Sequence of learning - How do our senses help us? - EYFS

Reception-aged children are encouraged to explore and learn through their senses in a unit focusing on the natural world. The aim is to help children understand how their senses aid in learning by having them describe what they see, hear, and feel while outside. Educators support this learning by prompting focused observation and listening to children's descriptions and comments on the environment. Encouraging children to interact positively with the outside world, they are given opportunities to take supported risks and develop their understanding of the natural surroundings.

As part of the proposed learning sequence, children experience various weather conditions such as wind, rain, and sunshine, and they begin to articulate these experiences. They are introduced to key vocabulary that includes terms like 'showers', 'drizzle', and names of common birds and plants like 'robin', 'chaffinch', and 'oak tree'. This vocabulary enables them to describe their observations in greater detail. Additionally, children are guided to recognise both the hazards and the beauty of the outside environment. The learning extends to naming common plants, birds, and animals, as well as understanding seasonal changes and weather patterns through activities such as creating weather boxes and observing which birds visit their school regularly. This holistic approach to learning ensures children appreciate and care for their environment while developing sensory awareness and scientific understanding.