Let's go out鈥 to a beach
Let's go on a sensory journey to a beach. What sensory stories are you going to enjoy?
The beach is the perfect place to relax and listen to the waves of the sea.
Make your journey more sensory. Try using any of these items while watching. Don鈥檛 worry if you don鈥檛 have everything or there are things you don鈥檛 want to include. Make your sensory journey one you will enjoy.
- Say hello: Look at yourself in a mirror
- Touch: Kinetic sand in a tray or water in a tray
- Smell: Sun cream
- Taste: Ice cream or ice lolly
- See: Hat, sunglasses, a torch behind a paper plate for a sun
- Sound: Seagull sounds or the sound of waves
The sun in the sky
Image source, 大象传媒The sun in the sky gives our days lots of light. It鈥檚 big, hot, yellow and really bright.
Let's get active
- Inflatable sun
- Sunglasses and hats so they can experience the light difference.
- Use a torch to show how bright the sun is and teach that it's important to not look at it directly.
- Heat pillows so the children feel warmth.
- Sun cream will let them have a smell to associate with the beach.
Feel the sand in your hands
Image source, 大象传媒Without shoes and socks you can walk the sand. Is it wet and cold or warm and rough in your hand?
Let's get active
- Tuff trays to hold all the sand and water.
- Sieves to see the dry sand fall from heights
- Cups and other receptacles to make mini sandcastles.
You can build a sandcastle on the beach
Image source, 大象传媒Collect up some sand with your bucket and spade. Flip it over, give and tap and it鈥檚 a castle you鈥檝e made.
Let's get active
- Bucket and spade
- Wet/damp sand
- Magic/Kinetic sand
- Castle decorations such as flags and windmills
Find a shell
Image source, 大象传媒At the sea colourful shells can be found. Hold them to your ear, can you hear any sound?
Let's get active
- Create a sorting activity with a variety of seashells of different shapes, sizes and colours.
- Larger shells that they can hear the sound of the sea in.
- Hide shells in a tray of sand for students to search for.
- Beach sounds such as breaking waves and seagulls.
Slippery seaweed
Image source, 大象传媒In the sea we can find something slimy, wet and cold. You can touch the seaweed but it鈥檚 slippery to hold.
Let's get active
- Use damp green and purple crepe paper to make your own seaweed.
- Water tray with water beads to add texture in water.
- Sea creature figures.
- Dulse for students to try tasting.
Watch the waves crash into the sand
Image source, 大象传媒The waves make foam and bubbles big and small. Try to pop them all them before they fall.
Let's get active
- Water tray to create mini waves in.
- Soapy water to create bubbles and foam on the water.
- Bubble machines or bubble wands
- Bubble wrap for the students who do not want to get wet.
- Handheld Fan to show how wind can make water move.
The sea sparkles in front of you
Image source, 大象传媒The sea is big and blue, filled with lots of different animals and very soon, you too!
Let's get active
- Water tray beach scene.
- Include water, sand, stones, shells and sea creatures.
- Human figurines, vehicles etc.
- Sea/beach sounds. (try to include the sound of waves, laughing, shouting, wind, seagulls)
- Umbrella or large covering. Try hanging seaweed, hanging animals, shiny paper and foil.
- Cuddly toys and figures for dry play.
A cool ice-cream on a hot day
Image source, 大象传媒A day at the beach is a fun, summer treat. We can make it even better with some tasty food to eat.
Let's get active
- Parasol/umbrella to sit under.
- Beach towels to sit on.
- Beach chairs/plastic chairs to sit on.
- Variety of summer or beach foods in a bag or cooler box (ice cream, lollies, sandwiches, wafer cones etc.)
These sensory stories were all created with advice from the National Autistic Society and Autism NI.
Where next?
Discover more from around Bitesize.
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Let's go out... to the zoo. revision-guide
What sensory thing will we find at the Zoo?
The Parents' Toolkit. collection
Activities, advice and personal stories about parenting and special educational needs and disabilities to help you support your family.
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