Part 1: Setting the scene
I work in a large special school and we have pupils from the age of 2 years and some remain with us until they leave at 19. I work as part of the KS2 phase and try to use the same topics as the other classes as part of the long term plan. This term is WWII and the Blitz. In my class there are 5 pupils; 1 is ambulant and the other 4 are wheelchair users.
After my initial thoughts that this topic was not suitable for my PMLD class I quickly revised that idea.
I work with a good team and before we knew it we had thrown together lots of ideas and then I thought of the story Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian. Surprisingly, some of the class staff did not know the story so a quick trip to the school library sorted that.
We decided to make the focus of our sensory area an air raid shelter at the bottom of a garden so an SOS was sent out to all staff and parents to ask if anyone had an old tent (that they didn’t want back) as the basis of our shelter. With the promise of one we started the summer break.
Now, something you need to know about me is that I am a collector – of everything that ‘might come in useful’. (The other staff in the school who need something random often start their search with me).
I spent the holiday gathering things that we could use – from the shed, charity shops, family and my wonderful cupboard. To develop the sensory experience for my pupils I felt the following would be important:
· Music from the era (CD from charity shop)
· Other sounds – an air raid siren for example (downloaded from internet)
· Foods to smell and taste (corned beef, marmite, spam, Camp Coffee, evaporated milk, condensed milk, loose leaf tea, etc)
· Wrights Coal Tar soap – a wonderful evocative smell for meand probably unknown to the pupils.
· Old suitcases –for the evacuation
· Army boots and helmet
· Tin cups, plates & bowls and wooden spoons – from the charity shop (this would be our band to accompany the songs)
· Artificial grass to be part of the garden (a huge off cut found at the local recycling centre)
· A Union flag – to show our ‘support’
· A washing line full of old fashioned washing (i was given the clothes years ago)
· Replica ration books, identity cards and evacuation labels for the evacuees.
When you start to think, the list goes on and on...
Come back next week for part 2- the lessons!
Jane Daniell is a specialist PMLD teacher and Design and Technology Lead at a 2-19 special school in Warwickshire. If you would like to get in touch, or share your ideas with her (or us!) please do wearetheSENco@hotmail.com
Have a great day and happy teaching, Kate
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