Create a plan which includes a balance of child-initiated and adult-led play opportunities for: Sensory

play
Aim: Nature's Touch Garden
The activity fosters sensory development and exploration, linking to the Early Years Foundation Stage
(EYFS) framework's understanding the world and physical development areas. It aligns with Montessori and
Reggio Emilia approaches, emphasizing hands-on experiences and child-led exploration.
 Foster sensory development and exploration through tactile experiences.
 Encourage curiosity, discovery, and exploration of natural elements.
 Promote language development as children describe their sensory experiences.
 Develop fine motor skills through manipulating various textures and materials.
 Create an inclusive environment catering to diverse sensory needs and preferences.
 Support independent exploration while offering guided sensory experience
Describe how you will provide an enabling Resources:
environment:  Natural materials such as sand, pebbles,
I will designate a safe and spacious area for the sensory water, leaves, pinecones, shells, feathers,
garden, ensuring it's free from hazards and equipped with fabrics with various textures, and scented
natural elements such as sand, water, leaves, textured herbs or flowers for sensory exploration.
fabrics, and tactile materials.  Sensory bins, containers, or designated
I will ensure proper supervision and hygiene practices to stations for arranging and displaying the
maintain a safe and healthy environment, adhering to materials.
health and safety guidelines.
Theoretical perspectives that have influenced your plan:
Montessori's sensorial education emphasizes the importance of sensory experiences in early learning. The
Reggio Emilia approach values child-initiated exploration and considers the environment as the third teacher,
influencing this activity's setup and facilitation.
Your role and the role of others:
As the facilitator, my role primarily involves nurturing child-initiated exploration within the sensory garden. I
observe children's interactions with the materials, providing guidance and support when necessary.
Additionally, I lead structured sessions aimed at introducing novel sensory experiences. During these
sessions, I encourage discussions about the senses and guide conversations around the observations made by
the children. Through these interactions, I aim to expand their understanding of sensory stimuli while
fostering language development and critical thinking skills.
Others' Role: The assistance and support from others play a vital part in creating an enriching environment
for the sensory play activity. Their involvement begins with setting up the sensory garden, ensuring that it is
safe and inviting. Additionally, their responsibility includes the continuous monitoring and replenishing of
materials to sustain a rich sensory experience. Furthermore, their active participation during children's
exploration of the garden is essential. They assist children in navigating through the sensory elements,
encouraging engagement and curiosity. Moreover, they play a pivotal role in fostering social interactions
among the children, facilitating communication, collaboration, and sharing of experiences within the group.
Their involvement contributes significantly to creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere conducive to
the children's sensory exploration and learning.
Differentiation:
For children with sensory sensitivities, I will provide a range of materials with different textures and
introduce them gradually to prevent overwhelming sensory input.
I will offer adaptive tools such as brushes or gloves for children with sensory challenges to comfortably
engage in tactile activities.
I will incorporate visual aids or verbal cues for children with sensory impairments to facilitate their
exploration and engagement.
Description of play activity/ learning opportunity:
Child-Initiated Play: Within the Nature's Touch Garden, children are invited to embark on an independent
sensory expedition. Here, they are greeted by an array of diverse tactile materials, each beckoning them to
explore and discover. Engaging with sand, water, leaves, pinecones, shells, feathers, and assorted fabrics, the
children delve into a world of textures, shapes, and sensory experiences. This unstructured play empowers
them to freely interact with the natural elements, fostering self-directed learning and sparking an innate
curiosity. As they touch, feel, and manipulate these materials, they embark on an exploration that encourages
their natural inquisitiveness and nurtures their individual sensory preferences.
Adult-Led Play: Complementing the child-initiated exploration, facilitators guide specific sensory stations
within the garden. At these designated stations, new sensory experiences await the children. Guided by
facilitators, the children encounter scented herbs that fill the air with fragrant aromas, textured surfaces that
invite tactile exploration, and intriguing sound boxes that produce an assortment of captivating sounds. These
structured sessions aim to stimulate the children's senses and provoke their curiosity. As facilitators introduce
these novel experiences, they encourage the children to delve deeper, to explore and investigate using their
senses. This guided play prompts the children to articulate their observations and experiences, fostering
language development as they describe the scents, textures, and sounds they encounter. Through this
structured interaction, children not only expand their sensory vocabulary but also develop their
communication skills by expressing their sensory perceptions to others.
Overall, this blend of child-initiated and adult-led play within the Nature's Touch Garden offers children a
rich and diverse sensory landscape. It provides an environment that respects their natural inclination for
exploration while also guiding them towards new sensory encounters, enhancing their cognitive, linguistic,
and sensory development.