Touch, taste, sight, hearing and smell are the five ways we observe and take in the world around us. Our senses connect us to this world and impact the way we learn. Introducing
Teaching the five senses to little learners is such a fun sensory experience as it allows your students to focus on one sense. (Pst, need some ideas for hands-on sensory and science activities focused around our five senses? Check out our Five Senses Science Unit here!) And to get our youngest learners engaging in some hands-on activities take a look at our Pre-K Five Senses Science Unit.
Along with hands-on activities, another great way to teach and reinforce the five senses is through reading and literature. Here we have compiled some of the best books all about the Five Senses that will enhance your lesson as you explore the world of touch, taste, sight, hearing and smell!
Five Senses written by Dr. Jean Feldman & Dr. Holly Karapetkova
“Five Senses” by Dr. Jean Fellman is a great quick introduction to the five senses, set to the tune of BINGO. With real life pictures depicting each sense, and cute cartoons that illustrate the body part associated with that sense, this book is fantastic for incorporating music and rhythm into your morning circle as you discover the five senses together!
“Five Senses” by Stephanie Reid makes for a fantastic independent read in your reading corner. Without words, this book illustrates the five senses while also including important inclusive elements: hearing aids, braille, and glasses.
Green Start: The Five Senses by IKids
Made with recycled material, Green Start’s “The Five Senses” makes for another great addition to your classroom library or literacy center. It depicts familiar scenes with cute illustrations and talks about the ways we can use our senses.
How do Animals Use Their Five Senses? by Alejandro Algarra and Rocio Bonilla
Ever wondered how animals use their senses? Is it different from how humans use theirs? Find out in this science facts-packed story and take your learning to the next level!
I Hear a Pickle (and Smell, See, Touch, and Taste It, Too!) by Rachel Isadora
With sweet illustrations that depict the different senses, this book is a great way of exploring things that involve multiple (or all) of our senses. Read it as a whole group and then explore different items and label by touch, taste, sight, hearingand smell. Observe as a group how many items engage multiple senses.
Want a more scientific look at the five senses? This book breaks down each sense and how we process sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. Written in a narrative style, this great group read will answer the many questions your little learners might have.
My First Book About the Five Senses – Patricia J Wynne
With life-like pictures, prompting questions and fun puzzles, this Dover Coloring Book about the five senses makes for a great resource in your classroom. It offers many hands-on activities to solidify learning.
With simple and sweet illustrations, this book shows how we engage different body parts to experience each of our senses. It gives real life examples of things that you might see, hear, taste, smell or touch in the world around you.
My Five Senses by Margaret Miller
This book makes an excellent addition to your classroom library as it has simple text with clear pictures. Your students will learn about the different ways they engage their senses on a daily basis.
Another excellent addition to the classroom library is “Senses” by Lisa Greathouse. It is easy to read and has clear and relatables pictures that will inspire students to engage their senses within the classroom.
Following two children on a daytime adventure, this book illustrates how our senses help us engage and interact with the world around us. It makes an excellent read-aloud book for younger elementary learners.
The Five Senses by Jennifer Prior
This non-fiction book is packed with facts and perfect for older learners to use for research or independent reading.
The Listening Walk By Paul Showers and illustrated by Aliki
This sweet story makes for a wonderful read aloud as you follow the journey of a girl and her father as they take a Listening Walk. It encourages students to slow down and observe the world around them, tuning in to sounds of nature and humanity.
The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses by Joanna Cole
Take your class on a ride in the Magic School Bus and explore the five senses in the fun, engaging and silly way that all Magic School Bus trips entail! Your little learners will be transported outside of their classroom and into the magical and captivating world of science!
The Five Senses: Using Your Senses by Rebecca Rissman
This book makes another fantastic fact-based approach to learning about our five senses. With bright and clear photographs of real life examples, learn about your nervous system and how all your senses work together.
You Can’t Smell a Flower with Your Ear! All About Your 5 Senses by Jonna Cole
With a narrative tone, this book makes an excellent resource for older students who want to explore a more comprehensive look at our senses and how they work. It discusses the difference between sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.
Don’t forget to check out all of the children’s book lists featured here on A Dab of Glue Will Do.
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he just bought me lunch since I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” by Virginia Woolf.