Do you teach students with profound and multiple learning difficulties but are baffled as to how to include them in the National Curriculum? Then try some of our sensory stories.
The Taming of the Shrew (by William Shakespeare)
The play starts with Christopher Sly getting very drunk and going to see a play
(sing "We’ll drink to Lilly the
Pink").
There was a man called Baptista (choose student to play him).
He had two daughters Bianca and Kate. Bianca was beautiful, but Kate had a bad temper.
Two men wanted to Marry Bianca, but her Father said Kate must get married first.
The men disguised themselves to win Bianca’s love. Students choose disguises. They pretended to be music teachers, but they could not play their instruments very well. (Dress up students in disguises and pretend to play instruments badly).
Meanwhile a man came to the house called Petruchio. He heard that Kate had a bad
temper. (Kate comes out and starts throwing things around). But Petruchio
gave Baptista some money (pass across a purse of money) and they got
married.
(Students to dress up in Wedding clothes). Petruchio was very late. At
the Wedding when the priest (student dresses up as priest) asked him if
he wanted to Marry Kate he said “By God Yes!” and boxed the priest over his
ears.
After the Wedding Petruchio took Kate home on his horse. He taught her to be
nice to people. He made her cold (pass around ice cubes) and also made
her very hungry (wave food at Kate - students may look at
various items of food and match to symbols). Kate decided she was
very sorry and agreed to be nice to people.
One day Kate and Petruchio were invited to Bianca’s Wedding.
Bianca was getting married to Lucentio, one of the funny
music teachers (students dress in Wedding clothes again). After the
Wedding all the men called their wives (they shook their heads). Students shake
heads – all except Kate who came to talk to all the people
(Kate kisses Petruchio). Everyone said what a nice lady Kate had
become.
[The Taming of the Shrew Canterbury Tales Hindu Families Time Newspaper Story Sensory Stories]
Canterbury Tales by (Geoffrey Chaucer)
Show book introduce author and listen to some medieval music.
There once was a king by the name of Henry II. Put on crown.
There was an Arch Bishop called Thomas a Becket. Put on priest’s costume.
They had an argument. Thomas would not do what the King said, so he sent his
Knights to kill Thomas. Pass around sword. Somebody pretends to be Thomas.
Many people thought Thomas was a good man and he would answer their prayers.
Many people went on journeys to his grave. Pack bags for journey.
They went to a place called Canterbury. There they would buy Holy Water. Pass around water and put it on student’s forehead.
On the journey there were many different people
There was Knight, wearing all his armour. Pass around armour, students to try
on.
Show Knight symbol and try to get students to recognise
There was also a merchant whole sold many things – pass around plastic fruit.
Students are to pick out selected fruit. Practise exchanging money at the market.
There was a monk who worked in a church – listen to some medieval music, pass
round items from a church such as a cross and candles
There was also a doctor. Examine doctor’s kit. In those days doctors gave
people medicine show students medicine .
All these people had a story to tell it is called Canterbury Tales. Play some
of the Canterbury Tales CD and finish off with the medieval music.
[The
Taming of the Shrew
Canterbury
Tales
Hindu Families
Time
Newspaper Story
Sensory Stories]
Hindu Families (Religious Education).
For this story you will need some Hindu gods, Cumin powder, a Puja tray, flowers and a Diwali lamp.
It is morning (ring an alarm clock) and it is time to wake up. We get out of bed and wash ourselves (wash students and hands, faces and feet, encourage to put their hands and feet into the water). We must now put Cumin powder on our heads (put the powder on the students head and encourage eye tracking by getting them to look in a mirror).
Now it is time to say good morning to our gods, so we ring the Puja bell. (Give students the Puja bell and encourage them to ring it).
It is time to put out the Puja tray (allow students to feel the items of the Puja tray). We put flowers around the Puja tray (encourage students to smell flowers). We put food around the Puja tray (allow students to taste Indian food). We offer water to the gods (fill the jar with water and encourage students to move the jar towards the mouths of the gods).
Today it is a special day, it is Diwali, so at night we light our lamps (encourage students to focus on the flame of the lamp).
[The Taming of the Shrew Canterbury Tales Hindu Families Time Newspaper Story Sensory Stories]
Time (Maths National Curriculum)
For this story you will need a tape recorder, switches, a blanket, a bag, cereal, milk, woolly hat, tape with sound effects, toothbrush, toothpaste, a dinner plate and a spoon.
1. Sing "hello" to students.
2. Play tape of a alarm clock and encourage students to hit the switch to turn the tape on and off.
3. It is time to get up - put a blanket around each student and encourage them to knock it off.
4. It is time for breakfast - (shake Cornflakes) - students taste milk and cereal.
5. It is time to get on the bus - (students hit switch for the sound of the bus). Put what you need in your bag - students put their favourite items in a bag. It is cold outside you will need your hat (use mirror), so put on your hat.
6. Time for school - ring a bell and stretch the students hands to represent doing work.
7. Time for dinner -students should hold a plate and spoon.
8. Time to go home - put woolly hats on and look in the mirror.
9. Time for bed so wash your teeth - clean students' teeth. Put a blanket around the students.
10. Sing "goodbye".
[The Taming of the Shrew Canterbury Tales Hindu Families Time Newspaper Story Sensory Stories]
The Newspaper Story (English National Curriculum)
For this story you will need a tape recorder, recordings of "extra, extra read all about it", switches, mirror, ice blocks, large bags, newspapers, hats, scarves and items that students like.
1. Sing "hello".
2. Student's hit switch to play recording "extra extra, read all about it".
3. Tell students they are going to deliver newspapers. (Students feel and smell newspaper).
4. It is cold outside (touch ice blocks)
5. We need to wear hats and scarves (look in the mirror)
6. Get your bags ready to deliver the newspapers (hold bags and put hands in bags full of newspaper).
7. Deliver the newspapers (throw newspapers around).
8. There's a dog at the door (hit switch to play tape of dog).
9. What's the news (show students something they have done well in the last week.
10. Our paper round is finished (take off hats and scarves that students are wearing).
11. Sing "goodbye" to the students.
[The Taming of the Shrew Canterbury Tales Hindu Families Time Newspaper Story Sensory Stories]
