Explore the five senses and how people use them to relate to the world.
The five senses of a human being enable people to interact with their environment in an amazing way. Each one of the senses works in a complex, fascinating manner. Through each sense, we are able to commune with the world.
Learning about the five senses is fun, and appropriate for all age levels, from preschool through college. Lessons can be as simple as a few experiments to introduce each sense or as involved as learning the mechanics of each sense and sense organ.
Touch
- Pick 5 or 6 objects of different textures (like a cotton ball, spoon, ruler, hairbrush, silk ribbon). Have child close eyes (can use a bandanna as a blindfold, if necessary). One object at a time, gently brush child's arm or back of hand with object. Have child describe what they feel (hard, cold, soft, fuzzy, etc..). Then have child guess what the object is.
- Create a "Feely Bag" - Place several smaller objects in a paper sack. Have child put one hand in sack, pick one object to hold without removing it from the bag, and describe the feel of the object. Child tries to guess what object it (lex. block, toy car, action figure, crayon, marble). Remember not to place any sharp objects in the bag.
- Explore the sense receptors in different areas of the body. Create a chart, listing the following areas of the body - back of hand, neck, arm, knee. Blindfold tester. Use an object to gently poke the tester with, on each area of the body listed (older children can often be trusted with a toothpick. Can also use a dull pencil, fingertip, feather, cotton swab, etc..). Do not tell tester when you touch them. Tester must announce when they can feel object. Make 10 attempts to touch on each area. Record on chart using tally marks the number of times the tester felt the touch. Discuss - are different parts of the body more sensitive than others?
Sight
- Does sight affect balance? Try this experiment - Time each child for how long they can balance on one foot. Record the time. Next, have them shut their left eye and attempt the same thing. Record time. Next, have them shut their right eye and balance on same foot. Record time. Discuss results and draw conclusions.
- Try some of these fun experiments from Neuroscience for Kids
Sound
- Go for a "sound walk" - take a silent, five or ten minute walk with your child. Or spend that time just sitting outside in silence. Have child write down or draw what they hear (cars, birds, wind, cat meowing, dog barking, etc...
- Watch something on television with the sound off! Try to guess what the characters are saying.
- Record several sounds on tape or voice recorder. Play to child and have them guess the sound. Some fun ones include - running water, doorbell, toilet flushing, someone whistling, bell ringing, snapping, book closing, eating a chip or crunchy food.
- Learn how sound works - how do we hear.
Smell
- Choose several things with distinct (but not dangerous) smells (ex. lemon, grass, flower, cinnamon, etc...) Blindfold child. Hold each object within smelling distance of child's nose. Have them smell and guess what the object is. Record their answers. When finished, reveal results.
- To demonstrate the importance of smell in the ability to taste - Blindfold child. Tell them that you have two cups - one hold one hold water, one holds apple juice
Taste
- Try this fun tasting experiment from Zoom.
- Diagram the different parts of the tongue
General Resources for the Five Senses
- Enchanted Learning has many great worksheets for the five sense (must subscribe).
- Paso Partners has complete set of lesson plans for the five senses. Intended for classroom use, it can be altered for home.
- Look up books at the local library on the five senses.
The copyright of the article The Five Senses in Homeschool Curricula is owned by Christine Alcott. Permission to republish The Five Senses must be granted by the author in writing.
