Number Sense and Place Value · Autumn Term

Counting Forwards and Backwards to 20

Extending counting skills to numbers up to 20, reinforcing number order and sequence.

About This Topic

The study of the five senses allows Year 1 pupils to explore how humans perceive and interact with their environment. Students identify which part of the body is associated with each sense: sight (eyes), hearing (ears), touch (hands/skin), smell (nose), and taste (tongue). This topic is a cornerstone of the 'Animals, including humans' strand of the National Curriculum, fostering early skills in observation and data collection.

Understanding the senses is not just about naming them; it is about discovering how they protect us and help us navigate the world. Students learn to describe sensations, such as the texture of a fabric or the pitch of a sound. Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation during sensory experiments.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation: The Sensory Circus

Set up five stations: mystery smell jars, sound shakers, feely bags, taste tests, and optical illusions. Groups rotate through each, recording their findings and discussing which sense they relied on most at each stop.

⏱ 60 min·Small Groups

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Think-Pair-Share: The Safety Sense

Present scenarios like a smoke alarm ringing or smelling burnt toast. Partners discuss which sense warns them of the danger and what might happen if that sense was not working.

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

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Role Play: The Senses Robot

One student acts as a robot who can only use one sense at a time. Another student must guide them to complete a task, like finding a ball, by only giving inputs for that specific sense.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students often think we only feel things with our fingers.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that the skin covers our whole body and is the organ for touch. Using a 'feather test' on the arm or leg during a peer activity helps students realize touch is everywhere.

Common Misconception

Children may believe that taste and smell are completely separate.

What to Teach Instead

Demonstrate how holding your nose while eating a jelly bean makes it harder to identify the flavor. This hands-on test reveals the connection between the two senses immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there more than five senses?

While we traditionally teach the five main senses in Year 1 to meet curriculum targets, humans also have senses for balance (vestibular) and body position (proprioception). You can mention these if students ask how they know where their feet are without looking.

How do I safely conduct a taste test in class?

Always check for allergies and religious dietary requirements first. Use hygienic, disposable applicators and stick to simple flavors like sweet (sugar water), sour (lemon), and salty (saltwater) to avoid choking hazards or strong reactions.

How can I support students with sensory processing needs?

Provide 'opt-out' options for intense smells or sounds. Use visual schedules and allow students to observe others before participating. Active learning should be inclusive, not overwhelming.

What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching the five senses?

Inquiry-based 'mystery boxes' are highly effective. By removing sight, students must use touch or hearing to identify objects. This forced focus on a single sense encourages deeper descriptive language and peer-to-peer debate about the evidence they are gathering.

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