Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Science · The activity desk
Five senses observation page
Talk about ways people notice the world and draw an observation.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
Paper and large child-appropriate crayons; an optional clean soft cloth
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Open the printable or write sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste on paper.
Adult's role: Read the sense names and invite observations without requiring any sense or experience. People sense the world in different ways.
Let's make it happen
- Choose a sense and name or draw something you notice or remember noticing.
- If you wish, touch a clean soft cloth and describe how it feels. You may describe an imagined texture instead.
- Choose another sense and add a picture or ask an adult to write your words.
Make it simpler: Choose one sense and draw or describe something familiar.
Clean up: Put paper, crayons and any cloth away.
Participation is optional. Do not taste unknown items or smell anything closely; stay nearby and use intact crayons.