(PMLD) Our Academy for Witches and Wizards

Thematic Unit (PMLD) Our Academy for Witches and Wizards OVERVIEW This unit suggests a range of activities centred on an imaginary school for witchcraft, wizardry, magic potions and spells.

The title of this unit and the teaching and learning experiences suggested are delivered through the concept of your own class, department or the whole school becoming, for the duration of the theme, Our Academy for Wizards and Witches.

The unit is focused mainly on Key Stage 3. It provides teaching resources, ideas, lesson plans and activities that you can adapt and modify to enhance the sensory curriculum for learners with PMLD.

Please note: before beginning an activity, check that all the resources are suitable for your individual learners. For example, some essential oils may not be appropriate for young children and others may have contraindications for learners with complex medical needs, life-threatening conditions and/or epilepsy. It is advisable to consult a trained therapist before using essential oils. Contents

Learning Activity 1 Sorcerer Sense Waking up and stimulating the senses...... 2 Learning Activity 2 Welcome to Our Academy An interactive Whiteboard story...... 4 Learning Activity 3 A Witch’s Story A patting story...... 6 Learning Activity 4 Hat or Hand Tricks An art lesson...... 8 Learning Activity 5 Potions and Lotions A mathematics lesson about pattern and sequences...... 10 Learning Activity 6 A Witch’s Brew An interactive drama story...... 12 Learning Activity 7 Bubble Trouble A science lesson about making bubbles...... 14 Learning Activity 8 Levitation Balloons Encouraging body movements by keeping balloons in the air...... 16 Learning Activity 9 Magician Graduation Reflecting on past learning activities and awarding learners with graduation certificates...... 18

Resources...... 20 Acknowledgements...... 26

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 1 Learning Activity 1 Sorcerer Sense

Setting the Scene What to Do Sorcerer Sense is a lesson that you could deliver each Position your learners comfortably and dim the classroom morning to help stimulate the senses and encourage your lights. Begin playing the themed music in the background learners to be more alert and engaged throughout the and display one slide at a time from the Resource 1: day’s planned activities. Waking the Senses. Each slide has an image that focuses on one sense: sight, sound, smell, touch or taste. The lesson incorporates Resource 1: Waking the Senses. Encourage your learners to participate in the following This presentation takes each learner through a range of activities and photograph or record their reactions. stimuli to awaken the five senses. Use magical textures, tastes, sounds, smells and visual aids as prompts and cues. Play magic-themed music in the background throughout the Whiteboard presentation.

2 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary Environment and Society Mathematics

Further Suggestions What You Need Change the stimuli Resource 1: Sight Waking the Senses Darken the room and use a glitter mirror ball to stimulate (Whiteboard Slides) the eyes. Sound • Plasma screen or interactive Use a recording of an owl hooting or an owl musical whiteboard whistle. • Magic-themed music Touch • Glow sticks Add jelly sweets, such as worms, to the jelly to allow your • Chimes learners to progress to exploring and experiencing more • Fresh aromatic herbs such textures. as mint or a scented cream Taste • Jelly Make your own slimy lime jelly with the learners or • Popping candy or powder experiment with colours and flavours to smell, feel or taste. • Camera or device to take Smell photographs and/or videos Invite your learners to smell witch-hazel gel or cream.

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 3 Learning Activity 2 Welcome to Our Academy

Setting the Scene What to Do This learning activity has been designed as a sensory story. Display the slides from Resource 2: Our Academy for It aims to encourage learners to interact with and respond Witches and Wizards. Learners can activate these slides to sounds and visual stimulation using Resource 2: Our themselves. Photograph or film their reactions. Academy for Witches and Wizards, which contains simple tracking and cause and effect activities. Further Suggestions Make a magic wand Learners could create magic wands in an art lesson by wrapping dowelling rods, drumsticks or old paintbrushes in coloured paper and sticky tape.

4 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary English Science and Technology

What You Need

Resource 2: Our Academy for Witches and Wizards (Whiteboard Slides)

• Whiteboard or interactive touch screen • Magic wand (a stylus decorated silver and black) to touch the screen with • Camera or device to take photographs and/or videos

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 5 Learning Activity 3 A Witch’s Story

Setting the Scene What to Do Reinforce the topic by decorating your room with images The storyteller should dress as a witch. To prepare for the of witches on your display boards or floating from the activity, position your learners in the storytelling area with ceiling, using electric fans to make them move. Create a their shoes and socks off and their trousers and sleeves storytelling area decorated with witch-themed items such rolled up. Over time, introduce them to a range of stories as broomsticks, cauldrons and pumpkin fairy lights. and poems about witches. Use the activities outlined in Resource 3: A Witch’s Story to enhance each learners Search online for images of witches. experience..

6 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary English

Further Suggestions What You Need More witch stories Resource 3: You could use these stories as alternatives to read to your A Witch’s Story learners: The Twitchy Witch • Witch wig and hat Visit www.shortstories.net and search under the witch • Broomstick stories category. • Black cloak The Witch who was Frightened of Halloween Visit www.storynory.com and search for The Witch who was Frightened of Halloween.

Read an extract from The Witches by Roald Dahl.

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 7 Learning Activity 4 Hat or Hand Tricks

Setting the Scene Create the fingernails using various materials such as silver card, brightly coloured paper, pieces of sandpaper In this activity, your learners will engage with and have time or strips of coloured plastic bags. Don’t forget to curl the to explore materials to make wizards’ and witches’ hats nails around a pencil for a 3D effect. Use glue to attach the and hands that will glow under ultraviolet light. fingernails onto the hands.

Once created, you could use the hats throughout the rest Search online to find alternative wizard or witch themed art of the unit. For example, each time the learners engage and craft activities. in an activity using the whiteboard or touch screen, they could wear the hats. This will help to connect learning and maintain continuity throughout the theme. Further Suggestions Pictures What to Do Take photos and videos of your learners to project onto a screen so that they can see themselves as wizards and For Witches’ and Wizards’ hats witches. You could use image manipulation software to Using stiff paper or card, create a tall cone shaped wizard’s distort these images to create a more magical feel. or witch’s hat with a wide brim for each learner. Encourage your learners to indicate the colour of card they prefer and to choose which materials they would like to use for decoration.

Create a magical feel by using an area or room with ultraviolet light and mirrors for the learners to see themselves.

Witches’ and Wizards’ hands Prepare your learners for the activity by introducing them to a plastic witch’s hand and encouraging them to explore it and compare it with their own hands.

Offer your learners a choice of different paint colours. Encourage the learner to choose which hand they would prefer to have painted. Paint the learner’s hand in their chosen colour using different textures such as thin brushes, large decorating brushes, sponges or kitchen scourers. Support the learners to make a handprint, where possible encouraging them to make their print independently.

8 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary The Arts (Art and Design) Mathematics

What You Need • Glue • Scissors • Camera or device to take photographs and/or videos

For witches’ and wizards’ hats: • Large sheets of coloured cardboard • Wizard hat template or instructions available from www.firstpalette.com (search for wizard hat) • Materials that glow in ultraviolet light, for example flourescent card, paint or material, white material • Sticky tape or stapler • Mirrors • Ultraviolet light

For witches’ and wizards’ hands: • Plastic witch’s hand • Poster paint • A4 paper to make handprints on • Aromatherapy oils to match each of the paint colours for example lemon for yellow or mint for green • Shiny paper, brightly coloured card, sandpaper, plastic bags cut into pointy nail shapes

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 9 Learning Activity 5 Potions and Lotions

Setting the Scene Movement sequence: • Use a wet wipe and gently rub up and down from the This learning activity uses a multi-sensory hand massage palm of the hand to just above the wrist. Repeat this for involving textures and smells to enhance the experience. the top of the hand. The primary mathematical focus in this lesson is sequence and pattern, although you could easily adapt this. For • While maintaining contact with the learner’s hand, example if shapes are the focus, you could conduct the repeat the above movements using a feather. massage using circular motions and circular shaped • Again, keep contact with the learner’s hand and drop resources. half a teaspoonful of the oil mix or a basic scented hand cream onto the palm. Repeat the movements above. Then, with the palm facing up, start to massage the Points to Note palm using your thumbs simultaneously. Gently start For most learners, lavender and tea tree essential oils to massage each individual finger and thumb. Turn the are considered safe and suitable for use. However, for hand with palm facing down and repeat the above learners with complex medical conditions, including sequence. epilepsy, respiratory complications, high blood pressure • Retain contact with the learner’s hand and sprinkle on or other conditions, there may be contraindications. some talcum powder. Gently rub up and down on the Therefore, always seek advice from parents and a qualified top of the palm to just above the wrist and repeat for aromatherapist or use scented creams. the back of the hand. • Finish by wrapping the learner’s hand in a heated towel. What to Do • Repeat the process for the other hand. Create a calming environment in the classroom with • Take photographs or film your learners as they dimmed lights. Encourage your learners to wear their hats experience the massage. from the previous learning activity. Use a slowly rotating coloured light or mirror ball to create a magical ambience. Play mystical themed classical music in the background. The sequence of your movements should be in time with the rhythm of the music.

Begin massaging one hand at a time. Members of staff should carry this out with each learner on a one-to-one basis. Massage each hand using the same hand actions, sensory experiences and techniques. Wrap heated towels around the learner’s hands after the massage or if a learner has to wait, wrap their hands before the massage to ensure they are included in the lesson.

10 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary Mathematics Environment and Society

What You Need • Rotating coloured light or mirror ball • Wizard or witch hats (from previous learning activity) • Wet wipes • Feather • Essential oil such as tea tree or lavender (this must be mixed with a base oil by a trained therapist) • Scented hand cream • Talcum powder • Heated towels or heat packs • Shallow tray or table to rest your learners hands on • Suitable background music, for example the theme from a Harry Potter film • Camera or device to take photographs and/or videos

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 11 Learning Activity 6 A Witch’s Brew

Setting the Scene You can find alternative suitable poems online. For example, visit www.fizzyfunnyfuzzy.com and search for Create a witch’s cauldron from black card, a flowerpot or Witches Stew in the Halloween Howlers section of poetry a large saucepan. Depending on the size of the cauldron, themes. fill it with green jelly, orange or green shredded paper or alternative creative resources. Encourage your learners to wear aprons. Position them around the cauldron and support them to touch, squeeze and explore the resources in the cauldron. If you have used What to Do cold jelly, if appropriate, encourage your learners to taste it. Darken the classroom. Add the jelly or shredded paper to Begin to create a potion by adding appropriate ingredients the cauldron and stir, using a long wooden spoon. Create a one by one, for example chocolate mice or jelly sweets spooky atmosphere by reciting some witch poems or spells shaped like spiders, snakes or frogs. Describe each such as: ingredient as you drop it into the cauldron, to involve your ‘Double, double toil and trouble; learners in the process. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble’ Macbeth by William Shakespeare

12 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary English Mathematics The Arts (Drama)

You can find ideas for rhymes to support making the potion Resource 4: at www.kidsonthenet.org.uk by searching for Spellbook in A Witch’s Song the Creative Writing section.

Support your learners to explore the potion. Help them to • Aprons find the hidden creatures and lift them out of the cauldron • Green jelly one by one to feel, smell or taste, if appropriate. • Shredded paper

Use Resource 4: A Witch’s Song to engage your learners • Jelly sweets in a sensory activity. • White chocolate mice • Wig Further Suggestions • Mushy peas More songs and rhymes • Modelling clay • Water spray You can find alternative literacy or drama activities at www.petewells.co.uk • Deodorant • Sound of a scissor snip recorded onto a communication device • Brush • Damp sock • Fizzy drink or juice

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 13 Learning Activity 7 Bubble Trouble

Setting the Scene What to Do This is a science-based lesson that aims to introduce Continuing the theme, learners could wear their wizard learners to new textures and smells. By combining the or witch hats in this lesson and use their wands to stir the ingredients listed opposite, learners will create a chemical mixtures. reaction to make their own kind of magic. Lay all the above ingredients on the teaching table. Give your learners an opportunity to explore each ingredient Points to Note either independently or with support.

As with all chemical reactions, ensure your learners are Take all opportunities to involve your learners in making safe. Learners should wear plastic goggles. If tolerated, this choices such as which food colouring they prefer. will be a new sensory experience in itself. When all your learners have explored the ingredients, begin the experiment: • Place an empty bottle in the middle of a saucepan. • Pour or spoon baking soda into the bottle until it covers the bottom. • In a cup or mug, combine ¼ cup of vinegar, two big drops of washing up liquid and a few drops of food colouring. • Using the funnel, pour this mixture into the bottle. • Stand back and watch as your bubbles erupt! • Take photographs or film your learners’ reactions.

14 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary Science and Technology Mathematics

Further Suggestions What You Need Fun experiments • Clear bottle with a slim neck (like a large juice bottle) Try another experiment. There are plenty of simple experiments to do in the classroom using everyday • Vinegar substances. Visit www.sciencebuddies.org and search • Baking soda for Chemistry in the Physical Science section of the Project • Washing up liquid Ideas tab. • Food colouring (selection of colours) • Saucepan • Glass or mug • Cup measure • Funnel • Spoon • Camera or device to take photographs and/or videos

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 15 Learning Activity 8 Levitation Balloons

Setting the Scene What to Do You should take this lesson in the school hall or a large The buoyancy and weight of balloons make them a great room where there is plenty of space. The lesson aims to resource to use with PMLD learners, as little movement is encourage learners’ independent movement and allows required to make the balloons move. This also makes them them to try key physical education skills such as multi- safer to use with those with limited physical ability. directional movement, speed and playing as a team. Present each learner with a balloon to explore. They This physical activity ties into the Academy for Wizards may try to push the balloons off their laps. Support each and Witches theme by keeping balloons afloat in the air learner hand-over-hand to try to hit the balloon into the ‘magically’. air. Staff could gently hit the balloon towards the learner to encourage the learner to reach out or try to hit it back.

PVC pipes are the best way to make electricity. Plumbers usually have spare pieces of this or you can buy it from a DIY store. Charge the PVC pipe by rubbing it back and forth through your hair or the learner’s hair for 10 seconds. Hold the balloon above the charged pipe and let it drop and touch the pipe. The pipe should repel the balloon, making it float. You will usually have to ‘recharge’ the pipe before each levitation.

Once they have mastered levitating balloons, try moving your learners as they try to keep the balloons afloat.

Use a camera, tablet or video recorder to capture the learners’ participation.

16 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary Physical Education Science and Technology

Further Suggestions What You Need More magic • Inflated balloons Try levitating an orb made from Mylar tinsel, which is • Wands or pieces of PVC pipe available from fishing tackle shops or online. You can find preferably 1 inch wide and instructions for this experiment at www.sciencebob.com by 24 inches long searching for The Amazing Levitating Orb in the Experiments • Camera or device to take section. photographs and/or videos

Instead of using the PVC pipes, play parachute games with balloons. For example, try to keep the balloons on the parachute or see how high they can float.

Have a game of Academy for Wizards and Witches balloon-ball, by using pipes or wands to try to pass the balloon from learner to learner without letting it fall.

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 17 Learning Activity 9 Magician Graduation

Lesson Overview Further Suggestions This activity should take place after the learners have Scrapbook souvenir completed all the activities in the unit. It aims to revisit the Create a scrapbook of photos and textures used in the learning experiences covered and uses prompts and visual activities. You could give these to your learners to bring cues to remind them what they have participated in and home, communicating to parents the achievements of the achieved. wizards and witches in our academy. What to Do Ensure your learners are wearing their wizard or witch hats. Together, view the photographs and videos taken from the past week of activities on a large screen.

Slowly present each picture, describing the events as they unfold. Pause the pictures, as and when appropriate, to allow your learners to connect with the resource that you have chosen to correspond with certain activities. For example, pause on a picture taken during the massage and let each learner smell the oil or cream that you used in the massage.

Play the theme music from a Harry Potter film and present your learners with the certificates from Resource 5: Graduation Certificates.

18 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Areas of Learning Post-Primary English Environment and Society

What You Need

Resource 5: Graduation Certificates

• Whiteboard or plasma screen • Photos or videos from the activities downloaded and ready to be viewed on a large screen • Prompts and cues that represent the activities covered, for example oil or cream used in massage, a paintbrush used in art or a balloon used in PE • Celebratory background music

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 19 Resource 1: Waking the Senses (Whiteboard Slides) Available from the SEN and Inclusion PMLD Sensory curriculum at www.nicurriculum.org.uk

Slide 1: Introduction Introductory slide with (school name) Academy for Witches and Wizards

Slide 2: Sight Use glow sticks for the learners to track. You may need to adapt this lesson for visually impaired learners.

Slide 3: Sound Stop the background music and play chimes to make a magical sound.

Slide 4: Smell Restart the background music. Encourage your learners to smell the fresh herbs or a scented cream.

Slide 5: Touch Guide your learners to explore the jelly. Gelibaf is an alternative that you can find in most resource catalogues.

Slide 6: Taste Where appropriate, let your learners taste the popping candy or powder.

20 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Resource 2: Our Academy for Witches and Wizards (Whiteboard Slides) (1 of 2) Available from the SEN and Inclusion PMLD Sensory curriculum at www.nicurriculum.org.uk

Text, as listed below, to be spoken by the teacher. Slide 1: Title page Text: Welcome to Our Academy for Witches and Wizards

Slide 2 : Images of witches and wizards Text: Deep in a forest, where no one can see Lies a magical place called our academy! Look very closely for a pair of eyes, Follow the trail and there the academy lies

Slide 3: Blinking eyes appear Action: Support the learners to touch the screen to find the blinking eyes.

Slide 4: Wizard and witch appear and disappear Text: Can you see the magic trail? I promise you it is real Use your wand, one, two, three, The magic trail you will see

Slide 5: Pictures of feet forming a magic trail Action: Support your learners to touch the screen where feet will appear to form a magic trail.

Slide 6: Wizard and witch follow trail Text: Well done! you found it, now follow me We’re nearly there, in time for tea Wave your wand and tap once more The Academy for Witches and Wizards will appear, Then enter through the door

Slide 7: Image of a school with a sign saying ‘Our Academy’

Slide 8: Moving door and sound Action: Learner touches the screen to hear a magical door sound.

Slide 9: Wizard and witch appear and disappear Text: Now I’ll show you a magical art Spinning hats is where we’ll start A tap of the wand and one, two, three, The hat will spin, you will see!

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 21 Resource 2: Our Academy for Witches and Wizards (Whiteboard Slides) (2 of 2)

Slide 10: Wizard’s or witch’s hat Action: Learner touches the screen and a hat appears, spins and disappears.

Slide 11: Wizard and witch appear and disappear Text: At our academy, it is important to be, A math’s magician as good as me! Colours, sizes, patterns and more, Potions, lotions and magic galore!

Slide 12: Five different coloured shapes with numbers appear, fly around the screen and then disappear. Action: Learners touch the screen to activate it.

Slide 13: Wizard and witch appear and disappear Text: Maths magicians! You’re surely on your way, To becoming the best magicians our academy has today! Sorcery Science is what we’ll do next, To conjure up a magical bubble mix.

Slide 14: Bubbles ascend from a cauldron Action: Learners touch the screen to see the bubbles appear from the cauldron.

Slide 15: Wizard and witch appear and disappear Text: Now you know the bubble trick, Another taste of our academy’s magic. But can you make things float in the air And, better still, to disappear?

Slide 16: Balloons that can be inflated and burst Action: Learners touch the screen to inflate the balloons and then burst them.

Slide 17: Wizard and witch appear and disappear Text: You are true magicians and learned so well, To float balloons and cast some spells. Now you are masters in wizardry Graduates from our academy!

22 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Resource 3: A Witch’s Story

A Witch Story Sensory Activities I am a mean old witch wearing a wig Using your fingertips, tap the words all over the learner’s head. I ride on broom, which isn’t very big Pat up and down both legs, in time to the words. I wear pointy shoes but have no toes Strum your fingers up and down each bare foot. I have large pink nostrils upon my nose Gently tap your fingers across the learner’s nose. I have long curly claws just like a cat Strum your fingers down the learner’s arms and across the hands and fingers. And my spit is blue what do you think of that? Gently strum your fingers across the learner’s face towards the mouth area. My eyes can change from ice to fire Gently strum your fingers across the learner’s forehead, left to right and then right to left. And I HATE children with all my desire Pat the learner from head to toe.

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 23 Resource 4: A Witch’s Song

Song Sensory Activities Wicked Webster Witch has had the notion, Of making a brand new ugly potion! She needs bits of slime and grease and snot, To put into her ugly pot! First she took some hair from (learner’s Give learners a wig to feel name)’s head, ‘Hmmm, not too greasy!’ the old hag said. ‘Next a bogey picked from (learner’s name)’s Give learners some mushy peas to taste nose, Into my bubbling pot it goes!’ ‘Next some sticky wax from (learner’s name)’s Give learners some modelling clay to feel ear, That’ll do nicely, thank you dear!’ ‘From (learner’s name)’s mouth I need some Spray the learners’ hands, arms or feet with spit, water To spice my mixture up a bit!’ A soggy drip from under (learner’s name)’s Give learners some deodorant to smell arm, Will make my potion work a charm! Next clippings from (learner’s name)’s Play the sound of a scissor snip fingernails, ‘My potion’s looking great!’ Webster wails! A botty burp from (learner’s name)’s bot, Blow up a balloon and let it go Will help this potion smell a lot! A bit of (learner’s name)’s hairy knee, Give learners a brush to feel Makes this potion as powerful as can be. A drop of sweat from (learner’s name)’s feet, Give learners a damp sock to feel And my potion will be complete! But Webster Witch has got it wrong, Give learners a potion – a fizzy drink or juice She made her potion much too strong! – to taste and then support them to look in a Instead of making a spell that’s horribly mirror nauseous, The potion makes you completely gorgeous!

24 Our Academy for Witches and Wizards Resource 5: Graduation Certificates Date: Signed: Has graduated from This is to certify that Master of Wizardry, Sorcerer of Senses, Mathemagician Master of Wizardry,

Our Academy for Witches and Wizards 25 Acknowledgements: Illustrations sourced from Thinkstockphotos.co.uk Cover: iStock Collection © alexandrayurkina and Song Speckels Page 2/3: iStock Collection © colematt Page 4/5: iStock Collection © alexandrayurkina Page 6/7: iStock Collection © DesignLobe Page 7: iStock Collection © Yuan-Den Page 8/9: iStock Collection © artshock Page 10/11: iStock Collection © Marina Lvova Page 12/13: iStock Collection © Pedro Guillermo Angeles-Flores Page 14/15: iStock Collection © stock_shoppe Page 16/17: iStock Collection © Prikhnenko Page 18/19: iStock Collection © Skomorokh Page 18: iStock Collection © imagy Page 25: iStock Collection © Dmytro Beridze; ChrisGorgio; RKaulitzki; and johnny-ka