November Teaching Calendar
- Rhyming Multisensory Stories
- Oct 26
- 8 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Sensory-rich ideas and inspiration for neurodiverse, PMLD, SEND and sensory learners to celebrate the month of November including Anti-bullying Week, Bonfire Night, National Stress Awareness Day, Armistice Day, LS Lowry and more!
Dates At A Glance
Nov 1 Anniversary of the unveiling of the Sistine Chapel
Nov 1 Birthdate of LS Lowry
Nov 5 National Stress Awareness Day
Nov 5 Bonfire Night
Nov 10-14 Anti-bullying Week
Nov 11 Armistice Day
Nov 23 National Plant a Tree Week
Nov 5 National Stress Awareness Day
These Sensory Calming Strategies (Bubble Breathing, Stretch & Release, Stillness Invitations, and Warmth & Cool Contrast) are practical tools that support the goals of National Stress Awareness Day—an annual observance held on the first Wednesday of November to raise awareness of stress's impact and promote effective self-management techniques.
Each activity offers an exploration focus—an opportunity for learners to engage with internal sensations through gentle, sensory-led experiences that support regulation and choice.
Exploration Focus:
Bubble Breathing
To explore breath control by engaging with bubble play, noticing how different breathing patterns affect the bubbles produced.
Stretch & Release
To participate in gentle stretch and release movements, developing awareness of internal sensations related to tension and relaxation.
Stillness Invitations
To engage with a calming sensory environment and experience moments of stillness, with opportunities for choice-led participation.
Warmth & Cool Contrast
To experience safe temperature contrasts and begin to notice internal bodily reactions to warmth and coolness.
Nov 5 - Bonfire Night
The role of Proprioception in Bonfire Artwork for Sensory Learners
This Bonfire-themed painting activity that compliments my Bonfire Night Sensory Story offers a rich proprioceptive experience, inviting artists to engage their muscles and joints through purposeful, resistance-filled movement. As learners press, sweep, and dab across large surfaces using chunky tools and textured paints, they receive deep pressure input that supports body awareness and coordination.
The guided motions—mimicking the arcs and bursts of fireworks—create a rhythmic, celebratory atmosphere where each gesture becomes a spark of expression. Whether painting over bubble wrap or dried leaves, the added resistance enhances proprioceptive feedback, helping learners tune into their physical boundaries and preferences. Every mark, pause, or vocalisation is honoured, making this a truly inclusive, sensory-rich celebration of movement and choice.
Excerpt from Bonfire Night Sensory Story Told Through the Eight Senses for Neurodiverse, SEND, PMLD and Sensory Learners
This resource has been created to support inclusive, multisensory engagement, creativity, and connection with sensory learners. By weaving together tactile props, sounds, scents, rhythms, and movement, the story and activities encourage meaningful communication, choice-making, and sensory exploration. With rhythmic verse and vivid imagery, this sensory story invites story explorers to experience Bonfire Night through a multisensory lens—to explore and connect in a space where every sense is welcome.
From participating in a firework orchestra, listening to the crackle of an indoor bonfire, making savoury sparklers, or gaining proprioceptive feedback from a firework painting activity, this resource is rich with hands-on sensory invitations.
Rooted in a commitment to accessibility, engagement, meaningful communication, and sensory inclusion, each couplet offers a sensory prompt, guiding the story participant through a journey where every sense is welcome.
This teaching pack includes:
Bonfire Night sensory story (each couplet represents a sense)
Prop/resources checklist
Step-by-step facilitation guidance
Learning objectives to help you plan, differentiate, and assess Sensory-rich activities—one for each of the eight senses
On this Day in History
Nov 1st 1887 - Birthdate of LS Lowry
English painter LS Lowry as well-known for his matchstick figures
Choose a background then cut and stick the silhouettes below onto your chosen background to re-create an inclusive Lowry masterpiece.
Tip
Add an extra sensory element by cutting your templates from sensory materials: thin sponge, felt, sandpaper etc
Click below to download your templates
On This Day in History
Nov 1st 1512 - The Unveiling of Michelangelo's Ceiling Painting in the Sistine Chapel
Michaelangelo painted a total of 343 figures on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Many people believe Michelangelo painted the ceiling lying on his back, he actually stood on scaffolding and used long brushes and craned his neck to reach.
Sensory Activity
You will need
Cardboard
Masking tape
Paints
Paintbrushes/rollers
Paper
Tape the paper to the cardboard the hold above the student's head.
Can the student reach out using their brushes and rollers to create a painting?
Can the student lie on their back and paint above their head?
This activity can also be done using whiteboards and pens.
Did you know?
Previously, the ceiling was painted blue and covered with golden stars. This activity could be simplified by painting a blue background then sticking pre-gummed stars onto the 'sky'
Nov 10 - 14 Anti-bullying Week
This resource has been created to support inclusive, multisensory engagement, creativity, and connection with sensory learners. By interweaving tactile props, soundscapes, and movement, the story and activities invite meaningful communication, choice-making, and sensory exploration—offering story explorers a rich, embodied way to experience anti-bullying themes.
The couplets have been gently grouped into a narrative arc:
Voice and greeting
Turn-taking and sharing
Boundaries and emotional awareness
Movement and kindness
Belonging and collective care
This resource also includes ideas for themed art collaboration, offering creative ways for learners to express themselves through shared visual projects that echo the story’s sensory themes. These collaborative activities can extend the narrative into paint, texture, and form, deepening connection, and celebrating each learner’s unique contribution.
Due to its simplicity and rhythmic clarity, this resource can be used as part of a daily circle time routine as well as a standalone story experience. Its flexible format allows facilitators to revisit key themes regularly supporting emotional literacy, sensory engagement, and inclusive connection in everyday classroom moments.
Nov 11
Armistice Day
Sensory Poppies Art & Craft Activity
Make a 'Poppy Wall'
This wall of poppies looks so effective and is very simple to make.
You will need
Garden netting
Poppies
String
Activity
Make your poppies (use material, waterproof fabric or laminate paper poppies to protect from the weather)
Lay the garden netting flat.
Using the string, tie the poppies onto the netting.
Fix the netting to the railings or fence in your setting.
Nov 23
National Plant a Tree Week
Share a Tree Poem
November Nature
November is the last full month of Autumn.
Autumn Sensory Walk
Head outdoors for an Autumn walk or forage around your outdoor learning area:
Find five different items to look at
Find four different items to touch
Find three sounds to listen to
Find two things to smell
Find one items to taste
What to look for in Nature in November Acorns, Apples, Animal Tracks, Apples, Bark, Beech, Berries, Birds, Bracken, Brambles, Bugs Colours, Conkers, Elderberries, Frost, Fruits, Fungi, Geese Greenfinch, Halloween, Hazelnuts, Hedgehogs, Horse Chestnut Tree, Hops, Insects, Leaves, Mist, Moss, Nuts, Oak Tree, Pears, Pinecones, Seeds, Sloes, Squirrels, Starling, Swallows, Sycamore Seeds ('Spinners'), Tracks, Trees and Twigs.
Autumn Leaves
In November the outdoor areas will be carpeted with leaves.
Promote gross motor skills, rake, and sweep the leaves!
See how many different coloured and shaped leaves you can find. Catch the student match the leaves?
Paint the leaves.
Make a leaf collage.
November Music
Listening to music enhances mood and aids concentration. Play low background music during snack time, when baking and when engaging in arts and craft activities.
Take a portable speaker and bubbles into the outdoor area at break and lunch time. Have a mini disco!
Listening to music provides the opportunity to explore different artists and genres of music and invites the sensory explorer to have a little dance, move their body and feel good!
Theme your Music by Month
(please check suitability of lyrics)
“November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses
“November” by Tom Waits
“Gone Till November” by Wyclef Jean
“November Song” by Yerin Baek
“November” by Azure Ray
“November Blue” by The Avett Brothers
“Rose Hip November” by Vashti Bunyan
Theme Music by Artists Born in October
3rd Nov: Vincenzo Bellini (Italian opera composer)
5th Nov: Art Garfunkel
6th Nov: James Bowman (English tenor famous for singing in Handel's operas)
12th Nov: Neil Young (Canadian singer-songwriter)
14th Nov: Aaron Copland (American composer)
16th Nov: Paul Hindemith (German composer)
18th Nov: Carl von Weber (German composer)
22nd Nov: Benjammin Britten (British composer)
21st Nov: Coleman Hawkins (American jazz saxophonist)
23rd Nov: Manuel de Falla (Spanish composer) 26th Nov: Tina Turner
Nov 27th: Jimi Hendrix
Nov 28th: Jean Baptiste Lully (French composer)
Theme Music by Historical Musical Events in November
Nov 6th Belgian Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone
Nov 20th1805 Beethoven's opera 'Fidelio' is staged for the first time in Vienna
You Might Like...
Explore the sights, sounds, smells and textures of Autumn with this multisensory story.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Story Props Checklist
How to Tell a Multisensory Story
Autumn Full Story
Autumn Fully Resourced, Rhyming Multisensory Story
Autumn Themed Sensory Bin
Let's Explore...Dormice
Let's Explore...Hedgehogs
Autumn Walk
Autumn Food Tasting
Make a Bug Hotel
Autumn Leaves Craft Activity
Autumn Ideas & Inspiration
Resources & Teaching Packs
Buy Direct
Fully resourced, step-by-step multisensory stories linking individuals to literature, culture, history & topic through the senses.
Each resource includes themed, sensory activities aimed at promoting communication skills, independence and areas of learning.
FULL LIST OF TITLES
The Seasons
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
The Weather (Free resource)
A Winter Walk (Collaboration)
January Through the Senses
Christmas
Dear Santa (Free resource)
Culture & Celebrations
A Train Ride Through India
Book Day
Burns Night
Chinese New Year
Diwali
Halloween
Harvest Festival
Holi
The Witch (Link to Halloween)
History
Benjamin Franklin
The King's Coronation
The Queen's Jubilee (Free resource)
The Great Fire of London
The Romans
VE Day
Life Skills, Self-Care, Routines & Transitions
Back to School
People Who help Us - The Special School Superheroes
Jobs and Work Experience
The Dentist (Free resource)
Washing Hands (Free resource)
Maths
Shapes - A Multisensory Exploration (includes 130 shape themed, sensory activities)
Reference
Listen - An A-Z of Sensory Inspiration to Stimulate the Auditory System
Sensory Resources for Sensory Learners (800+ ideas)
RE
Sensory Saints
St Patricks Day
Topic/Theme
Airports & Airplanes A Sensory Social Story
Elephants
Journey into Space
Minibeasts
The Beach
The Farm
The Rainforest
Traditional Tales Collection
The Gingerbread Man
Goldilocks
Jack & the Beanstalk
Little Red Riding Hood
The Three Little Pigs
Training & Workshops 1-1
Groups
Whole Setting
INSET
Get in Touch!
Your questions, queries, comments & feedback are always welcome!
Website: www.rhymingmultisensorystories.com
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Facebook: Victoria Navin RMSS
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Health & Safety Advice & Disclaimer
Please Read Before Engaging in any of the Activities
The author has used their best efforts in preparing the information on this website and makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness to the contents.
The information is for pleasure purposes only.
If you wish to apply any ideas and activities contained in this blog, on the website or in any of the multisensory stories or resources, you are wholly responsible and take full responsibility for your actions.
The activities are designed to be led and supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
A Note on Allergies/Intolerances
If you have any doubts regarding any activity or prop used, then seek advice before starting.
Be aware of potential choking hazards.
Check the ingredients in any items you may be using for any potential food or skin allergies or respiratory reactions. If you see any signs of redness, swelling or other symptoms of a suspected reaction seek immediate medical advice.
The interactions should be led by the sensory explorer who should be allowed to participate without expectation.
Never force stimuli and stop the activity if the story explorer shows signs that they are not enjoying the session.
Your questions, queries, comments and feedback are always welcome!
Contact me via email
rhymingmultisensorystories@outlook.com
or send me a message via social media
'Have a great month...see you in December'
Victoria:)
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