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5 senses of winter

Skills
Use your 5 senses to capture memories of the winter season

Learning Stages

By Becca Ross

Kindergarten & First Grade Teacher

Becca is a schoolteacher and blogs at homeiswheremystorybegins.com. She loves to cook, bake, garden, sew, quilt, teach and simply spend time with her family. She strives to find art in everyday things.

The change in seasons bring many different sensory experiences. The temperature changes, there are a million different things to observe, and the smells and tastes are very distinct. Think about the difference between the smells, tastes, and experience of making homemade strawberry shortcake in the summer, and the completely different experience of baking gingerbread cookies at holiday time.

Winter is a “sense-ational” time to show kids how using our senses helps us experience life and enjoy simple moments.

Examples of the Senses

Seeing:

  • Catch snowflakes on black paper and observe the differences between snowflakes.
  • Notice the difference in freshly fallen snow and the snow as it is melting.

Hearing:

  • After a snowfall, listen to the silence. The world sounds calm and peaceful.
  • Listen to the crackling of a fire in the fireplace.

Touching:

  • Feel the cold snow without gloves or mittens.
  • Warm your hands around a cup of cocoa.

Tasting:

  • Enjoy cookies and cocoa of course!
  • Taste a bit of freshly fallen snow or catch snowflakes on your tongue.

Smelling:

  • Smell savory winter food or baked treats as they are cooking.
  • Notice the smell of a fire in the fireplace.

Spend some time indoors and out, talking with your child about their senses, what they notice, and their wonderings. It’s a great way to enjoy quality time together and focus on the things you enjoy about winter.

Books About the 5 Senses

  • My Five Senses by Aliki
  • The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen
  • Green Start: The Five Senses by IKids