Stubby - A True Story of Friendship
This is a multi-sensory adaptation of the wonderful book by Michael Foreman, based on the incredible true story of Sergeant Stubby, the dog who served bravely in the First World War.
PAMIS would like to thank the author Michael Foreman and Andersen Press for permission to adapt this book to support people with PMLD to access and enjoy the story.
On this page you will find the multi-sensory story with sound buttons and some fun activities to make your own sensory items and further engage with the story. Our teaching community may find the supporting documentation useful, as this booklet contains information about how multi-sensory storytelling links to the curriculum, as well as our general activity analysis and risk assessment.
The multi-sensory story boxes are available from the PAMIS lending library.
Please email -------- should you wish to make an enquiry about borrowing these.
We would always encourage you to create your own story boxes or bags where possible, as this offers lovely opportunities to create and explore together. Turning the preparation process into a meaningful sensory experience builds anticipation and deepens connection and engagement with the story.
Stubby - A True Story of Friendship
All suggested activities can be found via the link at the bottom of the page. Have a read through of the story to see our suggestions for additional items you could gather to help bring the story to life.
There is a war on. Right now it is far away but soon we will have to go and fight for our country.
You can depict the onset of war with a low rumbling sound, by using a thunder tube or gently shaking a baking tray. You could also drum closed fists on on a table top.
If scent is well tolerated, we would suggest introducing a smoky scent for war - we use
a Scottish turf peat incense for its smoky, earthy smell. This could be countered by a fresh, spring scent to represent war being over.
Present the scent from a distance, so that the participants are aware of it but it is not too strong.
It is hard work being a soldier - marching, marching, marching every day.
Use your hands to demonstrate a marching motion on your knees or a table or on the participant's knees, if appropriate for them. Support them to join in where possible.
Every morning, the sound of the bugle wakes us up and tells us when it's time to start our training.
Activity - Make your own Bugle
But my favourite bugle call is the one that means it's mealtime.
Play the homemade Bugle again.
Shout out "Grub's up, come and get it!"
The food smells good and attracts lots of stray dogs. One little dog always seems to find me every time I'm having my sausage and mash. I decided to call him Stubby.
It's always fun to pretend to be the stray dogs and sniff loudly and bark when we find something interesting. For Stubby, we would suggest a small toy dog for this purpose that participants can interact with throughout the story.
Stubby followed me everywhere. He even marched with us and learned to salute officers!
Use your hands to demonstrate a marching motion on your knees or a table or on the participant's knees, if appropriate for them. Support them to join in where possible.
When training was finished, it was time to go off to war. Nobody wanted Stubby to leave, not even the officers. So we took Stubby on to the train with us and we were off!
Support participants to wrap the toy dog in a blanket or hide him in a jacket.
Transition from tapping a steady 'marching' rhythm to a steady 'chug-chug' train rhythm. Build the pace slowly to show the train gaining speed then gradually slow and pause to signal arrival. Add in a few "choo-choo" sounds for engagement and fun throughout the journey.
When we got to the ship, we wrapped Stubby in a blanket and smuggled him on board.
Support participants to wrap the toy dog in a blanket or hide him in a jacket again.
Stubby loved being on the ship. He enjoyed the feeling of the wind in his whiskers!
Activity - Make your own Ocean Drum
Gently fan around the participant's face using fan, or piece of paper.
When we landed it was time to march again. We marched for days.
Use your hands to demonstrate a marching motion on your knees or a table or on the participant's knees, if appropriate for them. Support them to join in where possible.
Eventually we hear the sounds of battle and know we are close.
As previously, you can depict the onset of war with a low rumbling sound, by using a thunder tube or gently shaking a baking tray. You could also drum closed fists on on a table top.
If using the smoky scent, introduce it again at this point, slowly bringing it closer to the participants so it gradually becomes stronger and stronger, showing the soldiers getting closer and closer to the battle.
We live in trenches for weeks. They are muddy and loud.
Activity - Trench building.
Stubby is a very good guard dog, barking to tell us whenever the enemy is approaching.
We snuggle up together at night to try to keep warm in the cold trenches.
Sit close together and gently drape a blanket over the participant and Stubby, or have two participants sit close together and drape a blanket over both.
During one of the battles, Stubby gets hurt. The soldiers bandage his leg and he is taken away in an ambulance.
Wrap a bandage around Stubby and support participants to help. You could rip a piece of fabric or use toilet paper if you have no bandages to hand.
We are all sad without him.
Remove Stubby from view.
Using a dropper or pipette, place a droplet of water on participant's cheek. Pause here for a moment, giving them quiet and time to feel the experience of the tear slowly trickling down their cheek.
Finally, Stubby is all better and comes back to join us! All of the soldiers salute him.
After a short pause, reintroduce Stubby to each participant and give a small cheer. Encourage or support participants to raise hands to heads in salute.
Some townspeople made Stubby his own jacket, with his name on it and all of his medals were stitched on to it! He looks very smart!
Activity - Pin the medals onto Stubby.
Finally the war ended!
Activity - flag making.
Give a big cheer and wave your flags.
If scent is tolerated, we would recommend introducing a fresh, spring scent as a counter to the strong smoky scent of war.
We all get on the ship to go back home. We don't need to hide Stubby this time. Sergeant Stubby is a hero!
Activity - Make your own Ocean Drum
Gently fan around the participant's face using fan, or piece of paper.
Sergeant Stubby led the victory parade. Bands are playing and the streets are full of people cheering!
Activity - flag making.
Give a big cheer and wave your flags.
If scent is tolerated, we would recommend introducing a fresh, spring scent as a counter to the strong smoky scent of war.
Peace is wonderful - but peace and quiet will be even better.
Pause for a short while and sit in the silence. Perhaps gently hold hands, or rest a hand near to participant to convey closeness and connection and sit together in the quiet for a few moments.
