May Teaching Calendar from Rhyming Multisensory Stories

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Teaching ideas and activities to celebrate the month of May including Vesak Day, World Bee Day, Hedgehog Awareness Day, Whitsun, National Sun Awareness Week and more!

Featured

National Walking Month

 

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Share a Story Month

For me, the best part of storytelling is the bond shared between the storyteller and story explorer as you share your adventures.

For anyone new to multisensory storytelling you can watch free training videos here:

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The videos will talk you through how to source story props and using the props/resources as a tool to promote communication skills, independence, areas of learning and for students to explore and express their likes, dislikes and sensory preferences providing opportunities for them to make choices and rejections.

There are also lots of ideas for sensory extension activities linking to areas of the curriculum.

May 3rd Space Day

Space day is an unofficial holiday aimed at promoting STEM activities.

Create a Space Role Play Area

Role play is a crucial part of development providing opportunities to engage in imaginative play.

 

Moon Dust Recipe

You will need

 

Method

Ratio 8:1

Combine the vegetable oil and cornflour until you reach a powdered yet mouldable texture.

Option to add flavoured essence to stimulate the senses.

Press the footprint of a shoe to spark curiosity (the astronaut’s footprint)

Create an area for Scientific Investigation

Add fine motor tools to encourage scientific investigation: camera, magnifying glasses, tweezers, magnets, mirrors.

Alternatively create your space area inside a pop-up tent!

Decorate by threading LED lights and hanging cut outs of planets from the ceiling of the tent.

Extend Learning

Provide a box containing items of different materials: Plastic, material, metal, rubber and wood.

Can the students sort the items into their categories according to their material?

Dress for the Part!

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‘Journey into Space – A Multisensory Exploration of the Solar System’ 

‘Mars has red rocks and a bright red sky,

the volcanoes reach my rocket they are so high

This planet is cold, at night, minus 80 degrees

If I stay here much longer, I’m going to freeze!’

 

Table of Contents

May 6th – 12th May National Sun Awareness Week

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‘Sensory Sun’ by Sparrow’s Class at Hebden Green School, Winsford, Cheshire

Create a Sensory Sun

Class teacher Vicky Ormerod-Jordan explains how the Sparrow Class Hebden Green School in Winsford, Cheshire, celebrated the sun!

‘We danced with a yellow stretchy band which is the centre of our sun.

We added oranges and lemons, having smelt, touched, and tasted them.

We explored sweetcorn, peeling off the leaves.

We smelt yellow marigolds and added them to the sun centre.

We bounced, tennis balls and rolled them down a ramp.

We enjoyed a song I wrote called ‘The Sun will Shine,’ where we shone a torch on various body parts.

The best part of the picture was making hand and footprints in yellow paint for the sun’s rays. Very messy!’

Thank you to Vicky, the team, and the students.

Other Ideas

Discuss the importance of staying safe in the sun (link to skin cancer Awareness Month)

Make a sun safety box and place sun protection items inside for exploration

Extend Learning

Can the students tell you what the items are used for how they protect you from the sun?

Click below to view to gallery to see more of the Sparrow’s sun themed sensory activities

Excerpt from ‘Summer – A Multisensory Exploration’ £3.98 


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May 5th – 11th Hedgehog Awareness Week

Let’s Explore…Hedgehogs

Promote Physical Development, Coordination, Balance, Control & Movement & Imaginative Play

Can the student move like a hedgehog?

Can the student curl up into a little ball?

 

Build Understanding of Animal Habitats and Develop Creative Thinking Through the Use of Different Materials

Hedgerows are a hedgehog’s natural habitat, and our gardens also make a good habitat.

 

Explore a Hedge

Mark a section 1m x 1m and count how many species of plants you can find in that area.

 

Make a Hedgehog Habitat

Layer a container (tuff-tray or cardboard box) with fern/bracken, dried grass, straw, and leaves. (Alternatively, find a patch in an outdoor area amongst shrubbery, or in leaf/wood piles) Hedgehogs roll the leaves and grass into balls, can the student roll the leaves and grasses into balls?

 

Explore Hedgehog Food

A hedgehog’s main diet consists of beetles, along with caterpillars and earthworms. Head outdoors. Lift plant pots, stones and logs and see if you can find any of these insects. Use a magnifying glass to see more detail

 

Make a Hedgehog Sensory Box

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Line a shoebox with leaves (I used vine leaves, rosemary leaves, curry leaves and bay leaves for an extra sensory element)

 

Add a SSCD with a recording of a hedgehog snuffle.

 

Add hedgehogs (Spiky pom poms, pinecones and a nail brush represent the spikiness of a hedgehog or make hedgehogs by rolling Playdoh into a ball then create the spikes using dried spaghetti)

 

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Simplify

Place a few items in the box for sensory exploration.

Remove the items the student doesn’t interact with, replace them with other items.

Keep changing the items to keep the activity interesting and motivating

 

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(Excerpt from ‘Autumn – A Multisensory Exploration’) 

 

May 5th

African World Heritage Day

This a day to celebrate of the culture of the Continent of Africa.

Discuss the importance of Africa and its vulnerability due to climate change and poaching.

 

Explore animal ‘skins’

This presents an opportunity for students to explore and express their likes, dislikes and sensory preferences and can help in everyday life such as clothing.

– Faux fur

– Faux leather (fake leather belts, handbags)

– Fabric craft feathers

– Faux suede

 

Extend Learning

Animal Match Game

Print out an African Animals picture grid (see example below)

Can the students match the animal pattern to the animal?


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May 9th

Europe Day

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A day to mark peace and unity throughout Europe.

 

Make a sensory flag of Europe

You will need

 

Method

  1. Paint the card using blue paint and brushes/fingers/rollers/sponges. Leave to dry.
  2. Stick the gold stars in a circle.
  3. Dim the lights.
  4. Shine the torch on the stars to see them reflect in the light.

 

Alternative Activity

 

You will need

  1. Cut 12 stars out from the material
  2. Dim the lights
  3. Shine the torch through the back of the flag to illuminate the stars.

 

May 11th

World Migratory Bird Day

Raise awareness for the conservation of birds and their habitats.

 

Explore a Variety of Different Shapes, Sizes and Colours of Feathers

Feed the Birds: Birds need to prepare for migration by eating food.

 

Bird Song Sound Bingo

  1. Print out a picture card with the pictures of migratory birds: Cuckoo, Dove, Goose, Flamingo, Heron, Hummingbird, Starling.
  2. Play the sound effect of the birdsong/call
  3. Can the student identify the bird that makes that sound?
  4. The students may not know all the sounds, so this is a good exercise in listening to new sounds. You can repeat the activity later in the day (week) and see if the student(s) remember any new sounds they have learnt.

 

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Simplify the Activity

Although not all of these birds are not migratory, this activity will teach sound discrimination.

 

Make a Bird Nesting Material Feeder

You will need

Activity

1. Ensure the nesting materials are broken/cut into small pieces/lengths as they are a potential choking hazard for birds.

2. Mix the materials.

3. Loosely push the nesting materials into the bird feeder (option to open the top to create a wider opening) Hand the feeder in a place safe from predators.

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May 12th

Florence Nightingale’s Birthday

 

Explore the contents of a first aid bag/box

This activity will raise awareness of the contents of a first aid box* and reduce the anxiety some students may have around first aid.

*I have included extra items that may not be in your box

 

Practice simple first aid.

 

Discuss how to raise the alarm in an emergency.

 

May 19th

Whitsun

Whitsun is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. It is a Christian celebration marking the coming of the Holy Spirit.

There are many traditional activities associated with Whitsun including fetes, fairs, pageants, parades, walks and Morris dancing.

 

Explore Morris Dancing

Watch footage of Morris Dancing

Can the students copy the movements to form a Morris Dance?

 

You will need

 

Alternative Activity

Morris Dancer Sensory Box

  1. Layer a box with shredded paper.
  2. Place items related to Morris Dancing into the box: Handkerchiefs, Ankle & Wrist Bells, Jingle Bell Shakers, Ribbons and Garlands.
  3. Encourage the student to place their hand inside the box and choose and item to explore.
  4. Model the item’s function. Can the student copy your actions? Model the language.
  5. To add a little interest, dim the lights and use a torch to explore the items. A wind-up Dynamo torch will promote fine motor skills, a head torch provides a ‘hands free’ option.

 

May 20th

World Bee Day

A day to appreciate and raise awareness of bees.

 

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May 22nd

Vesak Day/Buddha Day

Vesak is the celebration of the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

 

Mark the Day the Sensory Way

Meditate: Dim the lights in the room and close the blinds, switch on an LED candle or play footage of a candle burning on your interactive whiteboard.

People traditionally wear white clothes.

 

Explore white clothes or white fabrics

Provide a selection of white fabrics of different textures for the student to explore their likes, dislikes and sensory preferences: Acrylic, Aertex, Chenille, Corduroy, Cotton, Crepe, Crinoline, Fake Fur, Felt, Flannel, Fleece, Hessian, Jersey, Lace, Linen, Mesh, Net, Percale, Polyester, Polycotton, Satin, Silk, Terry, Velour, Velvet, Viscose, Wool.

Family & Friends decorate temples with flowers and exchange cards.

 

Make a Vesak Day Flower Card

You will need

 

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Activity

  1. Cover one side of the card with double-sided sticky tape or a layer of PVA glue (if using PVA, leave until it is almost dry but tacky enough to stick flora and fauna on to)
  2. Take the learning outdoors
  3. Show the students the flowers and grasses that are safe to pick (dandelions and daisies)
  4. If you have a herb garden in your school/setting pick foliage: lemon balm, mint, rosemary, thyme. (If you do not have access to herbs then pick grass and leaves)
  5. Students pick the flowers/herbs/grasses then stick them onto their card as they find them
  6. Option to place a photo of the student on the card.

Hands Free Alternative

  1. Cut a wide band of card and secure into a bracelet
  2. Apply a thin layer of PVA glue or cover one side of the card with double-sided sticky tape
  3. Place the band on the student’s wrist.

The student will have both hands free to explore, pick and place their items onto their band

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National Smile Month

The aim is to make someone smile. This could be through a compliment, telling a joke or an act of kindness.

 

 

May 24th 1844

On this Day the First Morse Code Message was Sent

 

Dots and Dashes Artwork

Create artwork using different tools and materials to make dots and dashes

 

Dots: Bingo dabbers, cotton wool bud, fingerprints, paint brushes, pipettes, pom poms, sponges, stickers, vegetable printing, paint bubble wrap

Dashes: Chopsticks, cinnamon sticks, dried spaghetti, feather quill, pipe cleaners, rollers, roll balls/toy cars through paint, ribbon, rubber bands, straws, string

 

Other ideas:

 

Other News

Just Released!

‘Elephants’

 

A book cover with an orange background Description automatically generatedThis comprehensive teaching pack includes ‘Elephants’, a fully resourced, step by step multisensory story, a case study, plus themed, sensory ideas, and activities aimed at supporting the five areas of the engagement model, creativity, independence, building communication skills, and supporting other areas of learning linking to curriculum subjects and topics.

Perfect for students (aged 3-19) following pre-formal/sensory, semi-formal or formal pathways, and EYFS to Year 1 students in mainstream education.

Other Titles in this Series

Fully resourced, step-by-step multisensory stories linking individuals to literature, culture, history & topic through the senses.

Each resource includes themed, sensory activities aimed at promoting communication skills, independence, and areas of learning.

FULL LIST OF TITLES

The Seasons Collection

Christmas

Culture & Celebrations Collection

Life Skills

Jobs and Work Experience

Maths

Shapes – A Multisensory Exploration (includes 130 shape themed, sensory activities)

Reference

Self-Care

Topic/Theme

Traditional Tales Collection