Sensory Words in Poetry

Active learning works well for sensory words in poetry because young children connect language to their senses through movement, objects, and play. When students touch, listen, and move while exploring words, they create stronger neural connections between vocabulary and real-world experiences.

• Junior Infants
• Foundations of Language and Literacy
• 4 activities
• 20 min–35 min

Learning Objectives

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

Chalk Talk

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

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.

Prepare & details

What pictures do the words in this poem put in your head?

Facilitation Tip: Use Favorite Word Freeze to reinforce vocabulary by asking children to freeze when they hear a word that matches the sense you call out, like 'squishy' for touch.

Setup: Large papers on tables or walls, space to circulate

Materials: Large paper with central prompt, Markers (one per student), Quiet music (optional)

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Chalk Talk

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

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.

Prepare & details

Can you find a word in this poem that describes something you can see, hear, or touch?

Setup: Large papers on tables or walls, space to circulate

Materials: Large paper with central prompt, Markers (one per student), Quiet music (optional)

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Chalk Talk

⏱ 35 min·Whole Class

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.

Prepare & details

Which word in this poem is your favourite, and why do you like it?

Setup: Large papers on tables or walls, space to circulate

Materials: Large paper with central prompt, Markers (one per student), Quiet music (optional)

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Chalk Talk

⏱ 20 min·Individual

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.

Prepare & details

What pictures do the words in this poem put in your head?

Setup: Large papers on tables or walls, space to circulate

Materials: Large paper with central prompt, Markers (one per student), Quiet music (optional)

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Teaching This Topic

Teachers approach this topic by grounding lessons in concrete experiences before moving to abstract words. Avoid overwhelming students with too many new terms at once. Research shows that when children handle objects while discussing sensory words, retention improves significantly. Use repetition and peer sharing to build confidence in identifying and using these words.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students pointing to sensory words in poems, matching words to objects they can feel or taste, and creating simple poems using words that appeal to the senses. They should confidently explain why a word fits a specific sense with examples from their own lives.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Build a Sensory Poem, students may think all descriptive words are sensory.

What to Teach Instead

Provide a mix of sensory and non-sensory words (e.g., 'big,' 'red,' 'crunchy'). Have students sort them into two piles, then test each word by touching, tasting, or listening to confirm which pile is correct.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Sensory Box Match, give each child a card with a picture of a common object. Ask them to write one sensory word on the back that describes the picture and draw a small symbol next to it for the sense it relates to, such as an eye for sight or an ear for sound.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to write a two-line poem using at least three sensory words related to a single object, like an apple: 'Crunchy skin, sweet inside, red so bright.'
• Scaffolding for struggling students: Provide a word bank with pictures for each sense during Build a Sensory Poem, and pair them with a partner to discuss choices.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to bring in a small object or picture from home and create a group poem using only sensory words that describe it.

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.