Ideas for using our sensory bags

Touch

Before you take any object out of the bag, try reaching your hand in and exploring the different textures you can feel in the bag. As you take each object out, think about if it looks as you expected it to from what you first felt?

We are often not allowed to touch things in an art gallery, but can you find anything in the exhibitions that you think would feel the same as any of the objects?

Think too about what temperature things might be? What objects and things around you feel warm or cold next to your skin?

Build

Can you build and balance the different objects from the bag? Some are hard and flat so might easily balance, but other objects are softer and might be more difficult.

What sculptural forms can you create and do they remind you of anything you see on whilst you look around Orleans House Gallery?

You might have another object with you that you can add to your balancing sculpture?

Match

Look for things in the gallery that in some way match objects from the bag. They might match in colour or texture or in the way they make you feel. Or they might remind you of the same things?

Challenge everyone in your group to match to something different and share your ideas with each other.

Look

Try looking differently at things around Orleans House Gallery and grounds using the coloured see-through shapes and mirror in the bag.

How does thing change things?

Can you use the mirror and coloured plastic together in different ways?

Try using your body differently at the same time – crouch down or reach up to look at things using the mirror for example.

Talk together about how we might think about things differently if we are able to view them in new ways.