One of the OTs on our staff works in a classroom for students with significant intellectual disabilities, and she took this photo of a sensory station fabricated by the classroom teacher. It sits atop a large table and a variety of ever-changing, eye-catching items are hung from the horizontal bar for the students to visually and tactually explore. Students are always supervised while using the sensory station.
I think it would be fun to include olfactory items--a stuffed animal that has spent the weekend bagged up with a tablespoon of cinnamon, or a piece of textured fabric which has been doused with lemon oil. One specific smelly treat per day, or change it up every week.
Use caution--some students are very sensitive to certain scents, even if they're just in the same room.
2 comments:
I love your blog and love this activity idea! As a school district OT with limited supplies and a nonexistent budget, these ideas are wonderful!
Thx very much! I scrounge the scrap paper bins in the school work rooms many mornings a week, using leftovers to make the cut-outs for my students to use in their fine motor activities. Oftentimes I borrow handmade, textured books made by a creative teacher to show another teacher who needs a little inspiration for how to make things for their students. I think if we use the materials that are available in classrooms then our teachers will feel that they can use what they have already and don't need to wait until they have the money to buy or order "special" things.
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