A huge thanks to Victoria from Rhyming Multisensory Ideas for this wonderful blog post.
Sensory ideas and inspiration to celebrate the month of November. Armistice Day, LS Lowry, Hannukah, Bonfire Night, Tutankhamun and more!
At A Glance
- 5th Nov: Bonfire Night
- 11th Nov: Armistice Day
- 18th – 26th Nov: Hanukkah
On This Day in History
- 1st Nov 1887 – LS Lowry born
- 4th Nov 1922 – The Discovery of King King Tutankhamun’sTomb
- 8th Nov 1895 – The Invention of the X-Ray
- 12th Nov 1980 – Nasa Probe Voyager 1 took images of Saturn’s rings
- 25th Nov 1915 – Albert Einstein announces his Theory of Relativity
On this Day in History
1st Nov 1887 – LS Lowry Born
English painter LS Lowry is well-known for his matchstick figures
Choose a background then cut and stick the silhouettes below onto your chosen background to re-create an inclusive Lowry masterpiece!
On This day In History
4th Nov 1922 – The Discovery of King King Tutankhamun’s Tomb
English archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of child-pharaoh Tutankhamun.
Re-create an Archaeological Dig
For authenticity bury items into the sandpit in the outdoor learning area. Alternatively, use a box, builders/Tuff Tray or large container.
The list below is based on items that have been unearthed from the Egyptian pyramids.
- Jars
- Gold and silver rings (copper and metal washers make a cheap alternative)
- Dice
- Jewellery
- Pottery
- Feathers
- Wood (from coffins!)
- Bones
- Mummy wrappings (pieces of bandage)
- Stones, rocks (granite and alabaster)
- Bury sprigs of herbs, bay leaves, fennel, mint, oregano, rosemary, thyme.
Provide Items to Promote Fine Motor Skills: Lidded containers for storing ‘finds’, paintbrushes (assorted sizes), a sieve, funnels, spoons, toothbrush, toothpicks, watering can/water spray bottle.
Provide Items to Promote Scientific Investigation: Camera, magnifying glass, notebook & pen for drawing and recording findings.
Encourage students to use the tools to unearth treasure and the record their findings
Extend Learning
- Can the student describe the item or name the material it is composed of?
- Can the student tell you what an item might have been used for?
Tip!
Dim the lights in the classroom. Provide torches (a headtorch is a great hands-free option)
Fun Fact!
Garlic was discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb. The ancient Egyptians believed it possessed magical powers.
Activity Idea
Plant Garlic
Garlic grows well outside and is hardy to cold weather.
You will need
- Soil
- Garlic Bulb
- Water
Method
- Divide garlic bulb into cloves.
- Plant the garlic cloves pointy side up approx. 2cm directly into the soil (or if planting in pots, place the pots outdoors)
- Ensure the soil around the garlic does not dry out
- Harvest the garlic when then the leaves start to wither and turn brown but before all the leaves have died.
If you liked this you might like….
The Romans – A Multisensory Adventure
Travel back in time and join our Roman soldier on his adventures in the City of Chester
Table of Contents
- The Romans Fully Resourced Step-by-Step Multisensory Story
- Re-create a Roman Archaeological Dig
- Gladiators
- Make a Gladiator Meal
- Build a Small World Roman Fort
- Hadrian’s Wall
- The Roman Bath House
- Mosaics
- Roman Food
- Roman Medicine
- The Roman School
- Roman Gods
- Roman Themed Sensory Ideas & Inspiration
On this day in History
8th November 1895 – The Invention of the X-Ray
German physicist Wilhelm Rontgen used electromagnetic radiation to look inside the human body when he x-rayed his wife’s hand.
Make a Candlewax X-Ray Picture
You will need
- A sheet of paper
- A white wax candle or white wax crayon
- Watered down black poster paint
- Paintbrush
Activity
1. Using the white candle/crayon draw bones your paper. (Press firmly)
2. Paint the surface of the paper with watered down poster paint.
The Science Bit!
When the picture is dry, you will see that the bones show up as white on your paper. This is due to the wax repelling the water.
On this day in History
12th Nov 1980 – Nasa Probe Voyager 1 took images of Saturn’s rings
‘Saturn has rings made of graphite The heat and the pressure rain diamonds so bright’
Explore Rings Snap glowsticks to activate then using the connector, attach the ends to form a bracelet.
Count bangles as you slowly slide them onto the student’s wrist. Can the student count the bangles as they slide them onto your wrist?
Can the student name the colours of each bangle/glowstick?
Can the student use their fine motor skills to twist pipe cleaners into rings?
Alternative Activities
- Scatter silver confetti/stars/glitter from above within the explorer’s eye line to re-create the effect of diamonds falling from the sky. Dim the lights and shine the torch as the items fall.
- Present a hula hoop for exploration. Model twirling the hoop around your waist or take turns rolling it to one another
You might like:
‘Journey into Space – A Multisensory Exploration of the Solar System’
November 18th – 26th
Hanukkah
Celebrate the Jewish festival of lights.
Enjoy Traditional food
Potato pancakes, doughnuts, and fritters.
Play a Dreidel Game
Dreidel’s can be bought cheaply on the internet and used each year.
Make an Edible Menorah
You will need
- Banana
- Breadstick
- Chocolate Spread/Yellow Buttercream/Yellow icing
Method
1. Cut a banana into thick round slices. A slice of banana will form the base of your Menorah. 2. Dip the end of a piece of breadstick into chocolate spread or yellow buttercream/icing (this will be you flame)
3. Place the other end of the breadstick into the middle of the banana slice (this will be your candle)
Make a Hannukah Sensory Bag
- Place items related to the festival into a non-see-through bag: candles, gold coins, star shaped objects (playdoh cutters), LED candles, tinsel, cinnamon sticks, apples, pretzels.
- Give the bag a gentle shake to gain the student’s attention.
- Invite the student to place their hand into the bag and select an item.
- Encourage the student to use their sense of smell, touch, hearing and taste to guess what the item is. (If the student is unsure then provide plenty of clues.)
Build Functional Language Skills
- Ask the sensory explorer to tell you or show you what you might do with the item and where you might find it. If the sensory explorer is unsure, model what to do with the item and see if they can copy your action.)
- Allow the sensory explorer time to explore the item and process the information then shake the bag again for them to select another item.
- Keep language simple.
- Focus on phrases such as ‘Choose’ or ‘Take one’ when presenting the bag to the sensory explorer.
- Focus on the name of the object e.g., ‘pretzel’, ‘candle‘,and two-word phrases e.g. ‘Red apple’
- For more information about Sensory bags Click here
On This Day in History
25th Nov 1915 – Physicist Albert Einstein announces his Theory of Relativity
Physicist Albert Einstein announces his Theory of Relativity describing the nature of gravity.
Activities
Explore Gravity
‘The bigger the mass of an object is the greater its gravitational pull’
- Tie items of different sizes (e.g., Lego brick, action figure, doll, weights, cotton wool, a sponge, to a balloon then drop the balloons from the same height. Time how long they take to fall.
- Bounce on a trampoline
- Watch a slinky travel down a set of steps/stairs
- Pour water
- Play ‘catch’ using balls and beanbags
- Place items (e.g., plastic toy fruit/pom poms/balloons/ping pong balls) onto a parachute then move the parachute up and down to watch and feel the items as they fall.
Fun Facts about November
In Ireland, November is the first month of Winter but in the UK, it is the last full month of Autumn.
To be fair to the British, the weather is still fairly autumnal so how about trying this activity?
November Sensory Walk
Head outdoors for a walk or forage around your outdoor learning area:
Find five different items to look at
Find four different items to touch
Find three sounds to listen to
Find two things to smell
Find one items to taste
What to look for in Nature in November Acorns, Apples, Animal Tracks, Apples, Bark, Beech, Berries, Birds, Bracken, Brambles, Bugs Colours, Conkers, Elderberries, Frost, Fruits, Fungi, Geese Greenfinch, Halloween, Hazelnuts, Hedgehogs, Horse Chestnut Tree, Hops, Insects, Leaves, Mist, Moss, Nuts, Oak Tree, Pears, Pinecones, Seeds, Sloes, Squirrels, Starling, Swallows, Sycamore Seeds (‘Spinners’), Tracks, Trees and Twigs.
Autumn/Winter Leaves
In November the outdoor areas will be carpeted with leaves.
- Promote gross motor skills, rake, and sweep the leaves!
- See how many different coloured and shaped leaves you can find. Catch the student match the leaves?
- Paint the leaves.
- Make a leaf collage.
You Might Like…
‘Autumn – A Multisensory Exploration’
Explore the sights, sounds, smells and textures of Autumn with this multisensory story.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Story Props Checklist
- How to Tell a Multisensory Story
- Autumn Full Story
- Autumn Fully Resourced, Rhyming Multisensory Story
- Autumn Themed Sensory Bin
- Let’s Explore…Dormice
- Let’s Explore…Hedgehogs
- Autumn Walk
- Autumn Food Tasting
- Make a Bug Hotel
- Autumn Leaves Craft Activity
- Autumn Ideas & Inspiration
Just Released!
‘The Rainforest’ plus, themed Rainforest Extension Activities linking to areas of the curriculum)
‘I’m trekking through the rainforest, a rucksack on my back
Inside I carry shorts, t-shirts, and a waterproof mac
Sunblock, lip balm and spray, for the insects that bite
A camera, binoculars and a torch, so I can see at night
A water bottle, food, and tools for when I set up camp
The weather is hot and sticky, humid, clammy and damp’
Join our explorer on their adventures as s/he explores the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of The Amazon Rainforest with this fully resourced, step-by-step multisensory story/teaching resource plus sensory, rainforest themed activities!
This is a very special resource as all the artwork has been contributed by autistic artists from Manaus in the Amazon Basin and other regions of Brazil. Thank you to everyone involved in this project! Denise Teperine, Meiry Geraldo, Galeria Aut, Theila Rosario Figueira and last but not least to all the talented artists and their families!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Galeria Aut
- Denise Teperine
- The Benefits of Multisensory Storytelling
- How to tell a Multisensory Story Story Props/Resources Checklist
- The Rainforest Full Story
- The Rainforest Fully Resourced, Step-by-Step Multisensory Story
- Rainforest Sensory Art
- Henry Rosseau
- Rainforest Leaves
- ‘Eterno Amor’ ‘Amazonia’
- ‘Arvore da Vida’
- ‘Tribes of the Amazon’
- he Sensory Rainforest Rainforest Slime Recipe
- Rainforest Sensory Mud Recipe
- Rainforest Crafts
- Rainforest Leaves
- Foil Embossed Greetings Card
- Rainforest Leaves Wax Picture
- D & T
- Design a Rainforest Home
- Leafcutters
- Planet Earth
- Rainforest in a Bottle
- Starry Night in a Bottle
- Snappy Caiman Counting Crocodiles
- D & T Healthy Eating The World Around Us
- Planting Beans
- Will it Grow?
- Tree Seeds
- Rainforest Products
- Rainforest Compost
- Growing Potatoes from Peelings
- The World Around Us – Creatures of the Amazon
- Creatures of the Amazon Through the Senses
- Endangered Species Animal Tracks
- The Spider’s Larder
- Rainforest PE
- Rainforest Adventure Obstacle Course
- Rainforest Science The Role of the Rainforest Oxygen
- The Water Cycle
- Make a Rain Guage
- Erosion
- Decay
- Rainforest Science The Power of the Sun Experiment The Ice Caps Experiment
- Water Pollution Experiment
- Greenhouse Gas Experiment
- Culture & Tradition – The Tribes of the Amazon The Achuar Tribe The Yanomami Tribe The Huaorani Tribe The Kayapo Tribe The Mascho Piro Tribe The Matses Tribe
- Music
- Make a Rainmaker The Sounds of the Rainforest
- Role Play: Can you Survive a Night in the Rainforest?
Your questions, queries, comments & feedback are always welcome!
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Health & Safety Advice & Disclaimer
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!
Contact me via email
rhymingmultisensorystories@outlook.com
or send me a message via social media:)
‘Have a great month…see you in December’
Victoria:)