The Five Senses is a classic preschool theme because young kids learn through these senses. While I plan my preschool lesson plans I try to visit and revisit the 5 senses multiple times during the year. It’s so easy to work 5 senses activities into other themes and your students will love it. If you have ever watched a baby mouth objects it’s not because they are hungry or really really want to gross you out it’s because they are exploring how they feel with their mouths. These 21 activities are specifically designed with one of the 5 senses (or more) in mind. One of the best things about exploring the five senses is that these activities always encourage learners to describe what they are sensing opening up a wonderful opportunity to widen their vocabulary through sensory play.
Five Senses Activities for Kids
Sense of Touch Activities for Preschool
Every time you get the playdough out you are doing a sensory activity focused on the sense of touch, but these resource ideas take that one step further for even richer lesson plans and preschool experiences in your preschool or PreK classroom.
Monster Slime
Rainbow Gelatin Sensory Tub
Sandpaper Sun
Shaving Cream Puffy Paint Projects
Texture Sorting
Touch Box Guessing Game
Touch & Feel Alphabet
Sense of Taste Activities
Using food in your early childhood education classroom may not be permitted, but I want to encourage these preschool lessons if you are allowed to use them. Exploring food is a wonderful way to learn about the five senses as well as about your own and other cultures.
Ice Cream Taste Test
Paint & Eat Waffles
Apple Taste Test
Yogurt Painting
Sense of Smell Activity Ideas for Preschool
I love teaching about the 5 senses and one of the best parts is exploring smell! Kids love to do smelling activities and be the judge about what does and doesn’t smell good.
Which Smells Better Group Activity
Smelly Marker Exploration
Fruity Scented Playdough
Sense of Sight Activities
Pretty much everything you teach in your preschool or kindergarten classroom has some element of using your sight. These sense of sight learning activities focus just a little bit more and invite your students to really distinguish and discriminate with their vision.
Backyard Photo Safari
Custom Eye Spy Book
Alphabet Search Sensory Bottle
Read & Find Game
Sense of Hearing
Focusing on listening is an important early literacy activity so use these ideas often in your class to help your student develop a discerning ear for sounds long before they need to use it to discriminate between letter sounds as they learn phonics.
Painting with Sound
Listen & Find Word Search
Sound Safari
Want more great preschool lesson plans?
Maro says
Great round up of five senses activities! There are so many ideas that can be done easily with all age groups! I love your roundups!
admin says
Glad you like them! I used to love teaching this unit every year.
Jen Fischer says
One of our favorite sensory bins is our bee in – it is great for exploring all five senses. As always, I love your round-ups and ideas!! http://jennifischer.blogspot.com/2012/07/bees-sensory-bin-honey-painting.html
Nina says
Thank you for a great list of fun to-dos! I’ve bookmarked this page.
Kristina says
What great activities! I definitely will be trying out the ice cream taste test 🙂 Pinned this!
Montessori Motherload says
Nice list! Thank you for sharing it. I’m bookmarking this page!
amie says
I just planned a preschool unit on the 5 senses and your ideas were super helpful!! THANKS!
Allison McDonald says
So happy to help!
Barbara Leyne says
These are FABULOUS! I’m linking this post to my blog. Thank you!!
Allison McDonald says
Thanks Barbara ! I am off to check out your blog.
Jennifer Fischer says
As usual, a great round up! Pinned! We loved exploring all five senses with our Bee Sensory Bin + Honey Painting. http://jennifischer.blogspot.com/2012/07/bees-sensory-bin-honey-painting.html
Rohan says
Great list of activities for kids. Thanks for sharing.
Rohan
LizzyD says
so cool, i really enjoy looking at this list. Just taught the senses to my first graders and was looking for unique activities to cement the lesson. I am definitely putting these in my plans! 😉
El duende Felipe cuentacuentos says
Wow, fantastic !. Im thinking about storytelling and these activities for kids.
debakshi says
very bad not good for health
Montessori Velcro Dressing Frame says
Productive content! I am quite impressive from what you have shared in your blog. Thank you for sharing this blog with us.
gotporn says
What special senses do you remember from your beach trips? Comment below to share what your child(ren) find(s) especially fascinating, and enjoy!
Lynda Hamblen says
I have been reading posts regarding this topic and this post is one of the most interesting and informative one I have read. Thank you for this!