Lesson Plan for Reception / Kindergarten
Lesson Title: Exploring Our Five Senses
Duration:
30 Minutes
Objectives:
- Students will be able to identify the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
- Students will understand how each sense helps us explore the world around us.
Materials Needed:
- Pictures or flashcards representing each sense (e.g., an eye for sight, an ear for hearing, etc.)
- Scented items (e.g., vanilla, lemon, mint)
- Tactile objects (e.g., cotton ball, sandpaper, soft fabric)
- Pictures of various foods for tasting (like an apple slice, cheese, or crackers)
- A bell or musical instrument for the hearing activity
- Drawing paper and crayons
Introduction (5 Minutes):
- Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
- Explain to them that today, they will be learning about their five senses.
- Introduce each sense using flashcards, asking the students to shout out examples of each.
Activity 1: Sense Sorting (10 Minutes):
- Hand out pictures representing different objects that utilize each sense.
- Ask the children to sort the pictures into five groups based on which sense they belong to.
- Discuss as a class how each item engages a sense, giving students a chance to share examples.
Activity 2: Senses Stations (10 Minutes):
Set up five different stations around the room, each focusing on one of the five senses.
- Sight Station: Show pictures of various landscapes and ask children what they see.
- Hearing Station: Play a sound (using the bell or a musical instrument) and ask children to describe the sound.
- Touch Station: Let kids feel different textures (soft, rough, smooth).
- Taste Station: Have a small taste test with safe foods (e.g., sweet, salty).
- Smell Station: Let children sniff different scents and guess what they are.
Group Discussion (3 Minutes):
Bring everyone back together and ask:
- Which sense do they use the most?
- How do their senses help them in everyday life?
- Can they think of an example where they used a sense today?
Conclusion (2 Minutes):
Wrap up the lesson by reinforcing the importance of each sense. Ask the students to remember what they learned and how they can use their senses to explore the world.
Homework:
Ask students to complete the following tasks at home with the help of their parents:
-
Five Senses Scavenger Hunt: Find one item in the house for each sense and draw or take a picture of it.
- Correct Answers:
- Sight: A colorful picture
- Hearing: A musical instrument
- Touch: A soft blanket
- Taste: A favorite snack
- Smell: A flower or a scented candle
-
Family Discussion: Talk with family members about their favorite senses and why they like them. Write one sentence about what each family member said.
Reflection:
End the lesson by encouraging students to observe their senses throughout the week and be curious about the world around them.
This lesson plan effectively engages kindergarten students with the topic of the five senses through interactive activities and thoughtful discussions, adhering to US educational standards for early childhood education.