Wednesday 22 April 2015

Bearhunt Sensory Walk

I'm extremely lucky to have and work in a job that I love, not many people can say that. I work for a disabled and special educational needs centre, very closely within the Pre-School sessions and team. Although I'm currently on Maternity leave, I'm actually looking forward to going back to work for a few hours a day, as much as ill miss my son like mad, I think it will do us both good - and give me more pennies to spend on him!!
 
I've decided to post about last year's Sensory "BearHunt" Book Day - it took a lot of planning and was an overall total success! The children thoroughly enjoyed the day!
 
(The full board of images can be found via Pinterest here: https://www.pinterest.com/aimeeejayneee/parc-book-day-going-on-a-bear-hunt/)
 
Practically everyone knows the story - a group of children go on a bear hunt, over
various obstacles which included grass, a cold river, mud, a forest and finally a snowstorm.
We started off with "The Long Wavy Grass". I simply shredded various colours of green paper and threw them all into a big pile inbetween our two green sponge chairs. The aim was to get the children to crawl underneath the "long grass". The children had so much more fun chucking it around the room tho! If they were enjoying a pile of shredded paper, wait  they saw what else lied in store!!

 
Long Wavy Grass!
 
Next we progressed onto the "deep cold river" which was a tuft spot layered with blue tissue paper, water and blue glitter.  I also added some laminated coloured in fish with little magnets on the back, and provided "fishing rods" which were bamboo sticks also with magnets attached to "hook" onto the fish. Most of the children were wearing wellies so they jumped straight in and had a splash about in the water! There was also a bubble machine running In the background around this area, and the children also really enjoyed going mega hyper and chasing the bubbles about! Next up, was the "thick, oozy mud!"
 
 
The Deep Cold River!
 
Bubble Fun!
 
The mud was simply cornflour and water mixed together with orangey brown paint. It was loaded onto a dinner lap tray and spoons and utensils provided for the children to experiment with. Total also highly recommended here as it gets quite messy!!
 
Thick Oozy Mud!
 
Now it was onto the "big dark forest". For this, we placed a semi awing tent up and over to create a darker spot underneath. I also placed a few christmas trees either side to give it a forest feel! 
Big Dark Forest!
 
Inside the "big dark forest" was a sensory table, which included a few simple sensory items - laminated coloured autumn leaves, pine cones of various sizes which all smelt gorgeous, felt leaves which were cut out, dried autumn leaves, sticks and a few soggy wet leaves too! It was fun comparing al the different textures!
Forest Sensory Table
 
Lastly, before the "Bear Cave" we were met with the "Swirly Whirly Snowstorm!" Which was a snow machine ladled with bubble mixture which gave us an awesome thick bubbly snow effect. This was the best bit as the children ran from one area to the other and couldn't understand why it was "snowing" in one particular area!
 
 Children having fun in the "swirly whirly snowstorm!
 
 
The "Snow!"
 
The children were then lead to the Bear Cave, where they tiptoes quiet as mice to finaly meet... THE BEAR!! Unfortunately, I cannot place photos of the Bear in his cave, for confidentiality reasons as too many childrens faces are visable. We persuaded one of the lovely (and very tall!) play workers to dress in a Teddy Bear Mascot costume, which he willingly said yes to (as much of a big kid as I am and the children!) He sat and waited in our "Bear Cave" waiting for the children. Our bear wasn't a scary bear tho! He was armed with cuddles and cookies for the children, to which they became very excited for - unsure if it was due to the cuddle from the bear, or the cookies.... Most likely the cookies....
 
Overall the whole experience and scenario was a lovely day, the children thoroughly enjoyed it, and was fantastic to bring a story to live and have the children physically "be-a-part-of-it". Fantastic day had by all. Big thanks to all my lovely helpers who made it possible, and of course, the children.
 
 

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