Another list of my favourites for you – and hurray for autumn – the sensory season! Autumn provides us with so many sensory props: conkers, leaves, blackberries, apples…but here are a few others to add to the mix:
1) ‘Crinkle’ fabric in a bag
We definitely need to hear the scrunch of leaves in Autumn – recreate this in your classroom by putting some crinkle fabric into a little drawstring bag.
Follow the link in the photo – or a cheaper alternative would be to collect old unwanted baby toys that have a ‘crinkle’ feature and cut the crinkle fabric out of them.
If you give every learner in your class a small piece of crinkle fabric in little bag then everyone can join in with the crunching! Simply hold the bag in your hand and squish and squeeze. Small fabric drawstring bags can be purchased quite cheaply online. (Try looking for wedding favour bags.) Jute ones like these have a nice texture:
2) A gentle brush for leaf sweeping
If you are re-creating some leaf sweeping in your classroom then I recommend this brush:
It is beautifully soft and creates a lovely feeling if you are ‘sweeping’ on the back of a child’s hand. It is a wee bit pricey but will make a lovely sensory addition to your classroom.
3) A hibernating hedgehog!
Autumn is time to get ready to hibernate! Of course any kind of prickly brush will work well as a sensory prop for a hedgehog but there are actually quite a few brushes, pot scrubbers and boot scrapers around in hedgehog shapes. Visual learners may enjoy these.
4) Swallows chattering
Swallows chattering as they gather to leave for Africa are one of the sounds that mark the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. There are some nice videos of swallows gathering to migrate on YouTube. This swallow toy makes the noise of a swallow when squeezed:
5) Squirrel tails!
This is the time of year to see squirrels busy in the garden, parks and woods. A woolly duster makes a great squirrel tail!
And don’t forget all the wonderfully tactile pumpkins, squash, turnips and swedes in the shops at this time of year!
Remember – not all of my props recommendations are toys! The props I suggest should not be used by children unsupervised.
For autumn sensory stories try our free downloads: The Little Red House with a Star Inside or Henny Penny. For Halloween try The Tailor in the Tower or The Spooky Old House.