Foundations of Language and Literacy · Junior Infants · Exploring Poetic Language · Summer Term

Sensory Words in Poetry

Identifying and using words that appeal to the five senses in poems.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Primary - Appreciation of Language
• NCCA: Primary - Vocabulary

About This Topic

Sensory words in poetry help Junior Infants connect language to their experiences by identifying terms that evoke sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Students explore simple poems, answering questions like 'What pictures do the words in this poem put in your head?' They point to words such as 'crisp' for apples or 'buzzing' for bees, building vocabulary while appreciating how poets paint vivid images.

This topic aligns with NCCA standards for language appreciation and vocabulary development. It encourages children to discuss favorites, like 'squishy' mud, fostering oral language skills and emotional engagement with texts. Through repeated readings and shared responses, students notice patterns in poetic language, laying groundwork for comprehension and creative writing.

Active learning suits this topic perfectly. When children act out sensory words, match them to real objects, or create group poems with props, abstract ideas become concrete. These multisensory experiences make poetry joyful and memorable, boosting confidence in using descriptive language.

Key Questions

1. What pictures do the words in this poem put in your head?
2. Can you find a word in this poem that describes something you can see, hear, or touch?
3. Which word in this poem is your favourite, and why do you like it?

Learning Objectives

• Identify sensory words related to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch within a given poem.
• Classify words from a poem based on which of the five senses they appeal to.
• Use at least three sensory words in a short, original sentence describing an object or experience.
• Explain how specific sensory words create a mental image or feeling for the reader.

Before You Start

Introduction to Descriptive Words

Why: Students need a basic understanding of adjectives and how words describe things before they can identify specific sensory adjectives.

The Five Senses

Why: Familiarity with the five senses is essential for students to recognize and categorize sensory words.

Key Vocabulary

sensory word	A word that describes something we can experience with our five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch.
sight	Words that describe what we can see, like colors, shapes, or brightness.
sound	Words that describe what we can hear, like loud noises, quiet whispers, or musical tones.
smell	Words that describe what we can smell, like sweet flowers or smoky fires.
taste	Words that describe what we can taste, like sweet candy or sour lemons.
touch	Words that describe how something feels, like soft fur or rough stone.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Poetry words only describe what you see.

What to Teach Instead

Many poems use words for all senses, like 'splash' for hearing or 'sweet' for taste. Sensory walks where children collect words from playground sounds and smells help them discover this through direct experience and peer sharing.

Common Misconception

Sensory words are always long or hard.

What to Teach Instead

Simple words like 'soft' or 'zing' work best for young learners. Matching games with everyday objects let children test short words hands-on, building confidence and showing anyone can find them.

Common Misconception

All descriptive words are sensory.

What to Teach Instead

Words like 'big' describe size, not senses. Sorting activities with real items clarify this, as children feel textures or hear sounds to distinguish true sensory appeals.

Active Learning Ideas

Poem Hunt: Sensory Scavenger

Read a short poem aloud. In pairs, children circle words on printed copies that match senses: yellow highlighter for sight, blue for sound, etc. Pairs share one word per sense with the class.

25 min·Pairs

Sensory Box Match

Prepare boxes with objects like feathers or bells. Small groups draw sensory words from a poem and find matching items, describing why they fit. Groups present one match.

30 min·Small Groups

Build a Sensory Poem

Whole class brainstorms one word per sense. Teacher scribes on chart paper. Children add actions or sounds to illustrate, then chant the poem together.

35 min·Whole Class

Favorite Word Freeze

Individually, children choose a favorite sensory word from a poem and freeze in a pose showing it. Class guesses the sense and word, discussing why it fits.

20 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Food critics use sensory words to describe the taste, smell, and texture of dishes, helping diners decide what to order at restaurants.
• Perfumers select specific scent notes, like 'citrus' or 'woody,' to create unique fragrances that evoke feelings and memories for consumers.
• Sound engineers choose words like 'crisp,' 'muffled,' or 'booming' to describe audio effects in movies and music, shaping the listener's experience.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Provide students with a short poem. Ask them to circle three words they think describe something they can see, hear, or touch. Review their circled words together as a class, discussing why they chose them.

Discussion Prompt

Read a poem aloud and ask: 'Which word in this poem made you think of a yummy taste?' or 'Can you find a word that sounds like something you hear at playtime?' Encourage students to point to the word and explain their choice.

Exit Ticket

Give each child a card with a picture of a common object (e.g., a fluffy cloud, a buzzing bee, a red apple). Ask them to write one sensory word on the back that describes the picture and to draw a small symbol next to it for the sense it relates to (e.g., an eye for sight, an ear for sound).

Frequently Asked Questions

What simple poems teach sensory words to Junior Infants?

Use classics like 'The Swing' by Robert Louis Stevenson for sight and feel, or 'Noisy Nora' for sounds. Irish poems such as those by Eileen O'Faolain add cultural touch. Read with expression, pause for children to mimic actions, and display with drawings to reinforce words across senses.

How does active learning help with sensory words in poetry?

Active approaches like sensory hunts or prop plays make poetry tangible for young children. When they touch 'furry' items or make 'crunch' sounds, words stick better than listening alone. Group sharing builds vocabulary discussions, while creating lines boosts ownership and joy in language.

How to assess sensory word understanding in Junior Infants?

Observe during talks: Can children name a word's sense and explain? Use drawings where they illustrate poem words, or voice recordings of retells. Portfolios of group poems show growth in using sensory language confidently over time.

Why focus on favourite sensory words in poems?

Asking 'Which word is your favourite, and why?' personalises learning, linking poems to children's lives. It sparks oral language, reveals preferences like tactile words, and encourages empathy as peers share. This builds appreciation and motivation for poetry exploration.