Learning Cycle Lesson Planning Form

Science Topic/Content Area:

Grade Level:

General Unit
Physical Science

K-2nd

1. What concepts/big
ideas do you intend
students to learn?

2. What do you
expect students to
understand about this
concept and be able
to do as a result?

3. Why is it important
for students to learn
this concept?
(Rationale)

GLEs to be Addressed:

SC2.2.1 Students will observe and describe properties of objects

and their behavior.
The big idea for this lesson is to teach and review the key components of our 5 senses. Concepts
discussed during this lesson include: taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing. Because this is a lesson for
kindergarteners through second graders, this lesson should be taught as explicitly as possible, using
language that is understandable.
Objectives
Students will develop an understanding of how all our senses are intertwined and work
hand in hand.
Students will learn about the importance of our 5 senses and what they are used for.
Students will learn what life would be like without our 5 senses.
Objectives will connect to the GLE when students observe the characteristics of our 5
senses in the video and will then describe and identify how these affect our daily lives.
Students will use this knowledge to complete a worksheet and label the cycle.
Students will rely on the three legs of science in order to comprehend and review the 5
senses.
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to complete I Know My 5 Super
Senses! by placing seeing, touching, tasting, smelling, and hearing with the correct picture.
Relevance
The 5 senses are important because we use them every day.
This is also a topic that affects our day to day lives.
You use at least one of your five senses every moment of every day and they are on duty
even when you are asleep!
Your senses work together to let your brain know what is going on around you.
They help to keep you safe by warning you of any danger.
This could draw on the topic of healthy living.
Students will use the second leg of science, processes, by engaging in the popcorn
activity and will be able to answer questions on this topic.
A discussion of the Nature of Science will take place and students will be able to present
their ideas on how our 5 senses relate to science.
Activities are focused on the GLE when students observe these characteristics in the video
and will then describe and identify how these affect our living.

4. Provide an
overview/ explain
what teachers should
know about this topic.
What misconceptions
do students typically
have about this
concept? (Lesson
Background Info)

What teachers should know

Its important for teachers to have a basic understanding of the 5 senses and what they
are used for. This includes having a firm grasp of the concepts: taste, touch, sight, smell, and
hearing.
Your mouth and taste: Your mouth is made up of the teeth and tongue and it does
a lot more than just help you chew; it helps you to speak or sing, allows you to smile or
frown and produces saliva that helps to prevent infection. The best part of your mouth
though is your tongue because it allows you to taste the good things that you like to eat!
Your skin and touch: Your skin makes sweat that helps to protect you and oils to
keep you healthy. You touch lots and lots of different things every day and your skin can
figure out what most of them are!
Eyes and sight: Your eyes are like cameras - they take images from the world
around you and send the information to your brain. Your brain then figures out what you
are looking at. There are lots of different parts to your eyes.
Your nose and smell: It allows you to smell and to taste the food you eat.
Ears and hearing: The sounds you hear every day are collected by your ears. Your
ears transport these sounds to your brain so it can figure out what each sound is.
Hearing helps you to learn and to communicate with everyone around you.
Misconceptions
Students might think that touch is only experienced with the hands. However, we can
experience touch on any part of our skin.
Students also might not understand that smell and taste are intertwined. Have students
think of when they have had a stuffy nose or a cold. Did their food taste the same?

5. What specific
activities might be
useful for helping
students develop an
understanding of the
concept in each
phase of the Learning
Cycle?

Helpful activities
It would be helpful for the teacher to play a video and chart student observations as a
visual model.
Having an idea of what students already know would assist the teacher and allow them to
alter instruction to meet the needs of all students.
It would be best to have students collaborate and discuss what they are observing with
the popcorn together to build on understanding.
Overview of lesson
Standards: SC2.2.1 Students will observe and describe properties of objects and their behavior.
Subject: Physical Science
Length of time: 45 minutes

Procedures
Engage: Begin by explaining what well be doing today and reintroduce yourself! What do
we already know about our 5 senses? Review the 5 senses we have learned the past few weeks:
We use our eyes to see. Look around the classroom. We use our mouths to taste. We use our
hands and other parts of our body to touch. We use our nose to smell. We use our ears to hear.
Review the 5 senses with a YouTube video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA1uLc1uEbI
Explore: Students will be given a small amount of popcorn and will describe
characteristics of the popcorn. They must write down their observations on The 5 Senses
worksheet and say how the popcorn looks, feels, smells, sounds, and tastes. Students are
encouraged to talk with a partner sitting next to them about what they are observing. Time will
be given to complete the worksheet while the teacher observes and listens to what students are
discussing. Once students have written down their observations, the class with reconvene as a
whole for discussion.
Explain: Encourage the students to explain the characteristics of popcorn in their own
words. All 5 senses will be displayed on the board along with popcorn kernels. The teacher will
call on students and ask first was they saw when looking at the popcorn. The teacher will then
write that observation on a popcorn kernel and place it above the word sight. This process will
repeat itself for each of the remaining senses (hearing, touch, taste, smell) and the teacher will
record the students observations on the popcorn kernels.
Elaborate: What do we already know about the 5 senses? Lets think about what our lives
would be like if we didnt have one of our five senses. Would this make our lives easier or more
difficult? What would life be like if we didnt have sight? Smell? Taste? Hearing? Touch? We use
our eyes to see. Look around the classroom. What are some things you see?
We use our mouths to taste. What are some things youve eaten today?
We use our hands and other parts of our body to touch. Think about some things you have
touched within the last hour?
We use our nose to smell. What are some things you have smelled today?
We use our ears to hear. What have you heard or listened to today?
Its important that we take care of our five senses by wearing our glasses if we need to (sight) or not
listening to our music too loudly (hearing.) Did you know that your taste and sense of smell are used
together? Think of a time when you had a stuffy nose or you had a cold. Did your food taste the same?
Evaluate: Sensory Attack will use our super senses to review the 5 senses and fill out a
graphic organizer. Students will write the senses being used in each picture. The teacher will
check for understanding. All 5 senses must be placed in the correct boxes on the worksheet
before students can leave the classroom. This is their exit ticket.
Accommodations
Provide supports for struggling students by providing one-on-one instruction during the
practice and feedback portion of the lesson.

Closure
If theres enough time, students can watch the video again and dance to it.
Have students fill out evaluation worksheets before they leave.
Explain that parents MUST sign you out before you can leave the school!

6. In what ways would

you assess students
understanding or
confusion about this
concept?

7. What materials/
equipment are
needed to teach the
lesson?

8. References (Please
list all resources
consulted in
developing this form)

Formative Assessment
Students may have previous misconceptions about how foods may taste.
Students might think that touch is only experienced with the hands. However, we can
experience touch on any part of our skin.
Students also might not understand that smell and taste are intertwined.
If students do not understand a concept, the teacher will explain this concept once more
to the student. If this is an issue for the class, it will be addressed by the teacher and retaught.
Students must complete the Super Senses worksheet prior to leaving. The teacher will
look over the worksheet and provide any feedback if necessary. This worksheet is intended to be
rather easy if students have been paying attention the last several weeks. This will be their exit
ticket.
Materials
17 pencils
iPad
Popcorn
Tape
Markers
Sensory Observations handout
I Know My 5 Super Senses! handout
Reflection handout
Websites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA1uLc1uEbI
Resources
Reed, L. (n.d.). Super Senses. Retrieved November 19, 2015, from
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/5-Senses-A-Super-FREEBIE-1556697
The Five Senses Song. (2014, November 11). Retrieved November 19, 2015, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA1uLc1uEbI
5 Senses - Popcorn Investigation. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2015, from
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/5-Senses-Popcorn-Investigation-FREEBIE-

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