Teaching ideas, activities and inspiration to celebrate the month of May: African World Heritage Day, Eid, Europe Day, National Bee Day, Space Day, World Migratory Bird Day, World Smile Day, Vesak Day plus a Competition to design the cover for my new release ‘Summer – A Multisensory Exploration!’
Eid al-Fitr: 2nd May - 3rd May
Eid is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan.
Muslim families around the world celebrate with lavish meals, exchange gifts and donate to charity.
Make Dried Fruit Balls*
This activity provides the opportunity to explore and taste new foods and to express likes, dislikes and preferences.
You will need:
- A bowl
- A cutting board
- Clean safety scissors or plastic knife (alternatively provide the ingredients pre-chopped)
- A selection of dried fruits: Apple, apricots, cherries, coconut, cranberries, dates, figs, mango, mixed dried fruits, prunes, raisins, sultanas
- Ingredients for binding: Water, oat milk or honey
- Cocoa powder
- A selection of toppings: Dried coconut, crushed cereal, icing sugar, oats
- Vanilla essence/rose water
- Water
Method:
- Cut or chop the ingredients into tiny pieces (ensure there are no stones)
- Explore the ingredients then ask students to select their favourites
- Place in a bowl.
- Add a few drops of vanilla essence/rose water
- Add a little cocoa powder
- Add your chosen binding ingredient.
- Mould into balls
- Roll over your chosen topping
* Be food allergy aware
African World Heritage Day: May 5th
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.
Animal Match Game
Print out an African Animals picture grid (see example below)
Print and cut out the animal skin patterns below.
Can the students match the animal pattern to the animal?
Space Day: May 6th
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.
- Involve the student(s) in creating a space role play area and the props to go in it.
- Secure a black or dark blue sheet/blanket/bubble wrap/egg cartons to the wall. Add stars.
- Create a rocky/sandy area on the floor to represent a moonscape. Add glitter to the sand for a shimmering effect. Make large rocks from painted scrunched up newspaper, and smaller moon rocks from scrunched up aluminium foil.
- Provide an assortment of cardboard boxes, aluminium foil, space blankets, pipe cleaners, empty plastic bottles, old cd’s, masking tape, tumble dryer venting hose, for your ‘astronauts’ to make their own rockets, moon buggies, and space suits.
Moon Dust Recipe
You will need
- 8 Tablespoons of Cornflour
- 1 Tablespoon of Vegetable Oil
- Vanilla Essence
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
- Set up a desk and chair.
- Place on an assortment of items to investigate: bubble tubes, colour changing eggs, colour paddles, coloured cellophane, disco balls, fibre optics, foil, glasses with coloured lenses, glitterballs, glow in the dark stickers, glowsticks, kaleidoscopes, light-up toys e.g., bumble balls, disco glide balls, fluorescent chimeabout, glitter globes, glitter rockets, Koosh, LED multi-spinner, mood cubes, neon gloves/scarves, spiky flashing balls, spinners, UV bubbles, UV mittens, UV slinky, UV shaker, windmills light pads, prismatic projector, prisms, rainbow goggles.
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!
Disposable decorators overalls make excellent space suits.
Wellies or boots covered with foil make great moon boots.
Suggested Resource
‘Journey into Space – A Multisensory Exploration of the Solar System’
£3.98
‘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!’
Anniversary of the Opening of Eifel Tower (1889): May 6th
Building Towers promotes:
Motor skills & spatial awareness
Problem solving, critical thinking, scientific & mathematical skills
Self-expression & creativity
Interaction & shared attention
Social skills: Encourage sharing, turn-taking, co-operation & listening to other’s ideas
Confidence & self-esteem & the satisfaction of ‘completion’
Development of language skills: ‘Brick’, ‘More’, ‘Build’, ‘On’
Explore Tower Building Properties using the Following Materials:
Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard Tubes
Counters
Dominoes
Dried Pasta & Play-Doh
Duplo
Lidded Tupperware
Paper Cups
Sponges
Unifix (snap cubes)
Straws & Marshmallows
Wooden Blocks
Create, Revise, Demolish, Repeat!
Build anticipation skills.
Give the verbal cue ‘Ready…Steady…’ Can the sensory explorer knock down their tower on the cue of ‘Go!’
World Migratory Bird Day: May 8th
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
Print out a picture card with the pictures of migratory birds: Cuckoo, Dove, Goose, Flamingo, Heron, Hummingbird, Starling.
Play the sound effect of the birdsong/call
Can the student identify the bird that makes that sound?
The students may not know all of 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.
Simplify the Activity
Although not all of these birds are not migratory, this activity will teach sound discrimination.
Europe Day: May 9th
A day to mark peace and unity throughout Europe.
Make a sensory flag of Europe
You will need
Rectangular shaped card
Blue Paint
Scissors
Sticky Gold Stars
Torch
Method
Paint the card using blue paint and brushes/fingers/rollers/sponges. Leave to dry.
Stick the gold stars in a circle.
Dim the lights.
Shine the torch on the stars to see them reflect in the light.
Alternative Activity
You will need
Blue Material
Scissors
Torch
Cut 12 stars out from the material
Dim the lights
Shine the torch through the back of the flag to illuminate the stars.
Florence Nightingale's Birthday: May 12th
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 student’s may have around first aid.
*I have included extra items that may not be in your box
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
Burns gel dressings
Adhesive tape to secure dressings
An updated first aid guidance leaflet.
Practice simple first aid.
Discuss how to raise the alarm in an emergency.
Vesak Day/Buddha Day: May 16th
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 Vesaak Day Flower Card
You will need
A piece of card
Double sided tape
Flowers/Herbs/Leaves/Grass
Method
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)
Take the learning outdoors
Show the students the flowers and grasses that are safe to pick (dandelions and daisies)
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)
Students pick the flowers/herbs/grasses then stick them onto their card as they find them
Hands Free Alternative
Cut a wide band of card and secure into a bracelet
Apply a thin layer of PVA glue or cover one side of the card with double-sided sticky tape
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.
National Smile Month: May 17th - June 17th
The aim is to make someone smile. This could be through a compliment, telling a joke or an act of kindness.
Explore Mirrors Exploring mirrors teaching an awareness of your own reflection and how we convey emotion. (Point out safety when using mirrors) Explore a range of different shaped, sized and colours of mirrors.
Pull funny faces
Model wearing hats, wigs, glasses and clothes so the student can change their look. Encourage the student to observe how their mouth changes shape as they talk.
Draw funny faces on balloons.
Smile 🙂
National Bee Day: May 20th
Make Your Own Bee Seed Pellets
I’ve received a lot of queries asking for the recipe so have included this again:)
There is still plenty of time to make your bee seed pellets and the boxes of mixed flower seeds are now available in the shops!
This is a lovely sensory activity that will reap rewards next year and help our much loved bees and insects:)
You will need
Meadow Flower Seeds
Compost
Water
Powdered Clay
Mixing Bowl
Method
In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of seeds with 5 cups of compost and 2-3 cups of clay powder
Slowly add the water with your hands to create a paste.
Roll the mixture into balls.
Leave the balls to dry on a sunny windowsill.
If selling, package in little paper bags (students could decorate these bags)
To plant the seed bombs simply throw into the garden or hedgerow.
Alternative Method
Cut or tear tissue paper into little pieces.
Add the seed mix
Add water
Mould into balls
Leave to dry
Scatter
On this Day the First Morse Code Message was Sent: May 24th 1844
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, cinammon sticks, dried spaghetti, feather quill, pipe cleaners, rollers, roll balls/toy cars through paint, ribbon, rubber bands, straws, string
Other ideas:
Spray paint through card templates/stencils
Colour through the hole in an old cd
Play dot-to-dot
Competition Time!
DESIGN A COVER FOR MY NEW RELEASE
‘Summer – A Multisensory Exploration!
Win a live multisensory story session (delivered via Zoom/Teams to your home/classroom/setting) plus a set of FIVE multisensory stories to share throughout your school/setting (if the winner is home-schooled they will receive the stories) and have your artwork feature on the cover of my new release
‘Summer – A Multisensory Exploration’
How to Enter:
Using any medium, produce a piece of jubilee themed artwork.
A4 Portrait only please.
(You do not need to write the title on the artwork, please do not write any names of the students on the artwork.)
email your artwork to rhymingmultisensorystories@outlook.com
Please include in your email the first name of the artist, the name of the school and a contact name.
Competition Rules:
1. There is no age limit.
2. You may submit as many entries as you like.
3. The closing date is midnight 15.05.22 4. Your data will be protected according to law and will not be shared with any other parties. All emails and their contents (including the artwork) will be deleted after the winner is drawn on 16.05.22 (for more information on Privacy Policy visit the website or get in touch.)
5. The winner will choose 5 stories* from the latest multisensory story catalogue to share throughout their setting, a live 45 minute storytelling session of ‘Summer – A Multisensory Exploration’ (via Zoom/Teams) plus have their artwork featured on the cover of ‘Summer – A Multisensory Exploration’
*The stories are in the format of a digital download and can be printed out, used and shared throughout the school/setting in multiple classrooms.
May Dates At A Glance
May 1st – May 31st: National Walking Month – Go on a listening walk
May 2nd – May 8th: Deaf Awareness Week
May 5th: African World Heritage Day
May 8th: VE Day
May 9th: Europe Day
May 16th: Vesak Day
May 18th: International Museum Day
May 23rd: World Turtle Day
May 2nd – May 3rd: Eid
May 3rd – May 9th: Children’s Book Week
May 6th: Anniversary of Opening of Eifel Tower
May 8th: World Migratory Bird Day
May 12th: Florence Nightingale’s Birthday
May 17th – June 17th 2022: National Smile Month
May 20th: World Bee Day
May 24th 1844: First Morse Code Message was Sent
The Health & Safety Bit! Please Read Before Engaging in any of the Activities
Health & Safety Advice & Disclaimer
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.comsend me a message via social media 🙂
Live Multisensory Story Sessions Direct to your Home/Classroom/Setting
Who is the Session Aimed At?
This is a live storytelling session aimed at Teachers (Early Years and SEN), Parents, Guardians, Childminders, Carers, Early Years Educators, HLTA’s, TA’s, Speech Therapists, Play Therapists, Support Workers, Activity Coordinators, Librarians and anyone with an interest in exploring storytelling through the senses.
How does it work?
1. Choose your story from the latest multisensory story catalogue
2. Receive your fully resourced, step-by-step multisensory resource with sensory, themed extension activities.
3. We will synch our story props.
4. Choose the date and time for your session.
5. Your interactive story session will be delivered live (via Teams or Zoom) to your student/child/class.
Story Session Structure
Introductions.
Story props checklist.
We will then explore the story, synching our props.
The session will draw to a close with the celebration the story explorer’s contribution.
Delivery
The course is delivered as a friendly and informal 1-1 session via Teams or Zoom.
Any information you may wish to share regarding the needs of your child/student will be treated in strictest confidence.
Price
£35 for a 45 min session plus 15 mins Q&A after the session
How Can I find out more Information?