Let's go out… to a forest
Let's go on a sensory journey to a forest. Let's listen to the sounds of the forest and watch the beautiful scenery together.
The forest is the perfect place to relax and explore nature.
Make your journey more sensory. Try using any of these items while watching. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything or there are things you don’t want to include. Make your sensory journey one you will enjoy.
- Say hello: Look at yourself in a mirror
- Touch: Moss or a bark
- Smell: Forest smell (sensory bag with damp leaves and twigs)
- Taste: Berries or jam for the forest fruits
- See: Shadow casting objects (leaves, branches, tree figures). Move the shadows like the trees in the breeze.
- Sound: Forest sounds or bird songs
The forest at sunrise
Image source, BBCThe forest at morning is a peaceful place. You can hear bird songs in the air and the dew on your face.
Let's get active
- Water spray to create the mist in the air.
- Hand held fan to have a gentle breeze in the room.
- Forest sounds/bird songs to create an outdoors sound atmosphere.
- Forest smell (sensory bag with damp leaves and twigs).
A sunny day at the forest
Image source, BBCYou feel the warmth of the sun as it creeps through the trees. It brings lights and casts shadows through the woodland.
Do you like how it looks?
Let's get active
- Forest smell (sensory bag with damp leaves and twigs)
- Torch (orange filter). Use this to create the golden sunshine.
- Handheld fan to have a nice breeze.
- Heater so they can imagine the warmth of the sun on their face.
- Shadow casting objects (leaves, branches, tree figures). Move the shadows like the trees in the breeze.
Walking through the leaves
Image source, BBCThe forest floor is littered with leaves. They crunch under foot as they fall from the trees.
What do the leaves feel like if you touch them?
Let's get active
- Forest smell (sensory bag with damp leaves and twigs)
- Dried leaves to let the pupils feel and crush.
- Umbrella (leaves cascade onto umbrella and around pupils)
- Forest sounds to have a relaxing ambience in the room.
The trees and the branches
Image source, BBCThe branches of trees hang low and hang high. You might hear them ‘snap’ as you pass when it’s dry.
Let's get active
- Trees branches and sticks for the students to hold and touch.
- Branches with leaves to make rustling noises.
- Forest smell (sensory bag with damp leaves and twigs).
- Twig path, have a long sheet covered with dried branches for the students to step on.
Explore the tree bark
Image source, BBCThe trees are covered with bark, brown, rough and tough. Squirrels, bugs and birds make their homes in this stuff.
Let's get active
- Variety of tree bark for the students to feel the difference in texture.
- Create a den made of bark and sticks.
- Animal figures.
- Forest animal sounds for a different sound ambience.
- Animal soft toys.
Let's meet the forest animals
Image source, BBCAnimals eat nuts and seeds that grow on tall trees. Buried deep in soil by squirrels so they won’t freeze.
Do you ever eat nuts and seeds?
Let's get active
- Variety of nuts (acorns, chestnuts, fir cones). Let the students feel the range of textures and sizes.
- Sorting stations where the nuts can be sorted by type or colour.
- Get a small container and fill it with soil. Then hide some nuts in the soil for the students to find.
- Squirrel soft toys.
Be aware of potential allergies when handling any nuts.
The berries bring colour to the forest
Image source, BBCSome forest plants grow berries, not nuts. They can be eaten by animals but are also tasty for us.
What's your favourite sort of berry?
Let's get active
- Variety of berries so students can see the different size and textures
- Sorting trays for the student to sort by type or colour.
- Mixed berry smells.
- Jam for additional texture or it can be used as an alternative method for tasting.
- Gathering basket so the students can go berry picking in the class room.
Let's go for a walk along the stream
Image source, BBCIn the distance we hear sounds of forest streams. The water clear and cool bubbles, splashes and gleams.
Let's get active
- Tuff tray with forest scene for the students to explore.
- Collection of mosses, sticks and forest items for them to hold and touch.
- Cut piping for water. Create the sound of water running and splashing.
- Forest sounds.
- Cups so the students can collect the water.
Camping in the forest can be so much fun.
A forest walk can make you tired and in need of a rest. Laying safely in a tent on the floor with a drink and a treat might be best.
Have you ever been in a tent?
Let's get active
- Tent (black out, pop up or home-made with a sheet) to let the children sit in.
- Use torches to shine though and make silhouettes.
- Forest smells.
- Fruit drinks, berries and other food stuffs to have a forest themed snack.
- Forest sounds to enjoy a relaxing time.
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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Take the train for you very own sensory journey
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Activities, advice and personal stories about parenting and special educational needs and disabilities to help you support your family.
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