, Lego bricks, pom poms, gems, and rainbow drops?
· Can the sensory explorer sort items of the same colour into boxes/baskets.
Rainbow Sensory Umbrella
Thread the ribs of an umbrella with multicoloured LED battery lights (tape the battery pack to the handle of the umbrella)
Tie colourful ribbons, streamers, and mirrors (to reflect the colours) to the ribs of the umbrella. Rotate.
7th April
World Health Day
World Health Day is dedicated to promoting the benefits of good health and wellbeing.
The theme for 2023 is ‘Health for All’
You may wish to focus on healthy eating, exercise of mental wellbeing.
15th April
The Anniversary of Sinking of the Titanic
Activity Idea: Make boats from materials that float.
For the Boat Base: Balsa, Cardboard Box, Cd’s, Corks, Cupcake Cases, Feathers, Margarine Tubs, Match Sticks, Plastic Bottle Tops, Plastic Bottles, Lids Dishes and Plates, Sponges, Straws, Styrofoam, Twigs, Wooden Craft Sticks. The Sail: Balloons, Card, Feathers, Foam Shapes, Leaves, Material.
Experiment Make egg box and paper boats.
Explore Cause & Effect Can the sensory explorer direct a fan (battery operated fan/dynamo ‘squeeze’ fan/hand-held fan, paper/silk fan) at the boat to move it across the water?
Compete Hold a boat race.
Can the students predict the boat that will win based on the materials it is made from?
Explore Add cargo to the boats
Test Durability
Add Ice cubes to the water. How well do the boats navigate these obstacles?
Engage in Scientific Investigation Add salt to the water. Does this enable the boats and materials to float easier?
Explore the properties of a variety of materials to see which materials float and which ones sink.
15th April
World Art Day
World Art Day is a celebration to promote the development and enjoyment of art around the world.
Spring Paintbrushes
This is a wonderful spring activity that engages the senses, promote fine motor skills and creativity.
You will need:
· Dried grasses
· Feathers
· Flowers
· Leaves
· Herbs e.g., Lemon balm mint, rosemary & thyme)
· Twigs/sticks
· Seed heads
· Straw
· Masking tape/rubber band/string
· Paper
· Paint
Activity
· Tape or tie different nature items onto sticks using a rubber band or string, dip in paint and get creative!
· Explore lines, swirls and create patterns.
22nd March – 20 April
Ramadan
Sawm is the fourth pillar of Islam, the obligation to fast from dawn to sunset.
Enjoy a Traditional Ramadan Meal
This activity provides the opportunity for students to explore and express their likes, dislikes and preferences giving them a voice and a choice in their food, try new foods and increase variety in their diet.
Pre-Dawn Meal
· Rice Pudding
· Dried Fruit (Apple, Apricots, Bananas, Dates Figs, Mango, Papayas, Peaches, Prunes, Raisins)
· Feta Cheese
After Sunset Meal
· Lentil Soup & Crusty Bread
Dessert
Spiced Pears (sprinkle tinned pears with cinnamon and brown sugar)
· Present the foods to touch, smell and taste.
· When offering a taste, start with a little touch to the lips, offer a morsel, an egg spoonful progressing to a small bite.
· Can the sensory explorer communicate a request for more?
· Can the sensory explorer make a rejection if they do not like a food item?
· Can the sensory explorer choose between two motivating foods?
As with all activities involving food be allergy aware.
Just for Fun!
22nd April
National Jellybean Day
This is a fun activity (and we all need a little treat!)
Can the students guess the flavour of the jellybean? (To make this easier offer a choice of two possible flavours)
Can the students use adjectives to describe the flavour: bitter, buttery, citrus, floral, fresh, fruity, grapey, lemony, limey, refreshing, sour, sweet, syrupy, tangy, tart, toasty, vanilla, zesty, zingy?
Can other students guess the flavour by the description?
(Be aware of allergies and choking hazards)
29th April
World Zipper Day!
A day to be grateful for those little inventions that make a big difference to our lives and an opportunity to promote fine motor skills.
Explore Fastenings:
Buckles, Buttons, Cuff Links, Eyelets, Magnetic Clasps, Metal Hook & Eye, Shoelaces, Sliders, Snap Hooks, Toggles, Velcro, Zips.
28th April
National Superhero Day
A day to honour all superheroes, both fictional and real.
Suggested Resource
https://mash.ie/superheroes-a-multisensory-story
Explore superheroes as our student takes you through his school day and meets the superheroes in his/her life.
Other April Resources
https://mash.ie/spring-a-multisensory-story-fully-resourced-teaching-guide
Explore the sights, sounds, tastes, smells and textures of Spring with this multisensory story.
Spring Themed Activities and Ideas
‘Blossom’ Sensory Art by Austyn
(Thank you to Austyn and his teacher Jude)
This beautiful tree in blossom was created by dipping fingers into paint then applying to the branches to make the blossom.
The Health & Safety Bit!
Please Read Before Engaging in any of the Activities
· The author has used their best efforts in preparing the information on this website and makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness to the contents.
· The information is for pleasure purposes only.
· If you wish to apply any ideas and activities contained in this blog, on the website or in any of the multisensory stories or resources, you are wholly responsible and take full responsibility for your actions.
· The activities are designed to be led and supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
A Note on Allergies/Intolerances
· If you have any doubts regarding any activity or prop used, then seek advice before starting.
· Be aware of potential choking hazards.
· Check the ingredients in any items you may be using for any potential food or skin allergies or respiratory reactions. If you see any signs of redness, swelling or other symptoms of a suspected reaction seek immediate medical advice.
· The interactions should be led by the sensory explorer who should be allowed to participate without expectation.
· Never force stimuli and stop the activity if the story explorer shows signs that they are not enjoying the session.
Your questions, queries, comments, and feedback are always welcome!
Get in touch: rhymingmultisensorystories@outlook.com