Sensory stories are stories which have different sensory stimulus associated with each part. During the half term we use the same sensory story to give the children opportunities to build up a recognition of the structure and to begin to anticipate different parts.
This half term our sensory story is based on Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo. We have had lots of fun exploring this story so far, especially all of the different, funny voices that the adults use when telling it.
Below is an adapted version of the story which you could use at home. You should be able to find most of the resources around the house but if not, there are some alternatives too.
What to say |
What you will need |
What to do |
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood.
|
Turn off the light Or Cover yourselves with a blanket |
Spend some time in the dark |
A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good, “Where are you going to, little brown mouse?” “Come and have lunch in my underground house” |
Feather duster (fox tail) |
Feel the feather duster |
“It’s terribly kind of you, Fox, but no- I’m going to have lunch with a Gruffalo.” |
A food with a strong scent |
Smell the scent |
“A Gruffalo? What’s a Gruffalo?” “A Gruffalo! Why didn’t you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws.” |
Anything spiky you can find around the house (a spiky sensory ball or a hair brush) |
Feel the spikes |
“Where are you meeting him?” “Here, by these rocks, and his favourite food is roasted fox.” “Roasted fox! I’m off!” Fox said. “Goodbye, little mouse,” and away he sped. |
Feather duster |
Move it quickly as he speeds away |
“Silly old Fox! Doesn’t he know, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo?” On went the mouse through the deep dark wood. An owl saw the mouse and the mouse looked good. |
Feathers |
Feel the feathers |
Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come and have tea in my treetop house.” “It’s frightfully nice of you, Owl, but no- I’m going to have tea with a Gruffalo.” |
Tea bags (you may need to wet them to release the smell) |
Smell the teabags |
“A Gruffalo? What’s a Gruffalo?” “A Gruffalo! Why, didn’t you know? He has knobbly knees, and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose.” |
Your hands And A ball of playdough |
Tickle your childs knees and toes And Squash the playdough (wart) you could press it on your child’s nose |
“Where are you meeting him?” “Here, by this stream, and his favourite food is owl ice cream.” “Owl ice cream? Toowhit toowhoo! Goodbye, little mouse,” and away Owl flew. “Silly old Owl! Doesn’t he know, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo?” |
Ice cream Or Ice Or Cold water on kitchen roll |
Feel the coldness |
On went the mouse through the deep dark wood. A snake saw the mouse and the mouse looked good. “Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come for a feast in my logpile house.” |
Toy snake Or Rope Or Towel |
Feel the snake pulling through your child’s hands |
“It’s wonderfully good of you, Snake, but no- I’m having a feast with a Gruffalo.” “A Gruffalo? What’s a Gruffalo?” “A Gruffalo! Why, didn’t you know? His eyes are orange, his tongue is black, he has purple prickles all over his back.” |
Coloured paper or fabric And Your hands |
Show the different colours And Tickle down your child’s back |
“Where are you meeting him?” “Here, by this lake, and his favourite food is scrambled snake.” “Scrambled snake! It’s time I hid! Goodbye, little mouse,” and away Snake slid. |
Bowl And Whisk or spoon |
Pretend to make scrambled snake by moving the whisk or spoon around the bowl. |
“Silly old Snake! Doesn’t he know, there’s no such thing as a Gruffal….OH!!!” But who is this creature with terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws? He has knobbly knees and turned-out toes and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose. His eyes are orange, his tongue is black; he as purple prickles all over his back. “Oh help! Oh no! It’s a Gruffalo!” |
Your hands And Picture of the Gruffalo |
Tickle or touch the body parts as you say them And Show the picture of the Gruffalo |
“My favourite food!” the Gruffalo said. “You’ll taste good on a slice of bread.” |
Flour (loose) Or bread |
Feel the flour Or Squish the bread |
“Good?” said the mouse. “don’t call me good! I’m the scariest creature in this wood. Just walk behind me and soon you’ll see, everyone is afraid of me.” “all right,” said the Gruffalo, bursting with laughter. “You go ahead and I’ll follow after.” They walked and walked |
Your hands |
Move your child’s feet to make footsteps on a surface |
Till the Gruffalo said, ‘I hear a hiss in the leaves ahead |
Leaves |
Feel and rustle the leaves |
“It’s Snake,” said the mouse. “Why, Snake, hello!” Snake took one look at the Gruffalo. “Oh crumbs!” he said, “Goodbye, little mouse,” and off he slid to his log pile house. |
Toy snake Or Rope Or Towel |
Feel the snake pulling through your child’s hands |
“You see?” said the mouse. “I told you so.” “Amazing!” said the Gruffalo. They walked some more till the Gruffalo said. “I hear a hoot in the trees ahead”. |
Your voice |
Hoot like an owl |
“It’s Owl,” said the mouse. “Why, Owl, hello!” Owl took one look at the Gruffalo. “Oh dear!” he said, “Goodbye, little mouse,” And off he flew to his treetop house. |
Feathers |
Feel the feathers |
“You see?” said the mouse. “I told you so.” “Astounding!” said the Gruffalo. They walked some more till the Gruffalo said. “I hear feet on the path ahead”. |
Your hands |
Tap on a surface to make the sound of footsteps |
It’s Fox,” said the mouse. “Why, Fox, hello!” Fox took one look at the Gruffalo. “oh help!” he said, “goodbye, little mouse,” and off he ran to his underground house |
Feather duster |
Feel the duster |
“Well, Gruffalo,” said the mouse. “you see? Everyone is afraid of me!” But now my tummy’s beginning to rumble. My favourite food is- Gruffalo crumble!” “Gruffalo crumble!” the Gruffalo said, and quick as the wind he turned and fled. |
Porridge oats |
Feel the oats sprinkle |
All was quiet in the deep dark wood. The mouse found a nut and the nut was good. |
Lights off Or Blanket |
Spend a moment in the dark |