Senses and Communication

Grade 1 | Duration: 25 minutes | Class Size: 14 students

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe various forms of communication and the senses involved in each.
• Recall and gather information from provided materials to answer questions about sensory communication.
• Write a short postcard to communicate a personal preference clearly to a peer.

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Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

ELA-LITERACY.W.1.8
With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Science Integration with ELA

• Use sensory observation related to communication methods to classify and connect senses used.
• Develop early scientific inquiry through listening and partner discussion.

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Materials Required

Printed Materials (one per student or group as indicated)

• STEMscopedia booklet — 1 copy per student
• What Am I? cards — 1 set per group (3-4 students)
• Senses and Communication activity page — 1 per student
• Write a Letter postcard template — 1 per student

Consumable Materials

• Index card for teacher (optional for Writing Game prompt)

Reusable Materials

• Marker (classroom use)
• Pencil — 1 per student
• Scissors — 1 per student

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Preparation (Before the Lesson)

• Print and cut apart the What Am I? cards, preferably on cardstock and laminated.
• Arrange classroom into 4 groups of 3–4 students for the card game activity.
• Prepare STEMscopedia booklets for each student for listening and following along.
• Ensure pencils and scissors are ready at each desk.
• Prepare a sample postcard on a board or projector as a visual writing model.

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Lesson Procedure

1. Introduction & Warm-Up (4 minutes)

• Gather students on the carpet or at their desks for a quick circle discussion.
• Ask:
  “What are ways people can send messages to each other? What senses do we use?”
• Briefly name the 5 senses reminding kids that communication can happen through many of them (e.g., hearing words, seeing sign language, feeling vibrations).
• Explain they will play a fun game that helps them guess different ways to communicate.

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2. “What Am I?” Card Game (7 minutes)

• Organize students into small groups (3–4 per group).
• Explain the rules: Each student holds a card to their forehead without looking at it. The group describes the communication method without naming it. The guesser uses listening and observation to figure it out.
• Circulate and prompt when needed (“What senses might you use here?”).
• Rotate so everyone has a turn.

Purpose: Reinforces oral communication skills and sensory observation in a playful, social format.

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3. Read Aloud & Senses Activity (8 minutes)

• Bring class back together. Hand each student a STEMscopedia booklet and a Senses and Communication page.
• Read aloud key sections of STEMscopedia focusing on communication formats and corresponding senses.
• Students follow along and draw lines connecting forms of communication to the senses they think apply.
• Encourage partner sharing to compare answers and reasoning.
• Confirm correct connections as a class.

Key Sense-Communication Examples:

• Talking — Hearing
• Whispering — Hearing
• Signal Flags — Seeing
• Tap Codes — Touch

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4. Postcard Writing Activity (6 minutes)

• Distribute Write a Letter postcards with a simple prompt: “Write a postcard to a friend in another class about your favorite food.”
• Model on the board how to write the message on the left side and address the right side so it looks like a real postcard.
• Students write their postcards independently with classroom support as needed.
• Encourage neat handwriting and thoughtful communication.

Assessment Focus: Ability to recall and communicate a personal preference in written form using knowledge gained from communication forms.

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Assessment & Wrap-Up (End of Lesson)

• Collect postcards or ask a few volunteers to read theirs aloud.
• Ask simple review questions: “Which senses did you use to understand the messages in the game? Why is it important to use different senses in communication?”
• Praise students for listening well, working together, and writing clearly.

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Extensions & Differentiation Ideas

• For struggling writers, allow drawing their favorite food and labeling key words.
• Challenge advanced students to write an additional sentence about how they communicated the message or how senses helped them learn.
• Incorporate a listening station or computer application with sound and visual communication for reinforcement.

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Teacher Reflection Notes

• Monitor engagement during the card game to ensure all students participate actively.
• Note any misconceptions about senses and communication for future reteaching.
• Use postcards as a formative measure of literacy connection to science content.

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This lesson integrates sensory science understanding with early literacy practice and meets CCSS writing standards by guiding students in oral and written communication through experiential and collaborative learning. It is both interactive and reflective, building foundational skills for first graders.