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October Teaching Planner

Rhyming Multisensory Stories
Oct 10
7 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Sensory-rich ideas and activities to celebrate the month of October. This month's focus is Discovery, Connection, Creativity and Imagination with each week offering its own sensory focus, from learning about the world around us to building belonging, creating art and opening space for imaginative exploration.



🌿 THIS MONTH'S FOCUS

Discovery • Connect • • Creativity

A month of sensory exploration, cultural celebration and imaginative play.


🚀 WEEK 1 — DISCOVER

Shelter • Space • Harvest • Animals • Sound

🏠 Sukkot

🚀 World Space Week

🌾 Harvest Festival

🦡 Badger Day

đź”” Lost in the Dark Peal


Solar System Space Bottles

Explore the solar system through an enaging, sensory-rich journey using planet‑themed bottles that spark curiosity, choice, and connection. Each bottle supports Neurodiverse, PMLD, Sensory, SEND and EYFS learners through safe engagement with colour, movement, temperature, sound, and scent — all shaped around individual communication styles and emotional responses.


Harvest Festival Whole-School Assembly Ideas

A simple sensory story becomes a meaningful group assembly when you widen the experience from one‑to‑one exploration to a shared, rhythmic, whole‑school moment. The story stays calm, short, and sensory‑rich, but the delivery shifts.


Introduce each prop slowly and intentionally, a torch creating a warm Autumn glow, a scent pouch containing cinnamon, clove or mild spice offering olfactory feedback, a strand of soft straw to explore through the fingers, or an apple or vegetable from the harvest to taste, creating a gentle reveal that anchors attention across the hall.


Row leaders support small groups by holding and distributing these props, ensuring every learner can touch, smell, observe, or simply watch quietly. The facilitator (assembly leader reads each line of a simple harvest story clearly, models the prop, and pauses to allow processing, anticipation, and comfort.


Predictable rhythm, repetition, and soft transitions help learners feel safe, while opt‑in participation ensures everyone is welcome whether they engage actively or remain still. In this way, a simple sensory story becomes a collective experience: shared textures, shared sounds, shared warmth — a calm celebration where every learner contributes in their own way.



National Badger Day



Lost in the Dark Peal

Twyford Church in Hampshire rings its bells every year on 7 October. The tradition comes from the story of a traveller who became lost in thick fog and found his way home by following the sound of the church bells.


💛 WEEK 2 — CONNECT

Identity • Emotional Wellbeing

đź–¤ Black History Month

🧠 World Mental Health Day


Black History Month

Re-create a Famous Piece of Black History Artwork



Add a sensory element to the artwork. Cut the shapes of the clothes and hats from felt, faux fur and leather.


Create a 'Black History Month' Reading Area

 Booklist

'As Brave as You - Jason Reynolds

'Brown Boy Joy' - Dr. Thomishia Booker

'Daddy Calls Me Man' - Angela Johnson

'Happy to be Nappy' - Bell Hooks

'Hair Love' Mathew A.Cherry

'Imani's Moon' - Janay Brown-Wood

'Lullaby' by Langston Hughes

'My Brother Charlie' - Holly Robinson


These black history sensory stories are written by Generate, a racism awareness group for adults with learning disabilities, in collaboration with Dr Nicola Grove and Dr Joanna Grace.

The stories are illustrated by Rehan, a member of Generate. www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk/sensory-stories



🪔 WEEK 3 — CREATE

Sensory Art



🎨 WEEK 4 — IMAGINE

Imagination • Sensory Exploration



đź“š OCTOBER RESOURCES


🎵 Vivaldi's Autumn - A Multisensory Music Journey

🍂 Autumn Sensory Story

🦴 Ghouls, Skeletons and Shadows - A Halloween Tale of Spooky Things

đź‘» Halloween

🌾 Harvest Festival

🚀 Journey into Space

đź’¬ Pupil Voice

🎨 Sensory Spaces

đź”· Shapes

🧹 The Witch

🧚The Nutcracker Suite - A Multisensory Music Journey






What's New?

Five new exciting resources in a Multisensory Music Journey Series



Multisensory Music Journeys

Bring classical music to life through sensory storytelling, props, movement, interaction, and creative exploration.

These resources support practitioners to introduce learners to classical music through a series of accessible sensory experiences linked to story behind the music.


Learners are invited to explore the sounds, rhythms, and changing moods of concertos using tactile props, movement activities, scents, visual effects, and sensory-rich interactions.


Designed for PMLD, SEND, and sensory learners, each resource includes:

• A simple explanation of the story behind the piece

• Sensory activities linked to each of the three musical movements

• Props, facilitation ideas, and sensory prompts

• Learning and engagement outcomes throughout

• A sensory-rich art and mark-making extension activity linked to the music

• Guidance on sensory safety and inclusive practice


Rather than simply listening to the music, learners are supported to experience the music through meaningful sensory exploration, communication, anticipation, choice-making, creativity, and shared interaction.


Perfect for music sessions, sensory storytelling, creative arts, themed learning, and immersive classroom experiences.


What's New?





























Further Resources

Explore more Rhyming Multisensory Stories resources, Multisensory Music Journeys™, practitioner resources and training designed to support meaningful, engaging and accessible sensory learning.


Sensory Stories

Seasons | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter | A Winter Walk | January Through the Senses | The Weather


Christmas | Dear Santa (Includes How to Adapt into a Play) | Rudolph’s Carrots


Culture & Celebrations | A Train Ride Through India | Book Day | Bonfire Night | Burns Night | Chinese New Year | Diwali | Easter | Holi | Harvest Festival | Ramadan | Sensory Saints | St Patrick’s Day | The World Cup | Vesak


Halloween | Ghosts, Ghouls, Skeletons and Shadows | Halloween | The Witch


Maths | Shapes – A Multisensory Exploration

History | Benjamin Franklin | The King’s Coronation | The Queen’s Jubilee | The Great Fire of London | The Romans | VE Day


Topics & Themes | Airports and Airplanes | Elephants | Journey into Space | Minibeasts | The Beach | The Farm | The Rainforest


Traditional Tales | Goldilocks and the Three Bears | Jack and the Beanstalk | Little Red Riding Hood | The Gingerbread Man | The Three Little Pigs


Multisensory Music Journeys™ | Vivaldi’s Spring | Vivaldi’s Summer | Vivaldi’s Autumn | Vivaldi’s Winter | The Nutcracker – A Multisensory Music Journey™


Life Skills, Self Care, Routines & Transitions | Antibullying | Back to School | | Jobs and Work Experience | People Who Help Us – The Special School Superheroes | Student Enterprise | Transitions Practical Ideas for Multisensory Learning


Literacy Through Everyday Life | The Coffee Shop


Practitioner Guides | Cause and Effect Practical Ideas for Multisensory Learning | Circle Time Practical Ideas for Multisensory Learning | Pupil Voice | Sensory Bottles Practical Ideas for Multisensory Learning | Sensory Resources for Sensory Learners

 


The resource list is correct at the time of publication. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Rhyming Multisensory Stories Resource Library & Shop.




Annual Subscription

Unlock a year of learning ÂŁ95 per year (site licence)





Online CPD – Study at Your Own Pace Only £10

Explore self-paced online CPD modules designed to support practitioners to build knowledge and confidence in sensory-rich learning.

 




Available in hardback, paperback and eBook.


Imagine stepping into a sensory space where you can feel the sand between your toes, smell the sea, listen to the sound of seagulls calling; touch feathers, shells and driftwood…


Sensory Spaces inspires curiosity, exploration and imaginative play. This A–Z guide shows you how to create adaptable sensory environments using everyday items, with practical tools, ideas and activities for inclusive learning.


Case studies and colour photography showcase real spaces in action and spark new possibilities. A valuable resource for educators, practitioners and families who want to create immersive, creative sensory experiences learners can truly own.


Training

1-1

Groups

Whole Setting

INSET



Other News


Just Launched!

"The Poo Lab™ might start with giggles and a bit of “ewww!”  but underneath it all, there’s so much purposeful learning happening.

I love that every child can be a Chief Scientist in their own way — whether they’re touching, looking, listening, pointing, choosing, communicating, comparing or simply noticing.


It’s all about creating those different pathways into learning and making sure every child has a way to participate, explore and discover.

And yes… two poo-obsessed educators + George the dinosaur was always going to be a recipe for fun!"

(Victoria)

"Two slightly poo-obsessed educators and one dinosaur named George…

What could possibly go wrong?

But behind all the poo, giggles and investigations is something Victoria and I care deeply about: Making sure every child has a way into learning.


In the Poo Lab™, children become Chief Scientists. Investigating mysterious poo, hunting for clues and examining the evidence to discover who left it behind.   

They might be touching, looking, listening, choosing, pointing, communicating, comparing or predicting. There isn't just one way to join the investigation."

(Gina Bale Director of Little Magic Train)

 

Step into The Poo Lab™ to claim your FREE Poo file https://www.littlemagictrain.com/the-poo-lab/ 


The Sensory Festival is back!

My presentation is Multisensory Music Journeys

 Friday 2 October 2026

 With a fantastic line-up of sensory and SEND practitioners

 Live online + access until 31 October

 Find out more: https://buff.ly/nTRMHZQ


Health & Safety Advice & Disclaimer

Please Read Before Engaging in Any Activities

The author has taken care in preparing the information provided on this website. However, no representation or warranty is made regarding the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the content.


All information is intended for pleasure and educational purposes only.

If you choose to apply any ideas or activities described in this blog, on the website, or within any multisensory stories or resources, you do so entirely at your own discretion and assume full responsibility for your actions.


Supervision

  • All activities must be led and supervised by a responsible adult at all times.

  • The sensory explorer should be invited to participate freely, without expectation.

  • Never force engagement. Stop immediately if the person shows signs of discomfort or lack of enjoyment.


Allergies & Intolerances

  • If you have any doubts about an activity or prop, seek professional advice before starting.

  • Always check ingredients and materials for potential food, skin, or respiratory allergies.

  • Watch carefully for any signs of reaction (e.g., redness, swelling, breathing difficulties). If symptoms occur, seek immediate medical advice.


Safety Considerations

  • Be aware of potential choking hazards with small items or props.

  • Ensure all materials are safe, age-appropriate, and suitable for the individual’s needs.

  • Activities should be adapted thoughtfully to respect the sensory explorer’s comfort, dignity, and wellbeing.

Get in Touch!

Your questions, queries, comments & feedback are always welcome!

Twitter: @RhymingStories

Pinterest: Rhyming Multisensory Stories



Have a great month...see you in November!

Victoria:)








 
 
 

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