Sensory Stories By David Wilson

SEND stories are part of our creative commons license. Therefore, this requires re-users to give credit to the creator. It allows re-users to distribute, remix, adapt and build upon the material in any medium or format and for non commercial purposes only. If others modify or adapt the material you must license the modified material under identical terms.

© 2025. This work is openly licensed via CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Welcome to Our Sensory Stories Collection

Sensory Stories are short, immersive experiences designed to support learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including those with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).

These resources use language, rhythm, sound, texture, and visual cues to create engaging, multi-sensory learning opportunities. They are ideal for use at home or in the classroom and are designed to be adaptable to suit individual needs and environments.

About the Author

These stories have been developed by David Wilson, an experienced educator and advocate for inclusive learning. David has worked extensively in the field of SEND education and hopes these resources support meaningful engagement and learning for all.

Help Us Share the Stories

We are keen to see these stories reach as many families, educators, and settings as possible. Please feel free to share this page with your networks. In addition, here is a link to further resources: Additional Sensory Stories

Why not have a go yourself:

If you are inspired, why not try to adapt these existing stories or design your own sensory stories for your own children.

Top tips:

• Start with a short story.
• Limit yourself to 1 sheet of a4.
• Remember to use all the senses; smell, taste, feeling, movement and sound.
• It is always a good idea to use music for transitions.
• Try and use accessible materials (everyday materials)

Ammonite

The story of an ancient ammonite from shallow seas to fabulous fossil.

Themes: Science, The Earth, Fossils

Category: Science & Nature

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Animal Farm

A sensory version of Orwell’s cautionary tale.

Themes: Animals, Farms, Classical Literature

Category: Classical Literature

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Animals Like to Move It

A fun visit to the zoo. What animals will we see? Let’s find out how they move.

Themes: Animals, Movement

Category: Science & Nature

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Auntie Anne’s Island Adventure

Anne travels by taxi, train, plane and boat to a remote island.

Themes: Travel & Transport, Around the World

Category: Travel & Transport

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Beowulf

A sensory version of the Saxon epic story.

Themes: Saga, History, Bravery, Classical Literature

Category: Classical Literature

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Bo – The Cloud Who Couldn’t Rain

The story of a little cloud who can’t rain. What will he do as he drifts over the desert?

Themes: Weather, Environment, Resilience

Category: Science & Nature

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A Bug’s Life

Have fun find out about minibeasts.

Themes: Science, Nature, Minibeasts

Category: Science & Nature

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The Café Cat of Sankyo Street

An exploration of Japanese food and café culture through the eyes of a café cat.

Themes: Food, Around the World

Category: Around the World

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Electric Edison

A celebration of Thomas Edison and the power of electricity.

Themes: Science, Technology, Electricity, History

Category: Science & Nature

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Electricity

Let’s find out about electricity.

Themes: Science, Technology, Electricity

Category: Science & Nature

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The Elves and the Shoemaker

A sensory retelling of the classic children’s story.

Themes: Design, Thankfulness, Classical Story

Category: Classical Literature

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Farm Boy

A simple sensory story based on Michael Morpurgo’s children’s classic.

Themes: Animals, Farms, Classical Literature

Category: Classical Literature

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Macbeth

Shakespeare goes sensory. Watch out for the witches!

Themes: Magic, Good vs Bad, Classical Literature

Category: Classical Literature

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Oliver

Dicken’s story of Victorian suffering and hope in sensory form.

Themes: History, Food, Victorians, Classical Literature

Category: Classical Literature

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Pebble in my Pocket

An aeons-old story behind a pebble on the beach.

Themes: Science, The Earth, The Past

Category: Science & Nature

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Persephone

The Greek myth of Persephone, queen of the underworld and goddess or Spring.

Themes: Seasons, History, Myth

Category: Classical Literature

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The Secret Garden

The classic, sweet story by Frances Hodgson Burnett brought to sensory life.

Themes: Nature and Gardens, Friendship, Classical Literature

Category: Classical Literature

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The Smiling Rabbit

A fun Mexican folk tale in sensory form.

Themes: Around the World, Animals, Mexico

Category: Around the World

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Summer Holiday

Bringing a sunny Summer visit to the beach to life.

Themes: Seasons, Nature, Travel, Weather, Sun Safety

Category: Travel & Transport

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Sycamore Gap

The story of the Sycamore Gap tree over more than 100 years.

Themes: Nature, Plants, History

Category: Science & Nature

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Terracotta Army

The story behind China’s the awe inspiring terracotta army.

Themes: Around the World, History, China

Category: Around the World

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The Mean Old Man and the Cherry Blossom Tree

A humerous Japanese cautionary tale encouraging sharing and humour.

Themes: Around the World, Moral Values, Japan, Classical Story

Category: Around the World

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The Tempest

Plenty of opportunities for excitement and and drama in this story based on Shakespeare’s classic.

Themes: Nature, Weather, Magic, Moral Values, Classical Literature

Category: Classical Literature

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Under the Bodhi Tree

A sensory story based on Siddhartha Guatama’s quest for enlightenment.

Themes: Relligion, Buddhism, Nature

Category: Around the World

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