The Human Body and Taste - Lesson Plan

The lesson plan from The Primary Science Advisory Service focuses on the human body and the sense of taste, tailored for Key Stage 1 students. It aligns with the National Curriculum, requiring students to identify and label basic body parts and associate them with the corresponding senses. The lesson builds on previous knowledge from the Early Years Foundation Stage, where students learned to name main external body parts. Looking ahead, the plan prepares students for future topics such as the basic needs of animals, the human skeleton, muscles, the digestive system, and the circulatory system. The lesson encourages the development of science skills such as observing over time, noticing patterns, grouping, classifying, comparative testing, and researching using secondary resources.

During the lesson, students will engage in a variety of activities. They will draw and label the human body, focusing on the senses, and make a blindfold, which will be used in a taste test. The taste test is designed to explore the number of taste buds on the tongue and the effects of smell and sight on taste perception. Students will also learn about misconceptions, such as the visible appearance of taste buds and gender-based height differences. The lesson includes cross-curricular links to history, art, design technology, and maths, and addresses health and safety considerations, particularly regarding the use of scissors and food allergies. The lesson concludes with a plenary session where students assess their understanding of the five senses and their impact on taste.