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Science

My Five Senses

Overview

Children explore their five senses through simple activities, learning that we use different parts of our body to find out about the world.

Learning Objective
Children identify the five senses and the body part used for each one.

Resources needed

  • A few everyday objects with interesting textures, smells, and sounds — stone, leaf, food, fabric

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Ask: how do you know what something looks like? What part of your body do you use?
  2. 2 Introduce seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and tasting as the five senses.
  3. 3 Pass an object around — children describe what they notice using each sense.
  4. 4 Play a sound game: make a sound behind a child's back — they guess what made it.
  5. 5 Smell test: children close eyes and smell something — what is it?
  6. 6 Touch bag: put objects in a cloth — children feel without looking and describe.
  7. 7 Ask: which sense do you use most? Could you live without one? Which would be hardest?

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Go outside and use all five senses in the natural environment.
  • Blindfold one sense at a time — how does it change the experience?
  • Match objects to the senses they use most.
More information

Teach: see, hear, smell, touch, taste, sense, eye, ear, nose, skin, tongue. Point to the body part as you name each sense.

Some children may be sensitive to certain textures or smells. Offer choices and never force participation.

Can children name all five senses and the correct body part for each? Can they describe an object using at least two different senses?

Use objects from the natural environment — soil, leaves, stones, water, bark. No purchased materials needed.

Children sometimes forget that the brain also processes all sensory information. The sense organs collect information, the brain understands it.

The five senses are the foundation of all scientific observation. Developing sensory awareness at early years builds the careful observation skills needed throughout science education.

Activity details
Early Years Easy 15–20 minutes 5 minutes prep Whole Class, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Senses Observation Human Body