Lesson Plan Title:
Grade R Life Skills Lesson Plan: Exploring the Sense of Touch
Materials Needed:
- Various textured objects (e.g., sandpaper, cotton balls, sponges, ribbon, silk cloth)
- Blindfolds
- Chart paper and markers
- “My Five Senses” book or similar children’s book
- Worksheets with images of different textures
- Pair of gloves (optional)
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Identify and describe different textures using their sense of touch.
2. Understand the importance of the sense of touch in daily life.
3. Differentiate between textures using descriptive vocabulary.
Vocabulary:
- Texture – How something feels when touched.
- Smooth – A surface that feels even and not rough or bumpy.
- Rough – A surface that feels uneven and bumpy.
- Soft – A surface that feels gentle to touch and not hard.
- Hard – A surface that feels firm and solid, the opposite of soft.
Previous Learning:
Students have previously been introduced to the five senses and have learned about the sense of sight and hearing.
Anticipated Challenges and Solutions:
- Challenge: Students may struggle to articulate their experiences of different textures.
- Solution: Model the use of descriptive vocabulary and provide sentence starters.
- Challenge: Some students may feel uncomfortable with the blindfold activity.
- Solution: Allow students to participate in pairs and provide reassurance and support.
Beginning Activities (10% – 4 minutes):
- Introduction (2 minutes): Start with a fun song or chant about the five senses. Explain that today we are going to focus on a special sense – the sense of touch.
- Book Reading (2 minutes): Read a short excerpt from “My Five Senses” that focuses on the sense of touch.
Middle Activities (80% – 32 minutes):
- Texture Exploration (10 minutes):
- Distribute various textured objects to small groups.
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Encourage students to feel the objects and describe them using new vocabulary.
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Blindfold Activity (10 minutes):
- In pairs, one student is blindfolded while the other student gives them different textured objects to touch.
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The blindfolded student should describe the texture and guess what the object might be.
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Guided Drawing Activity (8 minutes):
- On chart paper, draw and label different textured items (smooth, rough, soft, hard).
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Ask students to come up and draw objects they think match each texture.
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Worksheet Activity (4 minutes):
- Provide worksheets with images of different textures.
- Have students colour the images based on texture or draw lines to objects they think match the given textures.
End Activities (10% – 4 minutes):
- Class Discussion (2 minutes): Discuss what students learned. Ask them to share their favourite texture and why.
- Exit Ticket (2 minutes): Students will choose a texture they liked feeling the most and draw it on a small piece of paper to hand to the teacher as they leave.
Assessment and Checks for Understanding:
- Observations during group work and blindfold activities.
- Class Discussion to gauge student understanding.
- Worksheets for individual assessment of grasp of textures and vocabulary.
Differentiation Strategies for Diverse Learners:
- Scaffolding: Provide tactile prompts and sentence starters for describing textures.
- Extension: Allow advanced students to create a “texture book” by collecting and describing different textures at home.
- Support: Pair struggling students with a buddy and provide additional verbal support and encouragement.
Teaching Notes:
- Purpose: To help students develop an understanding of their sense of touch and build descriptive vocabulary related to textures.
- Educational Value: Enhances sensory awareness and promotes vocabulary development.
- Tips: Ensure all students participate actively, rotate groups to maintain engagement, and encourage expressive language use.
- Accessibility Considerations: Provide alternatives or additional support for students with sensory processing issues or fine motor difficulties.