Sensory mapping (nature)
General Aim
– To direct the attention of the participants to the environment around them;
– To support the use of their senses
– To induce the ability to connect with nature and themselves.
Learning goals
Connection to nature through the senses, connection with each other, attention, observation, contemplation, development of creativity.
Short description/background/Introduction/Tips for the trainer
The members of the group use their different senses to create a large common map based on given criteria.
It is important to have precise instructions from the trainer for the creation of individual map details.
Target
Suggested group
Materials
– natural object (found by participants)
– flipchart paper
– pencils, colours
Duration
30-45 minutes (depend on the creativity of the groups)
Procedure/steps
The instructor distributes four different plants to various members of the group. Each participant rubs the plant on the back of his or her hand. After doing this gesture, each participant has to find their companion, the one who received the same plant and makes the same smell. Thus the groups are created! Each group must make a map of the surrounding area: an olfactory map, a tactile map, a sound map and a movement map. Objects from the forest, plant remains, animals or anything else found can be used to make them. At the end, each group presents its map to the others, and then the maps come together to become a single sensory map of the surrounding space.
Evaluation/Final debriefing
The groups evaluate their work individually, in small groups and at the level of the entire group:
– what they improved
– what was useful
– what caused a challenge
Literature/Video
https://www.sensorytrust.org.uk/resources/guidance/sensory-mapping