Our Spitfire VE Day sensory story forms the third of a collection of sensory stories written to be delivered during the week of the 75th VE day celebrations in May 2020, Now Updated for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day in 2025 with a sound board that contains the sounds for our sensory story you can load up on the IWB or an IPAD. These have been written with a broader range of needs than some of our other stories, suitable for EYFS VE Day Activities. The vocabulary is a little more complex and the context is historical rather than linking with the pupil’s lives.
Note: Due to the coronavirus situation, I have not delivered these to a group; you, therefore, have the unadapted version of this story. Usually, I will deliver the sensory story to a PMLD need group and an autism-specific class before sharing. So, apologies for any rough edges. I will also be uploading more VE days resources to accompany this post.
Free VE Day PDF Booklet
I wasn’t quite sure how to approach the Battle of Britain for SEND learners. One of the most effective teaching methods is through storytelling. Download the VE Day sensory story as a free PDF booklet below. In the booklet are suggested sensory resources and movement activities. This story works just as well as an immersive storytelling and I have included some free MP3 sound effect files you can use in powerpoint or to load onto switches etc. We really appreciate a facebook share if you have time.
Our Other two VE Day linked Sensory Stories can be accessed using the buttons below.
Spitfire: A VE Day Sensory Story
Spitfire.
A sunny day.
Sit back, drink tea
Relax and breathe 1,2,3
A phone ringing
The alarm, again
Listen and wait, German planes!
Climb in the seat
Buckle in tight
Take a breath, ready for flight
Start the engines
Propellers turn
Spinning so fast, whirr, whirr, whirr
Ground crew ready
Bright, sunny day
All fueled up, chocks away!
Lift off, we climb
Into the sky
Houses, trees go zooming by.
In formation
Close, wing to wing
Between the clouds swoop and swing
Fighters ahead
We weave and roll
Dials spinning on the console
Engine roaring
Deadly dogfight
Bullets pinging left and right
Watch with horror
My friend gets hit
Clambers out from his cockpit
A parachute
He is alive
His plane spinning in a dive
Spitfires return
History written…
The true battle of Britain
VE Day 80th Anniversary Sounds
Sensory Resources for Each Verse
| Verse / Theme | Sensory Resource 1 | Sensory Resource 2 | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction / Sunny Day | Yellow/gold fabric or cellophane (sunshine) | Cup of warm (decaf) tea to smell/sip (safely) | (None specified) |
| 2. Phone / Alarm | Old-fashioned toy phone / Picture of phone | Vibrating object (tension/alarm) | 1940s Phone Ring |
| 3. Cockpit / Ready | Chair to sit in, scarf/belt to “buckle” | Leather/vinyl fabric (seat texture) | (None specified) |
| 4. Engines Start | Small hand fan / Spinning top (propeller) | Vibrating toy/massager (engine vibration) | Spitfire Engine |
| 5. Chocks Away / Prep | Picture of ground crew / Airfield | Small wooden blocks (“chocks”) to push away | (None specified) |
| 6. Takeoff / Climb | Slowly raise arms / Toy plane upwards | Blue fabric/scarf (sky) / Fan for wind | Spitfire Flying Past |
| 7. Formation / Clouds | Cotton wool balls / White fabric (clouds) | Move two toy planes together smoothly | Spitfire Flying Past |
| 8. Enemy Sighted / Weave | Picture of enemy plane (Messerschmitt) | Spinning dial / Fidget spinner | (Transition/None) |
| 9. Dogfight | Tap fingers rapidly (bullet pings) / Vibrating toy | Red/orange ribbons/streamers (tracer fire) | Dogfight Sounds |
| 10. Friend Hit | Picture of pilot bailing out / Crumpled paper | Mimic climbing/reaching action | (Sudden stop/None) |
| 11. Parachute / Escape | White scarf/tissue to float down (parachute) | Spin a toy plane downwards | (None specified) |
| 12. Return / Victory | Small Union Jack flag / Picture | Model Spitfire plane to hold / Gentle clapping | Churchill Speech “…so few” |
Spitfire Sensory Storytelling Sound Effects
These are the direct links to the sound effect files used in the VE Day soundboard in case you need to embed them in a powerpoint.
80th Anniversary EYFS VE Day Activity Pack
The PDF booklet contains information and activities linked to VE day that will be suitable for EYFS and SEN learners. You may also like our Remembrance day resources. Suitable for primary, SEND and home learning. Contains facts and crafts including:
- Make a welcome home card
- VE day bunting
- VE day word search
- WW2 Silhouette craft
