Lesson Plan Title : Using Our Senses

Age Range:

Grade 9 through Grade 12 (High School)

Overview and Purpose:

In this fun lesson, students use their senses of touch and smell to try to figure out what objects are hidden inside boxes. They can work together as a team to brainstorm descriptive words and record them on a worksheet. This will help build their vocabulary and might spark some debate over just what is in those boxes!

Objective:

The student will be able to

*use their senses of touch and smell to identify four objects.

*write three descriptive words about what they felt and three about what they smelled.

Resources:

Teacher created worksheet

Cut up orange

Box of crayons

Banana

Play-doh

4 cardboard boxes labeled 1-4 with two holes just big enough for students' hands cut out opposite the opening

Activities:

Ahead of time set the classroom up so there is a box and then a workstation after it. Lay the boxes on their sides so the students can come up and put their hands in the cut out holes. Place one item in each box (one box will have oranges; one will have crayons, etc) and close the flaps. Talk about the five senses: sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell. Explain that today the students are going to have to use two of those senses, touch and smell, to try to identify some items you have placed in the boxes.

Pass out the worksheets and divide the class into groups of 3. Stagger the class so they start at a box and then move to a workstation to record their observations while the next group is at the box. (If you have more than 24 students you may have to have additional boxes or activities for the extra groups to do while they are waiting.)

After the whole group has had a chance to touch and smell what is in the box, they should move to a workstation and complete the section of the worksheet that is for that box. Encourage students to work quietly so no one else can hear their comments.

After all the groups have had a chance to experience each box, come back together as a class. Review the worksheet and talk about the activity.

Part of a worksheet might look like this:

Box #2      
1. The object felt _______________ _______________ _______________
2. The object smelled _______________ _______________ _______________
3. I think the object is a _______________    

Closure:

It will be hard for students not to peek at the objects, but encourage them to wait until everyone has had a turn and then you will all look together. You might have to replace some of the objects partway through the lesson or choose more durable items. Bananas will be smashed easily, but apples may last longer.