September Teaching Calendar

Your free teaching calendar packed with sensory ideas and inspiration for the month of September!

From Rhyming Multisensory Stories

In September’s Edition

8th September: International Literacy Day – Explore phonics through the senses.

9th September: World Teddy Bear Day – Organise a Teddy Bear’s Picnic

10th September: World First Aid Day – Explore 1st Aid

11th September: 500th Anniversary of the Birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi – Engage the Senses

12th-17th September: Balance Awareness Week – Promote Vestibular Activities

13th September: Roald Dahl Day – Explore the characters of Charlie & the Chocolate factory through the senses

15th September: International Dot Day – Explore dots!

19th-25th September: Recycle Awareness Week – Ideas to get your students involved

20th-25th September: Fire Door Safety Week – Be Safe!

22nd September: National Fitness Day – Get Moving!

23rd September: Autumn Equinox – Suggested Resource ‘Autumn ‘ A Multisensory Exploration’

20th-27th September: Sukkot – Den Building

25th – 27th September: Rosh Hashanah – Explore the festival through the senses

Whole Month

Sourdough September – Mill flour

Whole Month Organic September – Explore sough dough and role play ideas

Sensory Phonics Bag

Exploring phonics through the senses is a fun and engaging activity.

Here are some ideas using the letter ‘S’ as an example.

Place a variety of items starting with the letter(s) you wish to teach into a non-see-through bag or a pillowcase.
When choosing items think of engaging all the senses: Add items that stimulate the vision, tactile items, items that make interesting sounds, items to smell and taste.
Offer the bag to the student to select an item. Can they use their senses to guess what the item is? (If the student is unsure then provide plenty of clues.)

Letter S items

Satsuma
Snake
Spaghetti
Straw
Soap
Strawberry
Stick
Sponge
Sunflower Seeds
Spinach
Sprout
Saucer
Sand

(Look through a toybox/cupboard for items: snail, spaceman, spinner, spider etc.)

Build Functional Language skills.

Ask the student to tell you or show you what you might do with the item and where you might find it. (If the student is unsure, model what to do with the item and encourage them to copy your action.)

Keep Language Simple. Focus on phrases such as ‘Choose’ or ‘Take one’ when presenting the bag to the student.

Focus on the name of the object; ‘starfish’, ‘sponge‘, ‘snake’ and two-word phrases; ‘long snake’, ‘yellow sponge’.

Building Learning – Word Recognition

Place wooden or magnetic letters along with the corresponding item in your sensory bag e.g., the letters c-a-n, can, c-a-p, cap, c-a-r, car,

f-a-n, fan, f-i-g, fig, h-a-t, hat etc.

Can the student sound out the letters as they pick them from the bag?

Can the student put the letters in the correct order to spell the word? e.g., f-a-n

Place two items in the bag along with the letters that spell the word e.g., c-u-p. One item will be the correct item (the cup) and an incorrect item (a hat). Can the student select the correct item to match the word?

Phonics Sensory Bin

A sensory bin is a container filled with themed items that provide a calming activity and the opportunity to learn through exploration whilst engaging the senses and meeting sensory needs.

Layer your tray/bin/box with sand, seeds, straw, sawdust, spaghetti, or soil.

Scatter with items starting with the letter ‘S’ (see previous list for ideas)

Add fine motor tools: Cups, spoons, forks, measuring jugs, colander, whisk, sieve, funnel, pipette, food tongs, wooden utensils, scoops, paintbrushes, chopsticks.

Add items to encourage scientific investigation: Torch, magnifying glass, magnets, pen/paper, egg carton/ice cube/cake baking tray for sorting items, plastic tweezers, and a mirror.

Model mark making the letter ‘S’ in the base layer of the sensory bin.

Phonics Listening Game

Listening games teach sound discrimination, promoting the development of language, communication and comprehension skills and increasing attention span.

A quick search on the internet will provide you with access to a library of free audio clips and sound effects that can be played via your phone, iPad, Kindle or recorded on a Dictaphone.

There are also sound effect apps available.

Can the student imitate the sound using their voice?
Can the student correctly identify the sound? (Provide plenty of clues!)

Letter ‘S’ Sounds

Snake
Sneeze
Sealion
Siren
Saxophone
Snoring
Stream
Seagull
Seal
Storm
Squeak
Sea

Get Crafty! Stuffed Sensory Sock Snakes

This is an excellent activity for encouraging hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and gives you the opportunity to model language as well as providing a wonderful sensory experience. You will need

Old Socks or Tights
A Filler: Straw/Sponges/Sand/Sawdust/Soil/Spaghetti (dried)

Activity

Stuff the socks with items starting with the letter ‘S’; Sand, seeds, straw, sawdust, (dried) spaghetti, or soil. Tie a knot in the end of the sock to secure.

Allow supervised free exploration of the sensory snakes, they will differ in weight, length, smell and texture.

Tip! Adding a few drops of essential oil to the fillers will enrich the experience.

Use a range of Letter Resources.

I like to teach using tactile items. It makes learning fun and allows the student to manipulate and explore the letters and make words without having to write them down.

Here are a few ideas:

Wooden letter tiles
Scrabble Board and tiles
Magnetic Letters on a baking tray.
Paint pebbles and write letters on them.
Use letter stickers
Write in chalks on the patio/fence.
Write letters on recycled plastic milk bottle tops.
Mould letters using clay/plasticine or Play-Doh

Sept 10th World First Aid Day

Explore the contents of a First Aid Bag/Box This activity will raise awareness of the contents of a first aid box and reduce any anxiety some students may have around first aid.

Explore the contents of the classroom first aid box to the students.
Practice applying dressings and bandages.
Teach the students how to raise the alarm should there be an accident in the classroom or playground (tell an adult)
Teach students how to ring 999 for an ambulance. Engage in role play practicing making a 999 telephone, call using a toy or old mobile phone (battery removed)

First Aid Box Contents*

Burns gel dressings
Adhesive tape to secure dressings
An updated first aid guidance leaflet.
Sterile plasters of assorted sizes
Large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings
Sterile eye pads
Triangular bandage
Disposable gloves
Foil blanket
Sterile wound wipes
Finger dressing

*The contents of your first aid boxes may differ to the items in the list.

Practice simple first aid. Discuss how to raise the alarm in an emergency.

Sept 11th

500th Anniversary of the birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi

Modern history founder Ulisse Aldrovandi was known for his studies of animals, plants, and minerals.

Present a range of animals, plants and minerals for students to explore through the senses.

Animals: (Fake) fur, suede, chamois leather/leather, wool

Herbs: Basil, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme.

Minerals: Calcite, crystals, rocks, stones or gold, silver and copper-coloured items (Coins, dress jewellery, foil, stainless steel items.)

Extend Learning

Can the students group the items according whether they are animal derived, plant or mineral?

Sept 13th

Roald Dahl Day

Explore the Main Characters in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory through the Senses

Suggested Props:

Augustus Gloop – Gloop. Mix cornflour and water to the ratio of 2:1, (Option to add food colouring and essences/flavourings)

Charlie Bucket – Bucket

Grandpa Joe – Slippers

Mike Teavee – Large square glasses, cardboard box TV, or old TV remote control (batteries removed)

Mr Bucket (Charlie’s Dad) – Toothpaste or fresh mint (this is a reference to the job he held screwing the tops onto toothpaste tubes)

Oompa-Loompas – Orange/satsuma or orange face paint

Veruca Salt: Salt Dough. Mix 1 cup plain flour, ½ cup table salt, ½ cup water. (Option to add food colouring and essences/flavourings to enhance the sensory experience)

Violet Beauregarde – Parma violets, violet essential oil, violet flowers

Violet flowers are edible. Ensure the flowers are freshly picked, washed, are disease and pest free and have not been treated with pesticides.

Willy Wonka – Walking Stick

Extend Learning

Describe the characters in the story. Can the students match the props to the characters?

Sept 20th – 27th Sukkot

Sukkot is a Jewish festival. The word ‘Sukkot’ translates to a ‘temporary shelter’

Build a Sukkot Hut

Den building provides an excellent opportunity to explore design and technology through building and construction, the opportunity to explore, experiment, make mistakes and problem solve in a safe environment, promotes physical development and co-operation, turn-taking, listening to others’ ideas and communication skills through teamwork. Dens can be built using everyday items found around the home and garden. Here are some examples:

Use items found in nature: straw, hay, dried grasses, twigs, and sticks.
Work around existing features such as a play equipment, trees, a gazebo, or a washing line.
If indoors, drape a sheet or blanket over two chairs, a table, or underneath open stairs.

Families eat and spend free time in their Sukkot shelters. Accessorise your Sukkot

Add cushions, beanbags, books, activities, soft toys, and a blanket.
Add crayons/pencils/felts and paper/whiteboard and marker pen.
String fairy lights, add glow in the dark stickers, glitter lamps and light up toys.
Add items to encourage scientific investigation: a torch, mirror, magnifying glass.

Sept 25th – 27th – Rosh Hashanah A two-day festival celebrating Jewish New Year which begins in the Autumn.

Apples and honey symbolise ‘Sweet New Year’ Activities

Cut apples into slices and drizzle honey on top.
Make a honey cake

Honey Cake Recipe Ingredients

200g/7oz self-raising flour
2 eggs
170g/6oz clear honey
140g/5oz butter
85g/3oz light muscovado sugar
1 tbsp water

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 3
Grease and line the bottom of a cake tin with greaseproof paper.
Melt the honey, butter, water and sugar in a pan.
Remove from the heat and mix in the flour and (beaten) eggs
Transfer to the cake tin.
Bake for 40 minutes until the cake is golden brown.
Place onto a wire rack.
Using a skewer, make little holes over the surface of the cake then drizzle honey over the cake to sink into the holes.

A Honey Dipper

Guess the Item!

Give the students a wooden honey dipper to explore but do not tell them what it is.

Can the students guess what the utensil is used for?

Can the students use their fine motor skills to remove honey from a jar using the honey dipper?

Just for fun!

Can the students think of any other uses for the item?

Explore the Shofar Horn

This is one of the world’s oldest wind instruments (record an audio clip or watch a video of a shofar horn being played)

Can the students join in by playing a wind instrument e.g., recorder, whistle, or a harmonica?

Promote the development of the mouth muscles.

Can the students inflate a balloon using their breath, blow a party blower or feathers?

September 9th

National Teddy Bear Day

Hold a Teddy Bears’ Picnic Can the students make and send invitations?

Can the students help to choose the menu and prepare the food? (Discuss healthy eating options)

Make teddy bear shaped biscuits.

Make and wear teddy bear masks.

Can the students help to lay the table?

Can the students suggest any games they would like to play?

Join Goldilocks on her adventures with this fully resourced, step-by-step multisensory story!

https://mash.ie/goldilocks-and-the-three-bears

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Story Props Checklist

How to Tell a Multisensory Story

Goldilocks & The Three Bears Fully Resourced, Step-by-Step Multisensory Story

Developing Comprehension & Understanding

Storyboard

Themed Listening Game

Themed Sensory Bag

Hard and Soft Themed Sensory Bin

Oat Bear Art

Raised Bear Salt Picture

The Three Bears Kitchen – Oat Milk Recipe

The Three Bears Bathroom – Oatmeal Facemask & Oat Bath

Teddy Bears Picnic

Let’s Explore…Bears!

Make a Bear Habitat

Bear Hugs

September 15th International Dot Day

A day to promote art, creativity, and individual achievement.

Read or watch the story of ‘The Dot’ by Peter H. Reynolds, a tale of a young girl who thought she could not draw…until she discovered dots!

Create artwork using different tools and materials to make dots.

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

Other ideas:

Spray paint through card templates/stencils using watered down paint in a water spray bottle.
Colour through the hole in an old cd to make a pattern.
Play dot-to-dot.
Take learning outdoors and draw in chalk around quoits and hula hoops.
Link to maths: make craft ladybirds, print, and count their spots.

September 20th – 26th Recycle Week

Collect clothes, electrical devices, crisp bags, or stamps to pass on to the relevant charities.
Have a team of students collect plastic bottles, and cardboard from classrooms to sort and recycle.
Recycle containers into planters.
Make bubble snakes from water bottles or fill with sand to make bowling pins.
Use old newspapers to make items from Papier Mache.
Play recycling bingo.
Print out items you can recycle (glass bottles, tins, newspapers, cardboard,) and items you cannot (used pizza boxes, waxed paper, stickers, bubble wrap, plastic bags, plastic coat hangers, plastic straws)
Can the students think of alternative uses for these items (re-use plastic bags, make hangers into mobiles)
Can students think of alternatives to these items (metal drinking straws, cloth or paper bags)

20th – 25th September Fire Door Safety Week

(Link to Great fire of London 2nd – 6th September)

Teach the students about fire doors.

Locate the fire doors within your school or setting.
Explain why fire doors must be kept closed.
Teach the students how to raise the alarm if they smell or see smoke or fire.
Show the students where their nearest exit is in the classroom if the alarm sounds
The new school term brings with it the inevitable fire drill. For some students, the fire alarm provides unwanted sensory feedback and the fire drill itself can be unsettling as it is out of routine. Have a ‘fire drill’ bag in easy reach in readiness for fire drill. This could contain ear defenders, a NOW/NEXT board showing what is happening and some fiddle toys/motivators.

Extend Learning

Look in the classroom for potential fire risks (electric heaters, electrical equipment, plug sockets)
Discuss the dangers of water coming into contact with electric appliances.
Explain why we do not place items on top of or cover heaters.

September 22nd National Fitness Day

Get Active: Balance, bounce, hop, jump, skip, run and crawl.
Throw and catch balls and beanbags.
Explore twirling ribbons, hula hoops, skittles, and other equipment.
Enjoy gentle yoga stretches, physio ball exercises, Dough Disco, or a hand massage.

23rd September

Autumn Equinox

Explore the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and textures of Autumn with this full resourced, step-by-step multisensory story.

https://mash.ie/autumn-a-multisensory-exploration

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 Sensory Walk

Autumn Food Tasting

Make a Bug Hotel

Autumn Leaves Craft Activity

The Colour of Autumn

The Sensory Scarecrow

40 Autumn Ideas & Inspiration

Organic September

Make an Organic Farm Sensory Wall Display

Making a sensory wall display is a gradual process that all students can participate in.

Make you craft items during your art/craft lessons and watch as your working farm, sensory wall grows!

Make the Fences: Lay three, thin strips of brown card vertically then glue a strip of card diagonally across the three strips.

Add the Crops and Fields: Glue the textured items onto A4 thin card, covering with a thin layer of PVA then staple onto your wall: Grass, Yellow Field: Split Peas, Orange Field: Lentils, Pale Green Field: Split Peas Add a Barn: Use wooden sticks for a 3D effect.

Add Haybales: Cover a piece of thin card with PVA glue. Add the straw. Leave to dry. Add a layer of PVA glue to set in place. Leave to dry then cut into rectangular bales.

Add Farm Animals: Provide animal templates for students to decorate using sensory items e.g. A duck: yellow feathers, a chicken: red, brown, and black feathers, a sheep: cotton wool balls, a pig: pink felt or suede

Add Crops: ¾ fill a clear, disposable plastic cup/biodegradable plant pot with potting compost. Plant your seeds into the soil (Nasturtiums and peas work well). Ensure they are watered regularly and are not left to go dry. Staple the pots to the wall. The beans/peas will trail downwards as they grow.

(Tip! Wet kitchen roll or a wet paper towel are a substitute for soil) Add a Duck Pond: A circle of unbreakable ‘mirror’ or circle of aluminium foil.

Add Farmyard Sounds: Record farmyard noises on Talking Tiles (or similar devices) place a picture of the object/animal next to the Talking Tile. Press the Talking Tiles to bring the farm to life!

Assign Students Roles on the Farm: The crop farmers can oversee the watering of the plants in the cups, the sheep farmers will be responsible for keeping the sheep tidy.

Grind Flour

Promote fine motor skills using a pestle and mortar to grind foods make flour.

Explore:

Barley

Coconut

Millet

Oats

Pumpkin Seeds Quinoa Rice Rye

Sunflower Seeds

Explore the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures with this fully resources, step-by-step multisensory story (includes 101 farm themed extension activities!)

https://mash.ie/the-farm-a-multisensory-story-teaching-resource-101-farm-themed-sensory-activities

Table of Contents

How to tell a Multisensory Story

The Benefits of Multisensory Storytelling

Story Props/Resources Checklist

The Farm Full Story

The Farm Fully Resourced, step-by-step Multisensory Story

Farmyard Art

The Sensory Cow

Farming Culture & Celebrations Around the World

D & T

D & T Food Technology & Healthy Eating

Trips, Visits & Enrichment Activities

Traditional Farming Methods

Farming History: Children on the Victorian Farm

Farm Themed Literacy

Farm Themed Mathematics

Farm Themed Counting Songs & Activities

Farm Themed Sorting Activities

Farm Themed Mathematics (Weights & Measures)

Farmyard PE

Farmyard Yoga

Plants & Life Cycles

Role Play

Farm Safety

Farmyard Science

The Sensory Farm

The Sensory Farm Classroom Wall Display

Spotlight on…Fairfield School, Batley, Yorkshire

Farmyard Small World Play

Understanding the World Farm Animals

Amazing Facts About Farm Animals

Want to learn more about multisensory storytelling?

‘An Introduction to Multisensory Storytelling’ Course

Training (1-1, Groups & INSET)

Exclusive offer to Mash subscribers only

Save £5 discount of the price of a 1-1 course when you mention ‘Mash’ when you book.

Offer ends 31^st Aug 2022

Who is the Course Aimed at?

This is a bespoke course aimed at Parents, Guardians, Childminders, Carers, Early Years Educators, Teachers, HLTA’s, TA’s, SENCO’s, Speech Therapists, Play Therapists, Support Workers, Activity Coordinators, Librarians, and anyone with an interest in exploring storytelling through the senses with pre-school, early years, SEN students, SALT students and teenagers/adults with complex needs.

Course Content

What is a multisensory story?

The benefits of multisensory storytelling.

Sourcing story props.

Sound effects.

How to tell a multisensory story.

Adapting an existing story into a multisensory story.

Incorporating extension activities into your session.

Using the story props as a tool for individuals to explore & express their likes, dislikes and sensory preferences, giving them a voice and a choice.

Case studies

Extension Activities

Ideas to stimulate the five main senses.

In addition to this we will explore in depth, a multisensory story of your choice from the latest story catalogue, how to deliver this story and how to use the story props promote communication and areas learning.

You will receive a digital copy of the full resource.

How is the Training Delivered?

The course is delivered as a friendly and informal session via Zoom and can be tailored to meet your training requirements.

Any information you may wish to share regarding the needs of your child/student will be treated in strictest confidence.

How Much Does the Course Cost?

£45 1-1 Training Session

£250 Whole School/Setting INSET

(For smaller group bookings please contact me for a price)

Course Length

The course is 90 mins.

Will I Receive any Course Notes?

Yes. Course summary notes will be sent as a word document.

Course Summary Notes Contents

What is a Multisensory story?

The Benefits of Multisensory Storytelling

Sourcing Story Props

How to tell a Multisensory Story

Developing Understanding & Comprehension

Ideas to Stimulate the Tactile System

Ideas to Stimulate the Gustatory System

Ideas to Stimulate the Olfactory System

Ideas to Stimulate the Auditory System

Ideas to Stimulate the Visual System

Extending Learning (Developing Understanding and Comprehension)

Sensory Bags and Sensory Bins

Useful Links

Are There Any Other Free Resources Included?

Yes

You will receive a free digital download of ‘Listen – An A-Z of Sensory Ideas to Stimulate the Auditory System’

This comprehensive guide explores fun and engaging sensory ways of stimulating the sense of hearing. The A-Z of sounds is divided into the following categories: Animals, Transport, Musical Instruments & Home. It also includes fun, motivating sensory themed extension activities. This resource is suitable for working with curious pre-schoolers to teenagers with complex needs.

You will also receive a free digital download of your chosen story.

How Do I Book?

email rhymingmultisensorystories@outlook.com or send a message via the chat function on the website or through social media

How Do I Pay?

Payment is accepted through BACS and PayPal.

I am a School/Company/Setting, can you send an Invoice?

Yes. Rhyming Multisensory Stories is fully registered with HMRC and can invoice.

Will I Receive a Certificate?

Yes. You will receive a digital certificate of completion

Get in Touch!

Your questions, queries, comments & feedback are always welcome!

email: rhymingmultisensorystories@outlook.com