All About Me: Day Three

Eyes, Ears, Mouth, & Nose

Children will understand more about the ways we use our eyes, ears, mouth & nose. (Taken mostly from LDS Nursery Manual, 1983)

Sing Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes

Play Body 'Simon Says,' (Here are MY eyes-where are YOUR eyes?) focusing on eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

Sing "Thanks to Our Father" (verses 1& 2) LDS Children's Songbook, #20
Sing "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" (verse 2) LDS Children's Songbook, #228

These songs talk about parts of our body that Heavenly Father gave us to help us enjoy the world around us. (Our senses)

Eyes to See:

Heavenly Father gave us eyes to see beautiful things in the world.

Activities:

• Provide paper tubes (from rolls of paper goods) for each child. Have them look through the hole, at other people, talking about all the things he/she can see. (I think Kyle was trying to use his telescope to smell the things around him:)

• Prepare a treasure hunt by hiding things (shells, flowers, rocks, leaves, toys, etc) around the room. Tell children what to look for, helping when necessary. "Use your eyes to find the treasures."
• Go on an observation walk. Talk about what you see along the way: "I see_______. What do you see?"
  
• Sing "Two Little Eyes," (LDS Children's Songbook, 268)

Ears to Hear:

Heavenly Father gave us ears all the sounds around us.

Activities:

• Play music or prerecorded sounds such as animals, cars, trucks, airplanes, tools, etc. Ask questions like "What is making this sound?" or "Is this sound found outdoors or indoors?" "What part of your body helps you hear these sounds?" (If you don't have prerecorded sounds, you could make sounds and ask children, "What am I?"

• Show pictures of things that makes sounds (same as above). Ask questions like, "What sound does this make?" Then, mix up the sounds. For example, show a picture of a train and say, "Meow, meow" or a cow and say, "Baaaa, baaa." Have children correct the sounds for each wrong one.

• Gather items found in the home that make sounds: bells, clocks, paper, radio, kitchen appliances, instruments, etc. Have children make sounds with the items. Then, have them close their eyes and try to guess what item is making the sounds.

• Go on a listening walk. Ask children to use their ears to hear the things around them. "I can hear______. Can you hear it too? What can you hear?"

• Sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."

Nose to Smell, Mouth to Taste:

As we smell and taste good things around us, we are thankful to Heavenly Father for our noses.

Activities:

• Gather small, bite-size samples of familiar foods that have distinctive taste and smell. Cover or bring them in boxes with lids so children can't see them. Have children close their eyes and try to smell and taste a sample, trying to guess what it is.

• Prepare several small jars with a different liquid in each or several cotton balls saturated with liquids. Also bring the things the liquids came from. For example, bring orange juice and an orange, onion juice and an onion, apple juice and an apple, perfume and a flower, etc. Have children smell the liquids and try to guess what it is. Then show the correct answers.

• Explain that the way a thing smells tells us something about it. For example, if we smell bread baking, we know that someone is making bread. If we smell smoke, we knows there is a fire. If we smell food cooking in the kitchen, what do we know? Taste tells us something, too. An apple that isn't ready to eat tastes sour. When milk is spoiled, it doesn't taste good.

• Tell a story about making cookies: "Mmmmmm! Have you ever helped make cookies? I am going to tell you a story about making cookies. Maybe we can pretend to help ." (Have children do actions while the story is being told, providing objects such as bowls, spoons, etc.)
  "Mommy, may we make some cookies?"
  "That sounds like a good idea," said mother. "Will you be my helpers?"
  "First, let's wash our hands." (pretend to wash hands.)
  "We will need some sugar" said mother, pouring some into a measuring cup and into the bowl. (Pretend to measure sugar and pour into the bowl.)
  "We will need some butter, eggs, and flour, too." (Pretend to put in all the ingredients and stir the mixture.)
  "Drop the dough on the cookie sheet in little round balls." (Pretend to roll up the dough and lay it out.) When the dough is all gone, you can lick the bowl and spoon. (Act this out.)
  "Now, put the pan in the oven."
  The cookies smell SO good while they're baking. (Take in a deep breath to pretend to smell them) Soon, they will be ready to eat!

• Make real cookies and enjoy eating them!
  

Summary:
Heavenly Father gives us everything and made our bodies for us to be able to experience and enjoy the world around us!

More ideas on Senses: A to Z Kids Stuff