September Teaching Calendar
- Rhyming Multisensory Stories
- Jul 27
- 16 min read
Updated: Nov 28
FREE Sensory -rich and Inclusive September Teaching Calendar. Highlights include:
Back to School: Peer Matching Photo Card Activity - One Card, One Connection
Communication Passport / All About Me Sensory Boxes: Celebrate identity through texture, scent, and sound.
Roald Dahl Day: Explore fantastical characters through the senses.
Autumn Equinox: Create seasonal sensory boxes.
Organic September: Sensory farmyard wall display.
Rosh Hashanah: Symbolic sensory cues for reflection and renewal.
Sensory Saints and Sacred Days: Explore the story of the nativity of the Virgin Mary through the senses.
The Great Fire of London - Flames in Motion Sensory Art.
International Dot Day: Celebrate creativity through tactile mark making.
Also New This Month: Six sensory story packs ready to print prep and go!
Dates At a Glance
2 Sept: Anniversary of The Great Fire of London
6 Sep: Autumn Term
9 Sep: World Teddy Bear Day
11 Sep: Anniversary of the Birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi
13 Sep: Roald Dahl Day
13 Sep: World First Aid Day
15 Sep: International Dot Day
22 Sep: Rosh Hashanah
22 Sep: Autumn Equinox
Whole Month
Back to School
Organic September
Saints and Sacred Days
September through the Senses
What to Look for in Nature
Flora and Fauna
Acorns, blackberries, brambles, conkers, crab apples, dried grasses, dried seedheads, elderberries, fungi, hawthorn haws, oak leaves, pinecones, quaking grass, sloes, spider webs, umbellifers (wild carrot), yew berries
⚠️ Safety Note Some plants, berries, and fungi may be poisonous or cause skin irritation. Do not touch unless guided by an adult. If handling, wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Always check before including natural items in sensory play.
Mammals, Insects and Birds
Badgers, bumblebees, butterflies (Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell) daddy longlegs (crane flies), deer (red and sika), dormice, flycatchers, goldfinches, grey seals, hedgehogs, hoverflies, house martins, jays, kittiwakes, ladybirds, linnets, mice (wood mice), moths (peacock, red-green carpet), nuthatches, pine martens, porpoises, salmon, squirrels, stoats, swallows, thrushes, warblers (blackcap, whitethroat), wasps, weasels
Bird of the Month: Robin
A small, round bird with a bright red breast and a sweet, piping song.
Listen to its call: gentle, wistful. Record onto a sound button.
Re-create the song with whistles or soft bells.
Explore feathers: red breast, brown wings, and soft grey belly.
Make a robin nest corner with moss, twigs, and wool scraps.
The September Kitchen
Blackberries, apples, plums, runner beans, courgettes, sweetcorn, leeks, and early pumpkins. Taste and compare textures: crisp apple, soft plum, crunchy corn. Make a simple crumble or soup with seasonal ingredients. Explore scents: earthy beetroot, sweet plum, sharp leek.
The September Sensory Garden
Plant overwintering crops: garlic, onions, and broad beans.
Collect fallen leaves, bark, dried grasses, seed heads and acorns for sorting and crafts.
Join in with Organic September: explore compost, soil textures, and worm habitats.
Tidy the garden and prepare for autumn rest.
Organic September
Organic September is an annual celebration that promotes organic farming, food, and lifestyle choices — encouraging people to support biodiversity, reduce pesticide use, and choose eco-friendly products for a healthier planet.
Organic Farm Sensory Wall Display
Creating a sensory wall display is a gradual, collaborative journey. Invite everyone to take part — crafting during art or fine motor skills sessions exploring textures. Watch as your working farm sensory wall gently grows, piece by piece, becoming a living landscape of shared creativity and sensory discovery.
Learning Objectives
Explore a variety of textures, sounds, and scents through farm-themed materials
Respond to tactile elements such as straw, feathers, felt, and pulses
Engage with visual contrasts and natural colours across the display
Communication & Interaction
Make choices between sensory items during craft and decoration activities
Use sound buttons or cards to initiate interaction and express preferences
Participate in shared storytelling or role-play using farm animal prompts
Emotional & Social Development
Experience calm and joy through rhythmic, multisensory exploration
Build trust and anticipation through repeated, gentle interactions with the wall
Take part in collaborative tasks such as watering crops or tidying animals
Cognitive & Cause-and-Effect Awareness
Notice changes over time (e.g. plant growth, sound activation)
Recognise cause-and-effect through pressing sound buttons or planting seeds
Match sensory props to symbolic representations (e.g. feathers to duck, straw to haybale)
Motor Skills & Physical Exploration
Reach, grasp, press, and explore materials with hands or assistive tools
Practice fine motor control through crafting, gluing, and decorating
Navigate the wall space with support, using visual and tactile cues
Suggested Resources
Sensory Harvest Festival offers a practical guide to creating and delivering an inclusive, multisensory harvest-themed assembly, collective worship, or sensory celebration welcoming the whole school community into a shared celebration. Rooted in accessibility, creativity, and connection, it offers immersive storytelling experiences that foster emotional engagement, cognitive development, and active participation.
Shaped by the practices of SEND and specialist provisions settings, this resource blends practical advice with a harvest-themed sensory story to encourage active engagement.
Whether you're leading 10 or 500 students, this guide helps you create moments of connection that every student can access and enjoy.
The resource provides all the tools including a fully planned script for the assembly, collective worship or sensory celebration, practical advice, and strategies of overcoming challenges of navigating large-group dynamics and responsibility, safety and suitability when using sensory props and includes whole school learning objectives.
With rhyming verse, prop cues, and closing rituals, Sensory Harvest invites students to experience and celebrate harvest through a multisensory lens to explore and connect in a space where every sense is welcome.
Step into the gentle rhythms of farm life with The Farm, a fully resourced, inclusive sensory story. This poetic, step-by-step guide invites learners into a world of tactile exploration, rhythmic storytelling, and global celebration.
From the Sensory Cow Craft Activity to Making Dough using a range of grains, each activity is crafted to foster connection, support engagement and foster choice-making, and sensory engagement.
Discover Farming Culture Around the World, explore Traditional Methods, and journey through Victorian Farm History with accessible, multisensory cues.
The resource includes:
Farmyard Art & D&T projects with sensory textures
Food Technology & Healthy Eating activities
Farmyard PE & Yoga for movement and regulation
Farm-Themed Literacy, Numeracy & Sorting tasks
Plants & Life Cycles, Farm Safety, and Science prompts
Understanding the World: Farm Animals with amazing facts
Role Play, Small World Play, and Trips & Enrichment Ideas
Classroom Wall Display and a spotlight on Fairfield School, Batley
Whether you're crafting a Sensory Farm, counting with Farmyard Songs, or exploring Sorting & Measures, this book offers a rich tapestry of inclusive learning — poetic, practical, With rhythmic verse and vivid imagery, this sensory story invites story explorers to experience the farm through a multisensory lens, to explore and connect in a space where every sense is welcome.
This Month in History
2 Sep The Anniversary of The Great Fire of London
Marking the Great Fire of London on 2 September invites learners to explore how a single spark reshaped a city, leading to lasting changes in architecture, safety, and community resilience. Its dramatic, sensory-rich story offers powerful opportunities for inclusive storytelling, tactile exploration, and poetic reflection.
Sensory-Rich Activity Idea
Flames in Motion Art
Suggested Resource
The Great Fire of London Sensory Story and Sensory Rich Activities
Bring history to life and explore the Great Fire of London with this interactive sensory story and inclusive, engaging, and sensory friendly activity pack aimed at sensory learners of all ages.
Relive the fire through a fully resourced, step-by-step sensory story, gain inspiration from the grab and go Sensory Table. Immerse your students in sensory activities as they re-live excerpts from Samuel Pepys’ Diary through the senses, explore how fire and heat change materials, create a sensory wall display, delve into sensory art activities, watch light, and shadow dance across surfaces, recreating London’s fiery night, fight the flames and rebuild the city...and more!
Includes clear learning objectives to help you plan and assess.
Saints and Sacred Days in September
There are seven saints and sacred days celebrated in the Christian calendar in September.
Activity Idea
Explore the story of the birth of the Virgin Mary through a sensory story.
SUGGESTED RESOURCE
Throughout September, seven saints’ and sacred days are marked.
Marking saints and sacred days, each verse in this sensory story invites quiet reflection and symbolic engagement.
The sensory story weaves together props: scents, textures, sounds, and tastes to evoke sacred themes, while soft gestures and sensory cues offer a multisensory pathway to spiritual literacy, emotional ease, inclusive multisensory engagement.
Back to School
Peer Matching Photo Card Activity - One Card, One Connection
Perfect for incorporating into circle time, this activity supports recognition and match visual representations of peers, promoting social awareness, identity recognition, and engagement.
You will need
Laminated headshots of students and staff.
Steps
Present the single card in the learner’s hand.
Invite the learner to look at the photo and explore the facial features
Gently prompt: “Can you find this friend?” or "Who is this?"
Support the learner in approaching the peer shown and offering a wave, smile, or handing the card—whatever feels comfortable.
This will foster recognition, interaction, and gentle communication
Celebrate the connection with a sensory cue (gentle clap, bell, or verbal praise).
SUGGESTED RESOURCE
This resource is your go-to for easing into the new term—packed with calming, sensory-rich activities to help learners feel safe, seen, and settled....just print, prep, and go!
This sensory story supports a range of learning objectives, including responding to familiar routines and sensory cues through sound, texture, scent, and movement. It encourages recognition of daily transitions—waking, dressing, travelling, arriving at the school/setting, and enjoying classroom activities though to the end of the day—while promoting expressive communication and emotional connection. Learners are invited to explore sensory materials developing fine motor skills and sensory awareness. The story fosters anticipation and engagement, supports self-regulation through calming and stimulating moments, and builds social confidence by introducing shared experiences and new friendships in a welcoming classroom environment.
Includes clear learning objectives to help you plan and assess.
SUGGESTED RESOURCE
This resource is your go-to for easing into the new term—packed with calming, sensory-rich activities to help learners feel safe, seen, and settled....just print, prep, and go!
This sensory story supports a range of learning objectives, including responding to familiar routines and sensory cues through sound, texture, scent, and movement. It encourages recognition of daily transitions—waking, dressing, travelling, arriving at the school/setting, and enjoying classroom activities though to the end of the day—while promoting expressive communication and emotional connection. Learners are invited to explore sensory materials developing fine motor skills and sensory awareness. The story fosters anticipation and engagement, supports self-regulation through calming and stimulating moments, and builds social confidence by introducing shared experiences and new friendships in a welcoming classroom environment.
Includes clear learning objectives to help you plan and assess.
Communication Passport/All About Me Sensory Boxes
These are Communication Passports/All About Me profiles in the form of a box filled with sensory items that tell another person about an individual. They help people involved in the person's life to learn and understand more about the person, their likes, and sensory preferences, build bonds and aid communication.
The boxes are perfect to set up in the Autumn term to welcome new students to your setting, and for students changing classrooms as it helps you all get to know one another.
11 Sept - The Anniversary of the Birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi
Modern history founder Ulisse Aldrovandi was known for his studies of animals, plants, and minerals.
Present a range of animals, plants, and minerals for sensory exploration
Animals: (Fake) fur, suede, chamois leather/leather, wool
Herbs: Basil, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme.
Minerals: Calcite, crystals, rocks, stones or gold, silver, and copper-coloured items (coins, dress jewellery, foil, stainless steel items.)
Promote Sorting & Categorisation Skills
Can the sensory explorer group the items according whether they are animal derived, plant or mineral?
9 Sept - National Teddy Bear Day
National Teddy Bear Day is celebrated to honour the timeless comfort and companionship these cuddly friends bring to children and adults alike!
Below are suggested activities for holding a sensory Teddy Beard Picnic
SUGGESTED RESOURCE
'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' Sensory Story and Sensory-Rich Activities
Join Goldilocks on a sensory adventure with the bears with this fully resourced, step-by-step multisensory story with sensory-rich activities.
This story pack invites learners to explore sound, touch, taste, and scent through themed activities that bring the bears’ home to life. From the rustle of a listening game to the softness of an oat bath, each experience is designed to nurture sensory awareness, emotional connection, and creative expression.
Learners will sculpt with salt-dough, stir oat milk in the Three Bears’ kitchen, and discover textures in a hard-and-soft bin. Whether making a bear habitat or sharing a warm bear hug, this journey blends storytelling with sensory play—perfect for inclusive classrooms.
Sept 13 - Roald Dahl Day
Explore the Main Characters in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl through the Senses
Suggested Props:
Augustus Gloop – Gloop. Mix cornflour and water to the ratio of 2:1, (Option to add food colouring and essences/flavourings)
Charlie Bucket – Bucket
Grandpa Joe – Slippers
Mike Teavee – Large square glasses, cardboard box TV, or old TV remote control (batteries removed)
Mr Bucket (Charlie’s Dad) – Toothpaste or fresh mint (this is a reference to the job he held screwing the tops onto toothpaste tubes)
Oompa-Loompas – Orange/satsuma or orange face paint
Veruca Salt: Salt Dough. Mix 1 cup plain flour, ½ cup table salt, ½ cup water. (Option to add food colouring and essences/flavourings to enhance the sensory experience)
Violet Beauregarde – Parma violets, violet essential oil, violet flowers
Violet flowers are edible. Ensure the flowers are freshly picked, washed, are disease and pest free and have not been treated with pesticides.
Willy Wonka - Walking Stick
Extend Learning
Give everyone a prop.
Describe the characters in the story.
Can the individuals guess which character they are according to the prop?
15 Sep - International Dot Day
International Dot Day is inspired by the book The Dot by Peter H Reynolds. It is a charming story of courage and creativity as a little girl makes her mark with a single dot inspiring others to do the same.
Join me as I share my sensory-rich ideas and activities to invite Neurodiverse, Sensory, PMLD and SEND learners to celebrate the day. From dotting dressing up, a dotty sensory umbrella, dotty sensory bottle to ideas to engage the five senses.
Suggested Resource
Explore the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of shapes with this fully resourced, step-by-step, sensory story with facilitation guidance.
Includes 130 sensory-rich shape themed classroom based activities
14 Sep - World First Aid Day
Explore the contents of a First Aid Bag/Box This activity will raise awareness of the contents of a first aid box and reduce any anxiety some individuals may have around first aid.
Explore the contents of the first aid box.
Practice applying dressings and bandages.
Discuss how to raise the alarm should there be an incident
Discuss when and how to ring 999 for an ambulance. Engage in role play practicing making a 999 telephone, call using an old mobile phone (battery removed)
First Aid Box Contents*
Burns gel dressings
Adhesive tape to secure dressings
An updated first aid guidance leaflet.
Sterile plasters of assorted sizes
Large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings
Sterile eye pads
Triangular bandage
Disposable gloves
Foil blanket
Sterile wound wipes
Finger dressing
*The contents of your first aid boxes may differ to the items in the list.
20-25 Sep - Fire Door Safety Week
22 Sep - Rosh Hashanah
A two-day festival celebrating Jewish New Year which begins in the Autumn.
Apples and honey symbolise 'Sweet New Year'
22 Sep - Autumn Equinox
'At the bottom of my garden underneath the apple trees,
I heard a little rustle, amongst the autumn leaves
A sudden gust of wind, blew the leaves apart
And what I saw inside those leaves, lightened up my heart'
Make an Autumn Sensory Box
Autumn Sensory Box
This seasonal sensory box invites exploration through scent, texture, light, and sound. It includes an assortment of leaves—dried bay, curry, lime, and fresh sprigs of rosemary and thyme—to enrich the olfactory experience. A colour-changing light cube adds visual intrigue, while straw evokes the autumn harvest.
To represent hedgehogs, a nail brush and koosh ball offer contrasting textures, alongside a Talking Tile with a recorded hedgehog sound. A piece of bark and scattered pinecones add woodland authenticity.
The hedgehogs are crafted from Play-Doh, with dried spaghetti spikes—an engaging fine motor activity.
Pop in a magnifying glass and torch to encourage scientific investigation and close-up discovery.
You can simplify the activity by adding less items.
SUGGESTED RESOURCE
Autumn Sensory Story with Sensory-Rich Thematic Activities for Neurodiverse, Sensory, PMLD and SEND Learners FULLY REVISED SEPT 25
Step into the golden hush of autumn with this fully resourced, inclusive sensory story which includes sensory-rich activities. Rooted in poetic rhythm and rich sensory detail, this collection invites exploration through touch, taste, sound, and scent, celebrating the season’s gentle transformations.
Inside you’ll find:
A fully resourced sensory story with full facilitation guidance that brings autumn to life through evocative language and multisensory cues.
Over 50 Autumn-themed activities from exploring nature items, sensory boxes, building sensory scarecrows, and the vibrant colours, smells, textures, and taste of Autumn, listening to and creating soundscapes using everyday objects, to making sensory scarecrows, bug houses, and more...
Full learning objectives to help you plan, differentiate and assess
Other News
Spanish Market - A Sensory Journey
I was delighted to be invited by the fabulous Joanna Grace write a sensory story for The Sensory Projects.
This story invites you to step into the heart of a vibrant Spanish market, brought to life through the senses. Inspired by a decade immersed in Spanish life when I travelled Spain, this story invites you to experience the rich sounds, scents, tastes, and textures that fill its bustling streets.
Together, we'll explore the vibrant market with every step.
Get your copy here:
Marvin’s Storytime Show is a joyful, inclusive online literacy programme designed especially for children with complex needs, sensory impairments, and profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) created by Gwyn McCormack, Director of Positive Eye.
The live shows and the opportunity to watch the recordings on Marvin’s Story Time Channel are both free. Once schools or families sign up, I send the ZOOM link for the live shows and the password to access the Marvin Story Time Channel and the shows already recorded.
The link for the full programme schedule and booking spot is https://marvinstorytimeshow.co.uk/product/marvins-story-time-show/
Watch this space!
As many of you will know, I have been working hard this year writing and I am delighted to tell you that my book Sensory Spaces: An A–Z of Immersive and Creative Environments to Support Sensory Integration published by Routledge, is set to release on 23 October 2025.
A huge thank you to everyone who has been involved in this project and to the fabulous team at Routledge!
Find out more!
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 invite learners to be curious and try new ideas and skills, inspiring imaginative play, creativity and storytelling. This comprehensive A-Z shows readers how to create easily customisable spaces for learning, sensory engagement and relaxation, using a host of everyday items.
It is packed full of:
• tools and strategies to provide positive experiences and the best outcomes for an inclusive education;
• ideas for connecting learners to different areas of the curriculum;
• sensory-rich activities to support the mental health and wellbeing of people with complex and additional needs; and
• case studies and examples from guest contributors to showcase a wide range of sensory spaces in practice.
With a rich selection of colour photographs, this essential guide will inspire you to create spaces for learners to take ownership of their sensory explorations in creative, immersive and stimulating environments. It is a valuable resource for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and mainstream teachers, SEND coordinators, teaching assistants, early years practitioners, play therapists, parents and carers, and anyone with an interest in engaging learners through the senses.
Critics Reviews
"An essential companion for all educators, this easy-to-use A-Z has inspiring ideas popping from every page. Sensory Spaces is an invaluable guide bursting with dynamic, innovative solutions. Notebook and pen ready, delve in, be excited, be enthused; create amazing sensory spaces for all your learners from the wonderful ideas. A must-have for both first-time educators entering the world of sensory learners and experienced educators seeking new inspiring ideas. The depth and breadth of this guide are phenomenal!"
Gwyn McCormack, director, Positive Eye Ltd
"This thoughtfully designed and accessible book would have been invaluable when I began working with children and young adults. Victoria offers a wealth of knowledge alongside innovative, sensory-rich provocations and experiences for the early years, SEND, young people and adults. A truly multi-generational resource, it empowers educators, carers and parents to foster meaningful learning through imagination, creativity and storytelling. This book is an inspiring and practical guide for anyone committed to enriching developmental experiences across all ages."
Gina Bale, creator, Littlemagictrain
"Victoria stands with teachers, teaching assistants, care workers, family members and anyone who wishes to share fun and engaging times with and support someone with complex disabilities and neurodivergent conditions. This joyful book offers a helping hand, a pick-me-up, a message to say that you are not alone. Thumbing through the pages, you will find ideas from a whole team of contributors ready to take tired hands and say, ‘Let’s have some fun; let’s go on a sensory adventure.’ I invite you to adventure within these pages and within the spaces you may create inspired by them."
Dr Joanna Grace, sensory engagement and inclusion specialist
"This is a practical and empowering guide filled with easy-to-adapt ideas for creating inclusive sensory environments on any budget. Victoria brings together deep knowledge, creativity and compassion to support learners of all ages and needs. A brilliant go-to resource for educators, families and anyone looking to make a sensory difference."
Dr Sarah Moseley, author, consultant and trainer in SEND and inclusive practice
Find out more!
Full List of Titles
Seasons
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
A Winter Walk
January Through the Senses
The Weather
Culture & Celebrations
A Train Ride Through India
Book Day
Bonfire Night
Burns Night
Chinese New Year
Diwali
Halloween
Harvest Festival
Holi
Harvest Festival
The Witch
Life Skills, Self Care, Routines and Transitions
Back to School
Jobs and Work Experience
People Who Help Us – The Special School Superheroes
The Dentist
Washing Hands
RE
Sensory Saints
St Patrick’s Day
Maths
Shapes – A Multisensory Exploration
Topics and Themes
Airports and Airplanes
Elephants
Journey into Space
Minibeasts
The Beach
The Farm
The Rainforest
History
Benjamin Franklin
The King’s Coronation
The Queens Jubilee
The Great Fire of London
The Romans
VE Day
Reference
Listen – An A-Z of Sensory Inspiration to Stiumlate the Auditory System
Sensory Resources for Sensory Learners (800+ Ideas)
Christmas
Dear Santa (Includes How to Adapt into a Play)
Rudolph’s Carrots
Traditional Tales
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Jack and the Beanstalk
Little Red Riding Hood
The Gingerbread Man
The Three Little Pigs
Visit the Story Library for your FREE resources
View the Catalogue
Training
1-1
Groups
Whole Setting
INSET
The Health & Safety Bit!
Please Read Before Engaging in any of the Activities
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.
Your questions, queries, comments and feedback are always welcome!
Get in Touch!
Website: www.rhymingmultisensorystories.com
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Facebook: Victoria Navin RMSS
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Send me a message via social media:)
'Have a great month...see you in October'
Victoria:)
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