Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students will learn how we rely on our sense of touch to tell us about our environment. Students will have multiple opportunities to explore different objects and to describe the texture of those objects.

Recommended Grade Level(s): Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, First, Second

Objective(s): Students will...

  1. Recognize that different objects have different textures.
  2. Describe the texture of 2-3 objects (e.g. smooth, rough, scratchy, etc.).

Materials: 

*This lesson incorporates the use of 5 different sensory centers.

Center 1: “Feel Box” *Using 2 shoeboxes with lids, place various objects in each box. Students will line the items up outside of the box. One student will close their eyes while the other student places 2-3 objects inside the box. The other student then puts their hands in to guess which items are in the box.

  • 2 shoe boxes with lids (make 1 hole at each end so students can put hand in and pull items out)
  • up to 5 textured items per box-tennis ball, carrot, bar of soap, etc.

Center 2: Sensory Table *Place items in table for self-discovery. Students could also sort items according to texture.

  • Sensory table or large, shallow plastic container
  • items of various texture--sand -beans -seashells -rocks -rice (enough to fill bottom of table)

Center 3: Sensory Cards * Use a marker to write a large number, letter or symbol on each index card. All the cards are laid out in a row on the floor. Two children sit beside the cards so they are visible to both. One child has his/her back facing the other child. Child 2 chooses a symbol and writes it with his/her finger on the other child's back. Child 1 then uses his/her sense of touch and points to the card that represents the symbol felt.

  • 5-10 index cards (per pair of students)
  • black marker

Center 4: Fabric Squares *Place fabric pieces in bag. Students take turns to find matches.

  • 2 squares of each fabric (use 5-10 fabrics per bag, examples include satin, cotton, corduroy, velvet, fleece)
  • small paper bag (1 per pair of students)

Center 5: Squish Me! *Students explore the textures of Jello and Goop.

  • bowl filled with Jello (1 per pair of students)
  • bowl filled with Goop (aka Oobleck) (1 per pair of students)

Goop Recipe:

2 cups cornstarch

2 cups water

few drops of food coloring

Pour cornstarch in a bowl. Pour water in slowly. Add food coloring and mix well.

Anticipatory Set: 

Begin the lesson by stating the objective. Remind students that our bodies help us learn a lot about our environment. One way the body does that is through our sense of touch. Ask students what body part gives us our sense of touch. Tell students that our sense of touch helps us in many ways. Ask students to name some ways they can think of. Discuss how the sense of touch keeps us safe (we can feel heat or things that are sharp) and it keeps us comfortable (we know what to wear in different kinds of weather and when we just want to snuggle something soft).

Guided Practice: 

Ask students to touch their clothes, the carpet under them, their skin-does it all feel the same? Tell students that because everything around us feels different, we use words to describe their texture. Texture tells us if something is soft, smooth, scratchy, etc. Have a word bank of different textures for the students to use. Using some of the items from the centers, provide examples and have the students determine the different textures.

Independent Practice: 

Tell students they are going to further explore their sense of touch and texture. Tell students to pair up with their "Science Buddy". Allow students time (10-15 minutes) to explore at each center. Prompt students when it is time to switch. Be sure to review any considerations (e.g. keeping items in the sensory table) students need to be conscious of before they begin.

Closure: 

Bring students together and discuss the results of their findings. Ask students what were some of the different textures they felt. Ask students how they were able to sense all the different textures. Finally, tell students to turn to the person next to them and answer the question: What do we call the body part that covers our entire body and gives us our sense of touch?

Assessment: 

Students will be assessed according to their ability to...

  1. Recognize that different objects have different textures.
  2. Describe the texture of 2-3 objects (e.g. smooth, rough, scratchy, etc.).