Today we take our senses outside. What might you notice in the school garden if you look, listen, touch and smell carefully?
Even a quiet hedge can hide a bird your eyes miss until your ears find it.
Hands up one thing you think you might find.
Senses outdoors: we use our eyes, ears, hands and nose to find things out outside. Close your eyes, and your ears can find a bird you cannot see.
Observation: we say what we really saw, heard, felt or smelled. "I felt rough bark" is an observation.
Outside, we have four jobs. Each job uses one sense.
- 👁 Eyes: look high and low. Find something colourful.
- 👂 Ears: stand still and close your eyes. Find something that makes a sound.
- ✋ Hands: touch gently with your fingertips. Find something rough.
- 👃 Nose: lean in close and sniff. Find something with a smell.
At each stop, we notice quietly first. Then we all say one find together, like "Yellow daisy, eyes!"
We do not taste anything outside. We do not pick anything. We only touch what we are told is safe.
Before we go out, think with a partner. What might your eyes find? What might your ears hear? What might feel rough? What might have a smell?
Share one idea you think you might find with the class.
We walk the garden path together and stop at a few chosen spots. At the stops, use your senses to find:
- something colourful (sight)
- something that makes a sound (hearing)
- something rough (touch)
- something with a smell (smell)
On the walk we only look, listen, touch and smell. We draw and write when we come back.
Stay with the group. Touch only what you are told is safe. Do not pick or taste anything.
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