Journey to Rainbow Mountain: A Multisensory Adventure Story

This immersive rhyming sensory story takes learners on a magical journey to Rainbow Mountain, incorporating rich sensory opportunities throughout. The narrative follows a simple rhyme scheme, with each verse specifically designed to maximise sensory engagement. Below, you’ll find the complete story along with suggested sensory elements for each verse. We have created a digital storytelling version so you can present an image of each verse, the rhyme, the sound effect and see the suggested sensory props all in one place. This format is experimental so please let me know if it needs more work!

Journey to Rainbow Mountain Sensory Story

Verse 1: Setting Out

The morning sun is shining bright,
It fills the sky with golden light.
Today we start our journey new,
Beneath the sky so vast and blue.

Sensory Elements:

1. Visual/Touch: Small flashlight to represent the sun, shine on hands
2. Smell: Fresh morning air scent (light citrus oil)
3. Sound: Morning birdsong recording or gentle chimes

Verse 2: The Ocean Crossing

Across the ocean deep and wide,
Our boat rocks gently side to side.
Splash, splash, the water sprays our face,
As waves and wind set our pace.

Sensory Elements:

1. Touch: Gently rock children or sway from side to side
2. Sound: Ocean wave sounds (recording or “shhhh” sounds)
3. Touch/Smell: Sea breeze scent with fine water spray on hands/face

Verse 3: The Mysterious Forest

Into the forest dark and deep,
Where shadows play and creatures peep.
Rustling leaves go swish, swish, swish,
While branches creak with every wish.

Sensory Elements:

1. Sound: Rustling green textured fabric near ears
2. Smell: Forest/pine scent
3. Visual: Dappled light effect using fingers over flashlight

Verse 4: The Desert Sands

Hot desert sands beneath our feet,
The burning sun brings scorching heat.
Crunch, crunch our footsteps leave a trail,
As desert winds begin to wail.

Sensory Elements:

1. Touch: Sand tray for fingers or feet
2. Sound: “Woooosh” sound for wind, or blow gently
3. Touch: Warm sensation (heated bean bag or hot water bottle)

Verse 5: The Rainstorm

Dark clouds gather overhead,
Pitter-patter raindrops spread.
Thunder BOOMS with mighty sound,
As water splashes on the ground.

Sensory Elements:

1. Sound: Rainmaker instrument or tapping fingers
2. Sound: Drum for thunder sounds
3. Touch: Water spray bottle for rain sensation

Verse 6: The Ice Mountain

Up the mountain cold and steep,
Through snow so white and ice so deep.
Crunch, crackle under every step,
Our breath makes clouds with every breath.

Sensory Elements:

1. Touch: Ice cubes in a sealed container to feel coldness
2. Sound: Crushing paper for snow-crunching sounds
3. Visual: White feathers floating down for snowflakes

Verse 7: The Cave

Into a cave so dark and still,
Drip, drop, the water gives a chill.
Echo, echo bounce our sounds,
As bats fly by without a sound.

Sensory Elements:

1. Sound: Single water drips into container
2. Visual: Complete darkness then flashlight for discovery
3. Sound: Echo effect (repeated whispers)

Verse 8: The Windy Valley

Through the valley swirls the wind,
Whoooosh and whiiirl it spins and spins.
It lifts our hair and pulls our clothes,
As round and round our journey goes.

Sensory Elements:

1. Touch: Fan or gentle blowing to create wind sensation
2. Sound: Wind chimes or whistling sounds
3. Touch: Light fabric waved over skin

Verse 9: Bubbling Springs

Bubbling springs start to appear,
Pop, pop, pop, they burst quite near.
The water dances, jumps, and plays,
As rainbow colors catch the rays.

Sensory Elements:

1. Sound: Popping sounds with mouth or bubble wrap
2. Visual/Touch: Bubble machine or bubbles to pop
3. Smell: Fresh water or light floral scent

Verse 10: Rainbow Mountain

At last we reach the mountain’s peak,
Where rainbow colors dance and streak.
The journey’s end brings joy and light,
As colors swirl with pure delight!

Sensory Elements:

1. Visual: Rainbow-colored ribbons waved in the air
2. Sound: Celebratory music or bells ringing
3. Touch: Different textured ribbons to feel

Digital Version

Journey to Rainbow Mountain

Sensory Story Props Needed

• Blue silk fabric or crinkly paper (ocean)
• Green textured fabric (forest)
• Sand tray or container
• Ice cubes in a sealed container
• Bubble machine or bubble wand
• Rainbow-colored ribbons or scarves
• Small spray bottle with water
• Wind chimes or bells
• Scented oils: pine/forest, floral, sea breeze, earthy/soil
• Small percussion instruments (drum, rainmaker, tambourine)
• Small flashlight
• White feathers
• Hot water bottle (for warmth)

Specific Sensory Story Teaching Approaches

For PMLD Learners:

• Present one sensory element at a time
• Allow extended time for processing responses
• Use hand-over-hand assistance to explore textures
• Consider positioning to optimise engagement
• Observe for subtle responses indicating preferences

For EYFS Learners:

• Encourage prediction about what comes next
• Support movement that mimics the journey
• Introduce relevant vocabulary with each verse
• Promote turn-taking with sensory props
• Extend learning through creative follow-up activities

Assessment Opportunities

• Note changes in attention and focus throughout
• Record responses to different sensory stimuli
• Observe anticipation of familiar sensory elements
• Document changes in facial expression or vocalisation
• Track preference development over multiple tellings

Extension Activities

1. Sensory Tray: Create a mini sensory landscape of the journey
2. Art Project: Create rainbow paintings using different textured materials
3. Movement Session: Recreate the journey through dance/movement
4. Sound Story: Record sound effects for each verse on Big Macks
5. Sensory Bottles: Create themed sensory bottles for each environment

17 Around The World Sensory Activities

Here are 17 engaging around-the-world sensory activities for EYFS children that you can use to extend the sensory story.

Asia

• Rice Paper Painting (Vietnam): Let children paint on edible rice paper with food coloring – it creates beautiful translucent effects and they can feel the texture change as it gets wet
• Spice Smelling Jars (India): Fill containers with turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, and cumin. Children can smell, observe colors, and even make patterns in sand trays with the colored spices
• Cherry Blossom Sensory Tray (Japan): Pink water beads, artificial cherry blossoms, smooth river stones, and small containers for pouring and scooping

Africa

• Mudcloth Stamping (Mali): Use natural clay or brown paint with textured stamps to create mudcloth-inspired patterns on fabric squares
• African Drum Circle: Real drums with different textures – djembes, tambourines. Feel the vibrations, explore loud/soft sounds
• Sahara Sand Sensory Bin: Golden sand with small camels, palm trees, and buried “treasures” to dig for

South America

• Rainforest Sound Bottles (Amazon): Create rain sticks with cardboard tubes, rice, and beans. Decorate with rainforest colors
• Corn Sensory Play (Mexico): Dried corn kernels, corn husks, and cornmeal for texture exploration – so different from their usual sand/water play
• Alpaca Wool Weaving (Peru): Super soft alpaca wool pieces to touch, sort by color, and thread through cardboard looms

Europe

• Lavender Playdough (France): Homemade playdough scented with real lavender and purple food coloring
• Ice Block Building (Arctic/Scandinavia): Freeze colored water in milk cartons, then let children build ice structures outside or in a tray

Oceania

• Coral Reef Sensory Bin (Australia): Blue water beads, shells, coral-shaped pasta, toy sea creatures, and sand
• Poi Ball Making (New Zealand/Maori): Soft fabric balls on strings for swinging rhythmically – great for gross motor skills

North America

• Native American Sensory Bottles: Layer colored sand, small feathers, and beads in clear bottles
• Maple Syrup Taste Test (Canada): Smell real maple syrup, compare with golden syrup – discuss sticky textures

Antarctica

• Penguin Ice Excavation: Freeze small penguin toys in ice blocks with a bit of salt nearby for children to “melt” and rescue them
• Fake Snow Sensory Tray: Mix baking soda and conditioner for arctic small world play

Each around the world sensory activity connects children to different cultures through their senses while supporting EYFS development goals.

Conclusion

This captivating around the world sensory activity takes children on an immersive expedition through diverse global landscapes, combining rhythmic storytelling with multisensory exploration. The consistent AABB rhyme scheme creates comforting predictability while introducing varied environments that mirror real places across our planet.

As an around the world sensory story and activity, “Journey to Rainbow Mountain” offers rich opportunities for children to develop geographical awareness alongside sensory processing skills. Each location features carefully curated sensory elements that represent authentic cultural and environmental experiences: the cool dampness of a jungle morning, the warm grittiness of desert sand between fingers, or the crisp coldness of mountain air.

Benefits of This Around the World Sensory Activity: Through regular repetition of this journey, EYFS learners develop crucial anticipation skills as they predict what comes next in both the narrative and sensory experiences. Children begin to recognise and communicate their sensory preferences, identifying which textures, scents, or sounds they’re drawn to, while building engagement with structured storytelling.

The multi-location format makes this around the world sensory activity infinitely adaptable. Practitioners can adjust the intensity and presentation of sensory elements based on individual learner needs, sensitivities, and responses. Start with gentler stimuli and gradually introduce more varied textures as children’s confidence grows.

Flexibility for All Settings: This around the world sensory activity allows for easy extension (adding more countries or environments) or simplification (focusing on just two or three key locations) depending on your group’s developmental stage, attention span, and specific EYFS goals. Whether experienced as a ten-minute circle time or an extended small-world exploration, Rainbow Mountain adapts to your setting’s unique requirements.