Teaching ideas, activities, and inspiration for sensory learners of all ages to celebrate the month of April, including Vaisakhi, Shakespeare Day, Earth Day, World Art Day, National Superhero Day and more…
Dates at a Glance
Apr 1 – May 1 – National Pet Month
Apr 3 – Find a Rainbow Day
Apr 7 – World Health Day
Apr 13 – Vaisakhi
Apr 15 – Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic
Apr 15- World Art Day
Apr 22 – Earth Day
Apr 23 – Shakespeare Day
Apr 28 – National Superhero Day
Just for fun!
Apr 22 – National Jellybean Day
Apr 29 – National Zipper Day
The April Sensory Garden
- In the third and fourth weeks of April, sow in pots then cover: beans, cabbage, cauliflower, courgettes, cucumbers, kale, squash, and sunflowers.
- Sow outdoors in sunny areas (cover with cloches) leeks, lettuce, peas, potatoes, rocket, spinach, chard.
- Plant hanging baskets (keep away from frost)
- Tidy and pull up any weeds.
What to Look for in Nature
Flora and Fauna
- Alexanders, bistort, burdock, chickweed, comfrey, cowslips, crocus, daffodils, dandelion leaves, gorse, hawthorn tips, orache, primulas, rampion, salad burnet, violets, wild garlic, wood sorrel.
The April Kitchen
- Purple sprouting broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chicory, Jersey potatoes, kale, onions, radish, turnips.
Bird of the Month
The Cuckoo
The first cuckoo call can be heard mid-April.
Activity Idea
- Play a sound effect of a cuckoo.
- Explore feathers
Extend Learning
Can the student count how many Cuckoo calls they can hear?
1st April – 1st May
National Pet Month
Raising awareness of responsible pet ownership.
Activity Idea
Set up a Pet Store Role Play Area
Excerpt from ‘Jobs and Work Experience’ Sensory Story and Teaching Pack
Told as a multisensory story, this resource explores the world of jobs and work experience.
The extension activities are set up to appeal to appeal to a range of ages and abilities.
Early Years and Reception and Year 1 students can explore the world of work through role play and classroom-based activities.
PMLD students can explore the world of work through the sensory props and themed activities.
For post-16 students there are ideas for work experience within the whole school and suggestions for where to look for work placements in the wider community.
3rd April
Find a Rainbow Day
A day to celebrate the rainbow which 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 student(s) 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(s) 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 2024 is ‘My Health, My Right’
You may wish to focus on healthy eating, exercise, or mental wellbeing.
13th April
Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi is a Sikh spring harvest celebration.
Activity Ideas
- Explore yellow and orange fabric and material. Use this as an opportunity for individuals to explore their likes, dislikes, and sensory preferences.
- Listen to folk music. Can the student(s) play along to the music using a drum, recorders/flutes, shakers, bells, and other percussion instruments?
- Watch footage of Bhangra dancing. Would the student(s) like to join in?
- Smell, touch and taste foods traditionally harvested in the spring:
Chickpeas
Pears
Lentils
Linseed (Flaxseed)
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 April
Earth Day
A day to reflect on the importance of looking after the environment and protecting our planet.
Teach students about the impact of landfill and climate change with these two hands-on activities.
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)
23rd April
Shakespeare Day
Connect your students to classical poetry by exploring a line of a poem.
The example below shows ideas for ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare
29th April
World Zipper Day!
A day to be grateful for those little inventions that make a difference to our lives and an opportunity to promote fine motor skills and independence (dressing 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.
Explore the powers of superheroes!
Suggested Resource
‘Superheroes – A Multisensory Adventure!’
Explore superheroes as our student takes you through his school day and meets the superheroes in his/her life.