Table Time
Skill Check
This activity focuses on answering “WH” questions and recalling information.
Growing My Skills
Introduce 5 senses by following link to story.
Review 5 senses after story and identify what body part you use for each sense.
Complete 5 Sense Chart at this link.
Relaxation Time
Activity: Exploring sense of touch and sight with fall favorites!
Materials:
corn kernels
popsicle sticks (barn/fence/wagon)
barn yard animals
plastic eggs
Skill Check
The goal of this activity is to help your child explore their 5 senses
Growing My Skills
Gather materials
Ask your child about their senses (where is your nose, mouth, ears, hands/fingers, etc.)
Ask your child if they can smell anything (model sniffing with your nose)
Ask your child if they can hear anything (model touching/listening with your ear, etc.)
Ask questions to connect the activity and your child’s senses: “What does ___ feel like? What does ___ smell like? What does ___ taste like? Does ___ sound like anything?” Expanding and connecting the concept of senses!
Creative Time
Skill Check
This activity will help encourage your child’s creativity and help them connect with the 5 senses they have been learning about all week. This activity can also introduce your child to preferences and fine motor skills!
Growing My Skills
Gather materials
Ask your child about their senses (where is your nose, mouth, ears, hands/fingers, etc.)
Ask your child if they can smell anything (model sniffing with your nose)
Ask your child if they can hear anything (model touching/listening with your ear, etc.)
Help them trace their hand on a piece of paper and cut it out.
Help your child glue on each “sense” to each finger (please see Pinterest link for “sense” ideas)
Talk about how each item feels and how it correlates with each sense!
Movement Time
Activity: Sensory Path
Materials:
Plastic containers
Large Tupperware or shoeboxes
A variety of tactile mediums such as dry rice, dry beans, dry pasta, sand, cotton balls, water beads, shaving cream, bubble solution, feathers, lotion
Skill Check
The goal of this week is to balance while walking across your “sensory path”. Use your senses to experience the different materials!
Growing My Skills
Prepare a variety of containers, each with a different tactile medium in them; your child can help you!
Position the containers in a straight line with space between them or in a walking pattern (one to the left and then one to the right, and so forth)
Help your child walk through the containers using a step-to pattern if the containers are in a straight line (right foot goes in then left foot goes in), or reciprocal pattern if the containers are in a walking pattern (one foot in each container)
Talk about how each container feels different on their feet and toes
Mealtime
Activity: “Blind” food quiz
Materials:
At least five foods of varying scents and tastes
Blindfold, if tolerated
Skill Check
Use the senses taste, smell, touch and hearing to identify healthy foods.
Growing My Skills
Sit with the child in a safe area where they can close their eyes or be blind folded for 10 seconds – 1 minute.
Bring foods out one by one, encourage child to touch, smell, taste or listen to the food in front of them and ask them to identify what food they think it is without looking.
Tip: if using real food is overwhelming for your child, try using essential oils or food flavor such as vanilla, orange, lemon, or cinnamon.
Language Time
Activity: Review 5 senses
Materials:
Mr. Potato Head and all his body parts.
If you do not own a Mr. Potato head, try using a doll, stuffed animal, or figurine (anything with eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hands).
Skill Check
The goal this week is to introduce the five senses; touch, taste, sight, smell, sound. We want to associate each sense to a body part. Touch goes with hands, taste with our mouth, sight with our eyes, smell with our nose and sound with our ears. Target receptive language by identifying body parts, target expressive language by labeling body parts and the sense it is associated with.
Expanding Skills
Play with Mr. Potato Head by having children identify body parts, or request which body part they want to put on.
The next time, have child identify a body part according to the ‘sense’. For example, put the body part that it used to smell. See if they can associate which part goes with which sense.
