Last week I took our TK classes out to the garden as the culminating activity for their 5 senses unit. First we walked through the garden and made some observations. This gave students' enthusiasm a chance to settle down a bit. Then we reviewed our 5 senses. I asked students to identify things first based on color. "Can you find something orange (pumpkin, marigold)? Can you find something green (leaves, tomatoes)?" Next I asked students to use their sense of touch to investigate, I asked them to find something rough, smooth, pokey, bumpy and so on. We listened to the wind rustle leaves and corn stalks, as well as the birds chirping playfully, as a whole group. Our last sense was taste. Students tried pieces of yellow squash, green bell pepper and red tomatoes. Students were asked to describe the taste, no yuck or gross allowed! This lesson helped students to understand the relevance behind their sensory learning and to help them make sense of the world around them. Of course, it also let them have fun while learning in the garden!
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JACQUELINE LACEY
Kimbark Elementary School
San Bernardino CA
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