Learning about the five senses helps preschoolers learn more about scientific inquiry and helps them describe what they are experiencing and observing in the world around them. If you’re looking to explore the five senses with preschoolers, we have lots of 5 Senses Theme Preschool Activities to get you started. Here you will find some fabulous resources for planning your preschool fives theme. Most of these activities are designed for kids ages 3 through 5, but many can be modified for younger and older kids as well.
WHY IT’S FUN
Preschoolers are naturally curious. However, they don’t always realize that natural curiosity is a skill! By introducing them to the five senses we help them learn important vocabulary and encourage them to continue to seek out new information by using their senses.
WHEN TO TEACH A FIVE SENSES THEME
Five senses can be taught any time of the year. However, I personally like to do a five senses theme at the beginning of the school year. This allows us to talk about some of the science skills and tools (including our senses) we’ll be using throughout the school year. Plus kids are naturally curious, and they love to put their natural behaviors (seeing, smelling, touching, etc) to work in fun five senses activities.
TEACHING TIPS & MAJOR CONCEPTS KIDS WILL LEARN
If you’re planning a preschool five senses theme there are many possibilities for incorporating meaningful early learning skills.
These are just some of the concepts kids can learn about during a five senses theme:
- An understanding of the five senses and how we can use them to learn about the world around us
- Body parts associated with the senses
- Ways the five senses help and protect us
- Common science tools that are used with the five senses
- How scientists use their senese to do experiments
ITEMS TO COLLECT AND REQUEST IN ADVANCE
If you get parents, friends, and family involved you can enrich the experience kids have during your preschool fall theme.
Collect or ask people to help you collect:
- different types of fabric to explore textures
- kaleidoscopes and view finders
- different foods for a taste test (this can be a fun way to weave in different cultures and favorite family dishes as well)
- instruments
- blindfolds or sleeping masks
You might even invite special guests (or go visit if you can) to come and share about fields and hobbies related to the five senses. You could include:
- a scientists to share how he or she uses the senses to do research
- a baker to share how he or she uses the five senses to prepare baked goods
PRINTABLE FIVE SENSES THEME LESSON PLANS
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
Help kids learn about the five senses while engaging in cross-curricular activities during this week long theme for preschool classes. Kids will engage all five senses as they participate in art, sensory, math, science, and literacy activities.
Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set:
GET YOUR LESSON PLANS
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
INDIVIDUAL PRESCHOOL FIVE SENSES ACTIVITY IDEAS ON FANTASTIC FUN AND LEARNING
Here on Fantastic Fun and Learning we’ve shared the following ideas to go along with a preschool five senses theme. You’ll find a lot of engaging activities for kids to do as they learn about the five senses.
Explore texture and the sense of smell by creating your own scratch and sniff art.
Experiment with different textures and sounds with this simple sensory exploration.
Use all five senses to investigate a marshmallow in this simple marshmallow five senses activity.
Go on a listening walk in your area and practice using the sense of hearing.
Use the sense of taste as you experiment mixing your own lollipop inspired flavor mixtures.
Paint in a fun sensory way with this tea bag sensory art activity.
Continue mixing up new flavors and experimenting with the sense of taste as in this tea taste test experiment.
Use those teas in another fun way with a scent investigation in this scent matching game.
FREE FIVE SENSES PRINTABLES
Break out the bubble gum and use your senses to investigate with this free printable bubble gum investigation.
Use the sense of smell to predict scents in this free printable spring scents guessing game (Tip: Switch the scents to easily modify for other seasons).
Save this free printable Five Senses Thanksgiving Easy Reader for a fun review of the senses during your Thanksgiving theme.
MORE ACTIVITIES FROM CREATIVE EDUCATORS
Put the sense of taste to work in these fun taste test science activities.
Learn how to use the garden to explore the five senses.
Explore the sense of smell with these fun scent activities.
INFORMATIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Learn about the Five Senses with Dr. Binocs.
Visit a play space with Mr. Blippi to learn about the five senses.
YOUTUBE SONGS
Introduce and review the five senses with these fun song videos.
OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES
If you’d like to supplement your hands-on learning with some online games you might try:
Five Senses from ABCya
Five Senses Game from Turtle Diary
The Five Senses Game from Cookie
Find even more free online five senses games here.
FAVORITE FIVE SENSES BOOKS
There are a ton of wonderful books to read for your five senses theme. Below are some of our favorite books for a five senses theme.
MORE FIVE SENSES BOOKS
Learn about the five senses in this list of our favorite five senses books for kids.
POSSIBLE FIELD TRIPS OR ADVENTURES
- Local children’s museum
- Local zoo with sensory gardens and petting options
WHAT NEXT?
If you choose to do your Five Senses theme activities at the beginning of the school year, students can use those new skills to explore the amazing sensory experiences in Fall. Below are some possible fall theme suggestions.
Fall Themes to Explore
RETURN TO OUR MAIN PRESCHOOL THEME PAGE FOR MORE IDEAS TO EXPLORE
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