5 Simple Activities For Teaching Sensory Words

Are you looking for new activities for teaching sensory words?

Make your sensory reading unit fun and engaging! Check out these 5 simple activities for teaching sensory words in your classroom!

Activities for Teaching Sensory Words

Sensory scavenger hunt: Hide objects around the classroom with distinct sensory qualities (a smooth marble, a fragrant flower, a spiky ball). Give students clues using only sensory words. “Find something cold and smooth that fits in your palm.” They identify the object and practice describing it with additional sensory words.
Sensory Bags: Prepare sensory bags with different materials such as sand, cotton balls, jelly, or fabric. Label each bag with a sensory word (e.g., “soft,” “crunchy,” “sticky”). Have students feel the contents of each bag without looking and try to guess the sensory word associated with it. Discuss their observations and experiences.
Sensory Art Exploration: Set up art stations with different textured materials such as sandpaper, bubble wrap, yarn, etc. Instruct students to use these materials to create artwork that represents a specific sense or feeling. Afterward, have a class discussion where students can share their creations and describe the sensory elements they included.
Sensory Walk: My son actually did this in his pre-k class and it was a huge hit. Now, he has a lead teacher and assistant teacher which I know is more help than a typical elementary classroom. So, use this to your bandwidth and what you are able to do or are comfortable with doing. Make adjustments as needed! His teacher set up buckets and bins that students walked through (they took their shoes off). They walked through soft pebbles, paint, cotton balls, etc. My son still talks about it! After the walk, they talked about how everything felt when walking through.
Sensory Writing: Provide different types of material for students to write on (or attempt to write on). For example, give your students sandpaper. Have them feel it and observe how it feels and looks. Then, have them attempt to write on it. Discuss what that felt like with their pencil and how it sounded.

Bonus Tip:

As you complete these activities for teaching sensory words, create a sensory word bank that students can refer back to when describing how things feel, look, etc.