Young children learn through their 5 senses; therefore, providing hands-on experience allows children to touch, see, smell, taste, and hear become important.   Many of us have a hard time developing materials.  Teachers in Pre-school and Pre-K often teach centering on themes.  Teachers need to think about those real objects and materials for the children to explore.   Do we think about the ways children can use their 5 senses?  One way is to pick a theme and then gather objects and materials.  Children must observe, handle, and explore from that theme.  Here are a few ideas from this new workshop for teachers: 

See:  Draw the Other Half.  The child is given half a picture and must think and draw the other half like an apple or a chair.

Touch:  Texture Touch.  Place a piece of silk, sandpaper, piece of wood, piece of paper, and others and have the children describe what they touch like is it soft, hard, rough, etc.

Smell and Taste:  Describe the Taste and Smell:  

Show a picture of a number of food items that include a wide variety of tastes such as jellybeans, lemons, pretzels, marshmallows, peanuts, raisins, chocolate, olives, sour apples, pickles, onions, melons, and let the children describe to you how they taste.  Record words the children use like possible words: sour, sweet, tangy, spicy, salty, bitter, yucky, etc.  Add the words to your word wall and then find out which are the children’s favorite foods.

Hear:  

Repeat the Rhythm.  Tap out a simple rhythm and have children repeat it back to you.  Alternatively, you can clap the rhythm or use musical instruments.

Hear:  From Arms Up Keep Moving CD (9183) check out "The Senses Song" found in www.welearnbydoing.com

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Remember:  WE PERCEIVE THE WORLD THROUGH OUR SENSES

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