Why use Sensory Stories?

What is a sensory story?

Sensory stories were originally developed for use in special schools. They are concise narratives in which each line of text is partnered with a rich sensory experience that also conveys some of the meaning of the story. People can access a sensory story through the text alone, or through the experiences alone or through a combination of both - they are wonderfully inclusive in this way.

But we don’t need sensory stories in mainstream... or do we?

For starters, sensory stories are a lot of fun, and everyone needs to be having fun. But, for a more educationalist point of view, consider this:

That’s great for little ones, but you wouldn’t use a sensory story with older learners... or would you?

Of course you would! This is like saying “Now you’re an adult, you don’t like stories any more”. Stories permeate our lives, form our identity and underpin our self-esteem. They are how: 

• we parcel up information and remember it
• we make friends and maintain friendships
• we relax and unwind
• we come to understand things from someone else’s point of view
• we prepare ourselves for events we find daunting and how we remember fantastic times

They do all this and more, so of course you would want to share them with older learners!

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
Philip Pullman

But aren’t sensory resources childish?

Of course, if you resource a sensory story with items you bought in a shop aimed at little children, then your story will seem childish. But sensory experiences have no age limit. I have a sensory story about waiting for someone to get a tattoo – tattoo guns are a big sensory experience and certainly not childish!

Okay, so how would a sensory story be useful in my classroom?

Ah, now that is a question I could merrily answer all day long, but I have 100 words left so here’s 3 answers:

1. Sensory revision

Create a sensory story that summarises a topic you’ll be teaching. Share the story at the start of each session, and link each session to one line of the story. By the end of that half term your class will know the story by heart, it’s sensory nature will have driven it deep in their memories, and every line of it will link to something you’ve taught them. A sensory mnemonic as it were!

“The more you leave out, the more you highlight what you leave in.” - Henry Green

2. Memory Activity

Prior to a school trip, let your class know that when they return you’ll be composing a sensory narrative about the experience. On the trip, your students will engage all their senses in exploring the venue, making the experience richer for them. On return to the classroom you can use their sensory insights to compose a story that will connect their senses, and through these their memory, to what they explored on the day.

3. Top tip

It is so difficult to choose a top tip. Use sensory stories to inspire creative writing, use them to generate curiosity about a topic, use them to teach about different abilities, but actually what about the needs in your classroom? All settings are currently experiencing a rise in sensory needs. If you are weaving sensory experiences through your teaching, then you can provide for these needs without isolating or alienating students. When you provide for those who need, you also provide support for a lot more students who do not need, but certainly benefit. Sensory engagement is good for everyone’s wellbeing and motivation and, like I said at the start, it is fun!

For more information about sensory stories please visit http://www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk/the-sensory-story-project

About the author

Joanna Grace is a Sensory Engagement and Inclusion Specialist, Author, Trainer and Founder of The Sensory Projects. You can tweet her on @jo3grace and view her work at http://www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk/

Additional sensory resources

Sensory Process Resource Pack

Sensory bags

Ocean sensory bag

Rise in sensory needs

More ideas for using sensory stories

http://www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk/sensory-stories