Students with visual impairments need to use all available senses to learn about and understand the world around them. These skills allow students to effectively access the curriculum, learn new concepts, and communicate with others. (Retrieved from: prcvi.org)
The senses include:
- Vision
- Smell
- Taste
- Touch
- Hearing
- Movement
Going outside is a great opportunity to use the senses to explore the world around us. Dress for the weather and be open to the wide variety of sensory experiences just outside your door!
- Setting the Stage for Sensory Stories
Sensory stories are a great way to include all the senses into story-telling and is an approach often enjoyed by parents and children alike. - A Sensory Activity: Sensory Hopscotch
To make a tactile hopscotch board, you can use pieces of cardboard, small mats or hula hoops. - Sensory Craft: Hammered Leaf and Flower Prints
- Sensory Craft: Collectible Box
Take the objects that you have gathered from your walk outdoors to complete a sensory box craft. - Sensory Craft: Making Sensory Bottles
Crafty ways to use the items collected on your nature walk. - Explore Outside! Part 6 - Movement
Explore ways to use movement outdoors. - Explore Outside! Part 5 - Taste
Take your lunch or a snack outside with your child and take some time to think and talk about taste. - Explore Outside! Part 4 - Touch
Explore Through Song - Explore Outside! Part 3 - Hearing
Let's Go for a Sound Walk - Explore Outside! Part 2 - Smell: Scent Scrapbook
Help your child create a scent scrapbook - Explore Outside! Part 1 - Vision: Visual Scanning
When exploring the environment outside, you can teach visual scanning through play.