Spring A Multisensory Story Teaching Guide and Extension Activities

Explore the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and textures of spring with this comprehensive teaching pack aimed at sensory learners of all ages.

This resource includes 'Spring', a fully resourced, step by step multisensory story, plus themed, sensory ideas and activities aimed at supporting the five areas of the engagement model, creativity, independence, building communication skills, and promotes areas of learning linking to curriculum subjects and topics.

This is the perfect resource for:

• Teaching professionals working with students (aged 3-19) in special education following pre-formal/sensory, semi-formal or formal pathways.
• EYFS Teachers and Nursery Practitioners (the sensory activities link to areas of the EYFS Framework)
• Teaching professionals supporting Year 1 students in mainstream education (the activities support areas of learning within the KS1 National Curriculum.
• Speech and Language Therapists (the story props back up the spoken word)
• Activity Coordinators and Support Workers in adult care settings (the stories engage adults with learning disabilities and dementia)
• Parents, carers, librarians, and anyone with an interest in storytelling through the senses.

'Spring' - A Multisensory Exploration Teaching Pack

Table of Contents

Introduction 

The Benefits of Multisensory Storytelling

How to tell a Multisensory Story 

Story Props Checklist

'Spring' Full Story

'Spring' Fully Resourced, Step-by-Step Multisensory Story

Spring Pond Sensory Bin

Let's Explore...Lambs

Bee Seed Balls

Nest Building

Make a Bird Nesting Material Holder

Chocolate Bird Nests

Flower Colour Changing Experiment

Spring Weather Box & Sensory Clothes Exploration

Spring Nature Walk

Bottle Animals

Herb Sock Animal

Cress Shapes

Mini Greenhouse

Nature's Art Room

Spring Weaving

Spring Clean Your Classroom

Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Spring Ancient Beliefs - Egypt & The Roman Empire

Spring Ancient Beliefs - Shemu

Spring Ancient Beliefs - Anglo Saxons

Spring Ancient Beliefs - Ancient Greece & Maya

Mayan Equinox Sensory Bin

Spring Festivals Around the World - Holi

Spring Festivals Around the World - Marzanna (Poland)

Spring Festivals Around the World - Cimburijada (Bosnia)

Spring Festivals Around the World - Las Fallas (Valencia Spain)

Spring Festivals Around the World - Cherry Blossom Festival (Japan)  

Spring Festivals Around the World - Nowruz (Iran)

Spring Sensory Ideas & Inspiration

A multisensory story is told using sensory stimuli (props).

The story props are low budget, everyday items found around the home, garden, outdoor areas and in the classroom/setting.

What are the Benefits of Multisensory Storytelling?

1. Storytelling creates a bond between the storyteller and the story explorer enhancing and enriching experiences.

2. Rhyming Multisensory Stories connect the individual to literature, culture, history, and topic in a fun and engaging way.

3. The stories form a base on which to scaffold learning enabling the student to work on personal goals and individual targets.

4. The sensory activities in the stories are designed to promote:

• Communication skills: (eye contact, listening, shared attention & language development)
• Self-confidence & well-being (trying out new ideas, and skills, practicing self-care, independence and enjoying achievement)
• Self-awareness: (asking for 'help', 'again' and 'more')
• Opportunities to explore cause & effect and build anticipation skills.
• Physical development: (fine & gross motor skills)
• Knowledge building around the environment & the world around us
• Engagement in scientific experimentation and mathematical concepts
• Development of social & emotional skills: (turn-taking, sharing, teamwork and listening to others' ideas)

5. The sensory stimuli (story props) are a tool for the story explorer to explore and express their likes, dislikes, and sensory preferences and to have the opportunity to make choices and rejections. It also helps individuals to make sense of the world around them.

This information can be used to identify motivators or items to calm and individual when anxious, tired, or stressed, identify triggers, (some you may wish to avoid, others to work on building tolerance through desensitisation in a safe and therapeutic environment) and used in the writing of care plans to enhance areas daily life.

Your questions, queries, comments, and feedback are always welcome:)