Create a sensory nature box
Help your pupils self-regulate using natural materials.
Learning objectives:
- To explore which natural materials may help individual children to self-regulate
Curriculum links:
- PSHE: Encourages self-regulation, mindfulness and emotional wellbeing through nature-based activities
Key vocabulary
Preparation and equipment
Preparation
Ask pupils to bring in a box (e.g. an old shoebox) to transform into a sensory nature box. Consider the time of year and the range of natural materials available in your outdoor space; you may wish to supplement what’s on offer by collecting items from elsewhere ahead of time.
Equipment
- Boxes (one per pupil)
- Natural materials collected from an outdoor space
- Tissue paper or material for lining (optional)
- Art materials for decoration (optional)
Step by step
- Establish the purpose of a sensory box: it contains things that can help someone to maintain a sense of feeling grounded or relaxed. It can be a useful tool to help self-regulate and pre-emptively manage ‘big emotions’
- Explain that everyone will fill their own box with natural objects of their choice collected outside.
- Take pupils outside. You may wish to start by carrying out a calming mindfulness activity to promote an increased sense of connection to the space and help pupils to associate nature with feelings of calm
- Pupils explore the outdoor space and gather items they would like to include in their sensory box. Encourage them to look for a variety of sizes, textures and colours to mimic nature’s own variety. They could gather items such as sticks, stones, moss, leaves, seeds, feathers or pinecones
- Give the pupils a chance to talk about the items they have chosen and why, either with the group or 1:1 with a trusted friend or adult
- Pupils may wish to decorate their sensory box or line its inside with tissue paper or a piece of material
- Pupils place all their chosen items inside their sensory box and put the box in an accessible location so they can access it independently
- Ask pupils to reflect on times that they think their sensory box may be useful to them
Hints and tips
- Encourage pupils to include items that appeal to a range of senses (e.g. something that feels interesting to touch, something that has an appealing smell, or something that reminds them of a happy feeling or memory)
- Include pupils’ drawings made in an outdoor space, a note they have written to themselves, or photographs of them and their family or friends in an outdoor space