Space Blankets
These are an incredibly multisensory resource, easily found online, cheap and
expendable if there are participants whose way of exploring something is by
crumpling and tearing. They look amazing when they catch the light, particularly
if lit by two or three different colours. For those who are sight/hearing
impaired, they have a variety of sound and textural qualities that can be
explored either in the space around them or using hands and feet. Space
blankets come in silver or gold and can be used in a variety of ways.......
Create sets - textured,
visually arresting backgrounds, either smooth and shiny, crumpled and catching
the light or stripped i.e. for a shower/waterfall.
Enhance multisensory props - attached to the edge of clear
umbrellas, this shimmering silver material sounds and looks like ribbons of
rain falling around participants.
They can be cut up to make silver fish, wrapped
around stones to make gold nuggets, glinting in the walls of a gold mine.
Encouraging movement - kept whole, these sheets
can float, fall and ripple around the space. Held over people's heads, they
encourage going under and around. Placed on the floor they can be stepped or
stamped on to create sound rhythms, used to delineate a working space or simply
to lie on, roll over or hide beneath.
