Using Our Senses
Scientists use their senses to learn about the world. You are a scientist too! Let's discover how your five amazing senses help you explore everything around you.
Learn
Senses are the special ways our body helps us learn about the world. We have FIVE senses, and each one uses a different part of our body!
Meet Your Five Senses!
Sight - We use our EYES to see!
Your eyes help you see colors, shapes, sizes, and if things are near or far. You can see your toys, your family, the sky, and so much more!
Things we can see: A red apple, a fluffy cat, a tall tree, your best friend smiling
Hearing - We use our EARS to hear!
Your ears help you hear sounds. Some sounds are loud like thunder, and some are quiet like a whisper. You can hear music, voices, and birds singing!
Things we can hear: A dog barking, rain falling, your mom calling your name, a song on the radio
Smell - We use our NOSE to smell!
Your nose helps you smell things. Some smells are yummy like cookies baking, and some smells are yucky like garbage. Smells can tell us a lot!
Things we can smell: Flowers, pizza, popcorn, fresh rain
Taste - We use our TONGUE to taste!
Your tongue helps you taste your food. Things can taste sweet like candy, sour like lemons, salty like pretzels, or bitter like some vegetables.
Things we can taste: Ice cream (sweet!), pickles (sour!), chips (salty!), apple juice
Touch - We use our SKIN and HANDS to feel!
Your skin, especially your hands, helps you feel things. You can feel if something is hot or cold, soft or hard, smooth or bumpy!
Things we can feel: A soft blanket, cold ice, warm sunshine, bumpy tree bark
Examples
Let's practice using our senses to describe things!
Example 1: An Apple
Let's use ALL our senses to learn about an apple:
- See: The apple is red and round. It has a little stem on top.
- Hear: When you bite it, it makes a CRUNCH sound!
- Smell: The apple smells sweet and fresh.
- Taste: The apple tastes sweet and a little bit sour.
- Touch: The apple feels smooth and cool.
Example 2: A Puppy
What senses can we use to learn about a puppy?
- See: The puppy is brown with floppy ears and a wagging tail.
- Hear: The puppy barks "Woof woof!" and whines when it wants attention.
- Smell: The puppy has a warm, doggy smell.
- Touch: The puppy's fur feels soft and fluffy!
(We don't taste puppies! Some things are just for looking, not eating!)
Example 3: Popcorn
- See: White and fluffy pieces in a bowl.
- Hear: Pop, pop, pop when it's cooking!
- Smell: Buttery and warm - yum!
- Taste: Salty and crunchy.
- Touch: Light, bumpy, and a little greasy.
Example 4: Rain
- See: Drops of water falling from the sky. Puddles on the ground.
- Hear: Pitter-patter sounds on the roof and windows.
- Smell: Fresh and clean - rain has its own special smell!
- Touch: Wet and cool on your skin.
- Taste: If you catch a raindrop on your tongue, it tastes like plain water!
Example 5: A Campfire
- See: Orange and yellow flames dancing. Smoke going up.
- Hear: Crackle and pop sounds from the wood burning.
- Smell: Smoky smell in the air.
- Touch: You can feel the warmth on your face (but never touch fire - it's too hot!).
(We use our senses to stay safe too. Fire looks pretty but your senses tell you it's hot!)
Practice Problems
Which sense would you use? Think about each question!
Problem 1
Your mom is baking cookies. Which sense tells you cookies are in the oven before you even see them?
Show Answer
Smell! Your nose can smell the yummy cookies baking even when you're in another room!
Problem 2
You hear a bird singing outside your window. Which sense are you using?
Show Answer
Hearing! Your ears help you hear the bird's beautiful song!
Problem 3
You want to know if your teddy bear is soft or scratchy. Which sense should you use?
Show Answer
Touch! Your hands can feel if your teddy is soft and cuddly!
Problem 4
You're eating ice cream. Which sense tells you if it's chocolate or vanilla?
Show Answer
Taste! Your tongue helps you taste the yummy flavor! (You could also use sight to see the color!)
Problem 5
You see a rainbow after a storm. Which sense are you using?
Show Answer
Sight! Your eyes help you see the beautiful colors of the rainbow!
Problem 6
The doorbell rings. Which body part helped you know someone is at the door?
Show Answer
Your ears! You used your sense of hearing to hear the doorbell ring!
Problem 7
You put on your jacket and it feels warm. Which sense told you this?
Show Answer
Touch! Your skin helped you feel that the jacket is warm and cozy!
Problem 8
Something smells bad in the garbage can. Which body part helped you notice?
Show Answer
Your nose! Your sense of smell told you the garbage is stinky!
Problem 9
You look out the window and see it's raining. Which sense did you use?
Show Answer
Sight! Your eyes helped you see the rain falling outside!
Problem 10
You bite into a lemon and your face scrunches up! Which sense told you the lemon is sour?
Show Answer
Taste! Your tongue tasted that the lemon is very sour!
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
How many senses do we have?
Show Answer
We have FIVE senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch!
Question 2
Which body part do we use to see?
Show Answer
We use our EYES to see!
Question 3
Name two things you can learn about something using your sense of touch.
Show Answer
With touch, you can learn if something is: hot or cold, soft or hard, smooth or bumpy, wet or dry!
Question 4
Why is it important to use your senses?
Show Answer
Our senses help us learn about the world around us! They help us explore, stay safe, enjoy yummy food, and discover new things - just like scientists do!
Next Steps
Try This at Home!
Go on a "Sense Walk" with a grown-up:
- Walk around your home or yard
- Stop and use each of your five senses
- Tell your grown-up what you see, hear, smell, feel, and (if there's a snack) taste!
- Practice describing things using ALL five senses
- Notice which sense you use most during the day
- When you're ready, learn about Asking Why Questions - the next step in being a great scientist!