Touch and Smell - Lesson Plan

In this comprehensive lesson plan from The Primary Science Advisory Service, Year 1 students delve into the senses of touch and smell, exploring the basic parts of the human body associated with these senses. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum, allowing students to identify and name these body parts while engaging in a variety of hands-on activities. Prior knowledge from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is built upon, with students previously having learned to name main external body parts. This lesson serves as a foundation for future learning in Year 2 and beyond, where students will explore the basic needs of animals, including humans, and the functions of different body systems. Cross-curricular links are made with English, Art, and Maths, and health and safety considerations are outlined, particularly regarding allergies and respiratory conditions. Misconceptions are addressed, such as the notion that all parts of the skin have the same sensitivity and that humans have only five senses.

Students engage in a variety of activities designed to test and observe the senses of touch and smell. For instance, in the 'Hot or Cold' experiment, they compare sensations of different water temperatures to understand the skin's perception of warmth and cold. 'Indifference Bottles' challenge students to assess weight based on bottle size, revealing misconceptions about mass and density. 'Mystery Boxes' and 'Skin Sensitivity' activities further explore tactile perception, while 'How Blind People Read' introduces Braille as a tactile reading method. To understand the diffusion of scent, students observe how quickly an air freshener's smell travels across the classroom. More mystery boxes with scented items and a smell strength test using diluted perfume showcase the variability of the olfactory sense. The plenary session includes an assessment of learning progress, where students point out body parts responsible for smell and touch and discuss individual differences in sensory perception. The lesson is thoughtfully designed to stimulate curiosity and develop scientific understanding through engaging and interactive experiences.