Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht (Author) and Jarvis (Illustrator) is a lovely picture book to share as you decorate your Christmas tree or classroom and it makes a great sensory story for children with additional needs.
There is a lot happening in this lovely book – it is not necessary to translate everything into a prop for your sensory story! You will notice that I have picked out certain elements – feel free to leave some of these out and/or add other things in – according to the needs and interests of the children you are sharing the story with.
Skipping one or two pages or splitting the story in two could also work well. If you are splitting it in two a natural place to take a break might be the page that begins ‘Find the trimmings…’ Then when you come back to the book you could start with the friends arriving.
(There are one or two words which you may want to change if you are telling this story in the UK – for example, ‘lot’.)
Pick a pine tree from the lot…
A mini Christmas tree to use at the beginning of the story would be perfect or just use some branches…
Spiky needle clumps, scaly bark, or sappy bumps…
…try making friends with your local Christmas tree seller – they might be happy to give you some interestingly shaped off-cuts and branches. Let the children explore the tactile quality of these.
Just smell that piney scent…
If the children you are sharing the story with are all right with essential oils you could use some pine scent here. (Put it on some cotton wool and put the cotton wool in a little bag, tightly tied shut.)
Lift the tree above your head…
Mime lifting a branch above your head – encourage the children to join in the actions if appropriate.
Trim the trunk…
Mime this – or use a toy saw. Let the children handle a piece of pine tree trunk if possible. Some netting could also be a good prop to use here.
Give your thirsty tree a drink…
Use a spray or mister – let the children feel the water.
Find the trimmings…
Try using some interesting looking tins and boxes as containers for your ‘trimmings’ – put some piece of Lego (or something similar) inside and tape the lids shut. Then give the tins and boxes a good rattle and encourage the children to do the same.
Ask your friends…
Use a doorbell! Encourage the children to ring the bell. (Or you could use a switch recorder with the sound of a doorbell – or perhaps you could ‘knock at the door’ on a drum or piece of wood.)
Bubble lights or candle clips…
I would be inclined to not actually use Christmas lights here…the sensory story version of the tale will be more dramatic if the lights are not switched on until the end. And Christmas lights that are not switched on are not so interesting! Although these are not shown in the picture you could try using some small tree candles here – or just skip this page. (If you can find beeswax candles these have a lovely smell!)
What kind of trinkets will they be…
Gather together Christmas decorations that are of sensory interest. Choose robust ones so that you can let the children explore them. Let the children choose their favourites.
Strands of tinsel…
Add in some tinsel! And then something impressive for the top of the tree!
Flecked with snow…
Use some white confetti and let this gently fall on the children.
Gather round the tree to sing
If possible finish the story by switching on lots of fairy lights and some Christmas music. Try darkening the room first…and then linger over the lights and music. Wish everyone a merry Christmas!
Remember – not all of my props recommendations are toys! The props I suggest should not be used by children unsupervised.
You can buy Pick A Pine Tree in our online bookshop. All profits from our bookshop are used to help us create and gift accessible books for children with additional needs. Have a look at some of the other books we have sensory story tips for.