Kindergarten Science, Unit 1: Observations with Senses

Popcorn Senses Kindergarten Science, Unit 1: “Observations with Senses”

GOAL: The students should show their understanding of the use of their senses in a real world context. By performing an activity in the classroom, students apply their knowledge of senses to make purposeful observations.

Big Ideas:  People can make purposeful observations of the natural world using appropriate senses.  Many senses can be used to observe an object or an activity.

Specific objectives: 1. Observe an activity without the use of the sense of sight. 2. Describe how various senses can be used to make observations of the same object or activity.

GLCE Alignment: S.IP.00.11 Make purposeful observation of the natural world using the appropriate senses.

BACKGROUND:

Prior Knowledge: Students should have gained familiarity of each of the five senses throughout the unit study, ending with this activity to apply the use of senses other than sight.

Students should know that the five senses are sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing.

Reference Sources for More Information: My Five Senses by Aliki

Timeframe of Activity: 20 minutes

VOCABULARY: senses observation sight sound taste touch smell feel

MATERIALS: Air popcorn popper, large bowl, popcorn, salt, napkins for each student PROCEDURE: 1. Students are seated in an area where they cannot see the popcorn popper. Begin the activity by calling on students to name the five senses. 2. Tell students they will not get to use their sight while they observe a mystery activity happening. They will need to share how each of their other senses helps them to figure out what the mystery activity is. Remind students that this is a quiet activity so everyone can use their senses to observe. 3. Have a volunteer (or yourself) start the air popper in a concealed place in the room to begin popping the popcorn. Let students whisper to a friend what they think the activity is. 4. Call on students to tell which of their other senses they are using and how they are using that sense (i.e. using the sense of hearing to hear the popcorn kernels pop). 5. Students will have identified hearing and smelling, but no tasting or touching. Once students identify these two senses they have not used yet, tell them they now get a chance to use those two senses along with sight. 6. Take out the popcorn popper to show students who may not have seen one before how it works. Then pass out samples of popcorn onto student napkins. 7. Have students share descriptions of how they used each of their five senses during this science activity.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Name each of the five senses. 2. Describe how each of the five senses are used when observing popcorn being popped and eaten.

Assessment: Use the Observations with Senses rubric to conclude the unit by asking students how they use their senses in two other instances (see rubric).