Holiday Sparkle! Lesson Plan

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What We Are Learning
 

Social Studies Focus:

holidays

 

Sensory Focus:

five senses

 

Theme Vocabulary:

holiday, sparkle, senses, see, taste, hear, smell, feel

 

Skills We’re Practicing:

group discussion, critical thinking, vocabulary, science knowledge

  • My Five Senses by Aliki has been a treasured classroom resource for decades. It’s also a great primer for this issue! The simple, accessible language and captivating illustrations help to engage children as they learn about their senses in a beautiful way.

Gingerbread Slime

Materials: 1/2 cup warm water, 1/2 cup Elmer’s glue, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon contact or saline solution, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, medium-sized bowl, mixing spoon

  • This sweet-smelling slime will provide loads of fun!
  • In a bowl, stir together glue and water.
  • Next, add baking soda and saline solution. Stir until baking soda is completely dissolved.
  • Then add the spices. Yum—smell the holidays!
  • Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to become more of a solid. Mix the ingredients again, then let it sit for 5 minutes. Repeat until the slime reaches your desired consistency.
  • As children play, ask them about what senses they are using to play. What are they seeing, hearing, smelling, and feeling? Be sure to remind children that although the slime smells delicious, they must not eat it! cooking/sensory play

Materials: empty tissue box, festive decorative materials, small items that fit inside the box (e.g., a bouncy ball, a crayon, an egg shaker, a cotton ball)

  • Have students use their senses of hearing and touch to guess the mystery present!
  • Decorate the tissue box using art materials. Then have children sit in a circle on the rug. Say that they will have a chance to use their hands and ears to guess what’s in the box. Have a child come to the center of the circle and close their eyes while a secret item is placed in the box. When the child opens their eyes, have them reach into the box and guess what the item might be. (No peeking!) Remind the other students not to spoil the surprise.
  • Once the student has guessed the item in the box, ask them to tell how their senses helped them to figure it out. Did they know right away, or did they have to feel it for a while? Did listening to the item help them? If they guessed incorrectly, ask them what made them guess what they did. Which part of the item confused them? senses