My Senses Adventure

Overview

This 45-minute lesson introduces Foundation Primary 1 pupils to the five senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell – in a fun, interactive way, linking directly to the Northern Ireland Curriculum’s Learning Area of The World Around Us (Science). It encourages curiosity and observation, helping pupils to begin understanding how they connect with the world.

Curriculum Link

The Northern Ireland Curriculum (Primary)

Learning Area: The World Around Us – Science
Level: Foundation Stage - Primary 1
Learning Objective: Pupils should begin to develop awareness of the properties of everyday materials and the use of senses to explore and investigate the environment.
Specific Competency: Exploring, observing and identifying objects using senses; communicating observations.
Attitudes and Dispositions: Curiosity, enjoyment of learning, willingness to explore safely.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

Name the five senses and the body parts associated with each sense (eyes, ears, skin, tongue, nose).
Identify and explain examples of how we use each sense in everyday life.
Participate in sensory activities demonstrating the use of each sense.
Communicate simple observations related to their senses verbally or through drawing.

Resources

Large colourful poster or visual cards showing the five senses and corresponding body parts
Five sensory boxes/bags containing objects to explore (e.g., soft fabric for touch, lemon for taste, cotton balls with scents, bells or musical instruments for hearing, colourful pictures for sight)
Paper and crayons or colouring pencils
Chart for group sensory recording (e.g. photo or drawing of body part + space to add words or marks)

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Gather children in a circle and introduce the topic: "Today we are going on a senses adventure!"
Show a vibrant poster illustrating the five senses and ask: "Can anyone name these parts of our body?"
Briefly explain each sense in simple language.

2. Sensory Exploration Stations (25 minutes)

Set up five stations, one for each sense with related objects to touch, see, hear, taste or smell.

Station 1: Sight – colourful pictures, shapes
Station 2: Hearing – bells, shakers, quiet sounds
Station 3: Touch – soft fabric, rough sandpaper, cold ice cubes wrapped in cloth
Station 4: Smell – cotton balls with lemon, lavender, or other safe scents
Station 5: Taste – small samples of familiar foods like apple slices or crackers

Children rotate in small groups every 5 minutes (teacher or assistant helps guide). At each station:

Encourage children to describe what they feel, hear, see, taste, or smell.
Ask simple questions: "What do you notice? How does it feel? What do you think it is?"

3. Group Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes)

Sit back as a whole group and ask:
- “Which sense did you like best? Why?”
- “Can you name the sense and the body part we use?”
Use the chart to record responses visually – children can draw or the teacher can mark children’s observations.

4. Creative Expression (5 minutes)

Invite children to draw their favourite sense or the body part they liked learning about.
Encourage them to say a few words about their drawing to the class or a partner.

Assessment

Observational: Monitor children’s participation and ability to match senses with body parts during activities.
Oral questioning: Check understanding through verbal responses during discussion and when answering questions at stations.
Creative work: Informally assess drawings and explanations to see if children can represent and communicate about senses.

Differentiation

Provide additional sensory objects for SEND pupils to explore tactile or auditory senses more deeply.
Offer verbal prompts or picture aids to support vocabulary development.
Pair less confident pupils with buddies to encourage sharing ideas.

Health and Safety Considerations

Ensure all taste/smell items are allergy-safe and approved by parents/caregivers beforehand.
Supervise closely during taste testing to prevent choking or allergic reactions.
Clean hands before tasting activities and provide wipes.

Extension Ideas

Send home a simple “Five Senses Scavenger Hunt” for children to explore with parents, encouraging observation beyond the classroom.
Link with Art – create collages or sensory bottles to reinforce learning.

This lesson plan offers an immersive, hands-on experience, matching young learners’ natural curiosity with the Northern Ireland Curriculum’s foundational goals, promoting observation, language development, and enjoyment of science.

Teaching Instructions