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Explorer les cinq sens : Un plan de leçon hebdomadaire pour les tout-petits

By / Par: Maribel Janohan

1. Infants (6–18 Months) / Nourrissons (6 à 18 mois)

2. Toddlers (18 Months–2 Years) / Tout-petits (18 mois à 2 ans)

3. Preschoolers (4–5 Years Old) / Préscolaires (4 à 5 ans)

Why This Matters / Pourquoi c’est important

Explorer les cinq sens : Un plan de leçon hebdomadaire pour les tout-petits

By / Par: Maribel Janohan

English	Français
Children learn about their world through their senses. From the moment they are born, they begin exploring sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. As educators, parents, and caregivers, we can nurture this natural curiosity by creating activities that stimulate each sense while promoting social, emotional, and cognitive growth.	Les enfants découvrent le monde grâce à leurs sens. Dès leur naissance, ils commencent à explorer les images, les sons, les odeurs, les goûts et les textures. En tant qu’éducateurs, parents et aidants, nous pouvons encourager cette curiosité naturelle en créant des activités qui stimulent chaque sens tout en favorisant le développement social, émotionnel et cognitif.
This week’s theme — Exploring the Five Senses — is designed for three different age groups: Infants (6–18 months), Toddlers (18 months–2 years), and Preschoolers (4–5 years old). Each daily activity is developmentally appropriate and focuses on one of the five senses.	Le thème de cette semaine — Explorer les cinq sens — est conçu pour trois groupes d’âge : Nourrissons (6 à 18 mois), Tout-petits (18 mois à 2 ans) et Préscolaires (4 à 5 ans). Chaque activité quotidienne est adaptée au développement de l’enfant et met l’accent sur l’un des cinq sens.

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1. Infants (6–18 Months) / Nourrissons (6 à 18 mois)

English	Français
Learning Goals: Introduce sensory experiences through safe exploration, encourage bonding and interaction, support early motor skills and curiosity.	Objectifs d’apprentissage : Introduire des expériences sensorielles sûres, favoriser les liens et les interactions, soutenir le développement moteur précoce et la curiosité.
Monday – Touch: Texture Basket Exploration – Soft cloth, rubber ball, and fuzzy toy for tactile play while the caregiver describes each texture.	Lundi – Le toucher : Panier de textures – Tissu doux, balle en caoutchouc, jouet en peluche, avec description des textures par l’adulte.
Tuesday – Sight: Light & Shadow Play – Shine a flashlight on the wall, letting babies watch moving shadows.	Mardi – La vue : Jeu de lumière et d’ombres – Utiliser une lampe de poche pour projeter des ombres en mouvement sur le mur.
Wednesday – Hearing: Rattle & Music Time – Offer different rattles and gentle music, encouraging clapping or shaking.	Mercredi – L’ouïe : Hochets et musique – Proposer différents hochets et de la musique douce ; encourager à taper des mains ou agiter.
Thursday – Smell: Scent Discovery – Present mild scents like vanilla or orange peel for gentle sniffing.	Jeudi – L’odorat : Découverte des odeurs – Présenter des odeurs légères comme la vanille ou l’écorce d’orange.
Friday – Taste: Fruit Purée Sampling – Safe fruit purées such as banana or pear, describing each flavor.	Vendredi – Le goût : Dégustation de purées de fruits – Purées de banane ou de poire, avec description des saveurs.

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2. Toddlers (18 Months–2 Years) / Tout-petits (18 mois à 2 ans)

English	Français
Learning Goals: Build vocabulary related to the senses, encourage choice-making and simple problem-solving, enhance coordination and social skills.	Objectifs d’apprentissage : Enrichir le vocabulaire lié aux sens, encourager la prise de décision et la résolution simple de problèmes, améliorer la coordination et les interactions sociales.
Monday – Touch: Texture Art – Stick fabric, sandpaper, and foil onto cardboard for feeling and naming.	Lundi – Le toucher : Art des textures – Coller du tissu, du papier sablé et du papier aluminium sur un carton pour les sentir et les nommer.
Tuesday – Sight: Color Hunt – Look for red, blue, and yellow objects in the classroom.	Mardi – La vue : Chasse aux couleurs – Rechercher des objets rouges, bleus et jaunes dans la classe.
Wednesday – Hearing: Animal Sound Guess – Play animal sounds and let children match them to pictures.	Mercredi – L’ouïe : Deviner les sons d’animaux – Faire écouter des sons et associer à l’image correspondante.
Thursday – Smell: Herb & Spice Jars – Smell cinnamon, basil, and lemon peel; talk about favorites.	Jeudi – L’odorat : Pots d’herbes et d’épices – Sentir la cannelle, le basilic et l’écorce de citron ; parler des préférences.
Friday – Taste: Mini Snack Chef – Taste safe snacks like crackers, apple slices, and cheese, talking about “sweet,” “salty,” and “crunchy.”	Vendredi – Le goût : Mini chef cuisinier – Goûter des aliments sécuritaires comme des craquelins, des tranches de pomme et du fromage ; discuter du “sucré”, “salé” et “croquant”.

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3. Preschoolers (4–5 Years Old) / Préscolaires (4 à 5 ans)

English	Français
Learning Goals: Identify and name all five senses, make connections between senses and experiences, strengthen descriptive language and observation skills.	Objectifs d’apprentissage : Identifier et nommer les cinq sens, faire des liens entre les sens et les expériences vécues, renforcer le langage descriptif et les compétences d’observation.
Monday – Touch: Mystery Box Challenge – Guess hidden objects using only touch.	Lundi – Le toucher : Boîte mystère – Deviner les objets cachés en utilisant uniquement le toucher.
Tuesday – Sight: I Spy Nature Walk – Spot shapes, colors, and patterns outside.	Mardi – La vue : Promenade “Je vois” – Observer les formes, les couleurs et les motifs à l’extérieur.
Wednesday – Hearing: Sound Sorting Game – Sort sounds into “indoor” and “outdoor” categories.	Mercredi – L’ouïe : Jeu de tri des sons – Classer les sons en “intérieur” et “extérieur”.
Thursday – Smell: Smell Lab – Explore scents like coffee beans, lemon, and mint, then draw or describe favorites.	Jeudi – L’odorat : Laboratoire des odeurs – Explorer des senteurs comme les grains de café, le citron et la menthe, puis dessiner ou décrire les préférées.
Friday – Taste: Taste Test Experiment – Try sweet, sour, salty, and bitter foods (safe for children) and chart results together.	Vendredi – Le goût : Expérience de dégustation – Essayer des saveurs sucrées, acides, salées et amères (versions sûres pour enfants) et créer un tableau de résultats.

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Why This Matters / Pourquoi c’est important

English	Français
Introducing the five senses in playful, hands-on ways helps children develop awareness of their bodies and surroundings. It boosts language skills, builds problem-solving abilities, and supports emotional expression. Whether at home or in the classroom, these activities create joyful learning moments that last a lifetime.	Introduire les cinq sens de manière ludique et interactive aide les enfants à mieux connaître leur corps et leur environnement. Cela développe le langage, la capacité à résoudre des problèmes et l’expression émotionnelle. Que ce soit à la maison ou à l’école, ces activités créent des moments d’apprentissage joyeux qui laissent de beaux souvenirs.

Children learn about their world through their senses. From the moment they are born, they begin exploring sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. As educators, parents, and caregivers, we can nurture this natural curiosity by creating activities that stimulate each sense while promoting social, emotional, and cognitive growth.

Each daily activity is developmentally appropriate and focuses on one of the five senses.

Learning Goals:

• Introduce sensory experiences through safe exploration.

• Encourage bonding and social interaction.

• Develop early motor skills and curiosity.

Happy birthday, brave soul — to me. 

 Theme: Let curious hands discover soft, rough, bumpy, and squishy textures!

Today we celebrate the amazing sense of touch—how our hands, feet, and skin help us learn about the world through texture and temperature. From soft cotton to scratchy sandpaper, we’ll give our preschoolers plenty of opportunities to explore with their hands (and even toes!).

🧠 Learning Goals:

• Recognize and describe different textures (e.g., soft, rough, smooth, bumpy)

• Build sensory vocabulary

• Strengthen fine motor skills and tactile awareness

• Promote mindfulness and body awareness

👐 Activities:

1. Texture Box – Mystery Touch Game

Create a touch-and-feel mystery box with a variety of safe objects hidden inside.
Items might include:

• Cotton balls (soft)

• Sandpaper (rough)

• Rubber ball (smooth)

• Pompoms (fluffy)

• Pasta or rice (bumpy)

Let each child take turns reaching in (without looking!) and describing what they feel. Ask, “Is it soft or rough? Cold or squishy?” Then reveal the object and talk about it together!

2. Art Time – Texture Collage

Provide a variety of materials like:

• Fabric scraps

• Aluminum foil

• Cotton balls

• Tissue paper

• Sandpaper

• Buttons

Let the children glue the materials to cardstock to create their own “touch collage.” Encourage them to name the textures as they work—great for vocabulary and sensory development!

3. Outdoor Play – Barefoot Sensory Walk

If weather allows, set up a mini sensory path outside with trays or sections of:

• Soft grass

• Smooth stones

• Water in a shallow bin

• Textured mats

• Bubble wrap

Let children walk barefoot or feel the textures with their hands. Talk about how each one feels. This encourages mindfulness and helps them notice how different textures affect their body.

📚 Story Time:

Touch and Feel by DK Books
This tactile board book is perfect for tiny hands! Children will love touching the different textures while learning new words. Let them pass the book around and describe each page.

🎵 Song of the Day:

“Touch Your Nose, Pat Your Head”
A simple, interactive action song that invites kids to touch different body parts while practicing listening skills and motor control.
Add your own verses like “Rub your tummy, tap your toes!”

🧺 Extension Ideas:

• Create a texture walk indoors with different rugs, mats, and towels

• Add texture books to your reading nook

• Introduce clay or playdough for extra tactile fun

💡 Blog Tip for Educators:

The sense of touch is deeply connected to a child’s emotions and body awareness. Providing safe, calming textures can support self-regulation and comfort. Always watch for sensitivities—some children may prefer certain textures and avoid others. That’s okay!

Let those curious hands explore! Today is all about feeling the world—one texture at a time. 🖐️

 Theme: Let’s explore the flavors we love—and some we don’t!

Today is all about tasting and talking! Our little learners will explore the delicious (and sometimes surprising) world of flavors—from sweet bananas to sour lemons, salty crackers to bland lettuce. It’s a great way to spark curiosity and conversation during snack time!

🧠 Learning Goals:

• Identify the basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and bland

• Develop vocabulary related to taste and food

• Practice trying new foods in a fun, pressure-free way

• Encourage healthy food choices and creativity in food preparation

🍽️ Activities:

1. Taste Test Adventure

Offer small samples of four basic flavors:

• 🍌 Sweet: Banana slices

• 🍋 Sour: Lemon wedges

• 🧂 Salty: Crackers or pretzels

• 🥬 Bland: Fresh lettuce

Encourage children to describe each taste using words like “yummy,” “weird,” “sour,” or “crunchy.” Discuss which ones they liked or didn’t like—and that it’s okay to feel differently!

2. Cooking Fun – Fruit Salad or Cookie Decorating

• 🥗 Option 1: Make a simple fruit salad together. Children can help peel bananas, place grapes, and stir everything in a big bowl.

• 🍪 Option 2: Cookie decorating fun. Let them spread a little frosting and add sprinkles or fruit pieces.

This hands-on activity boosts fine motor skills and encourages teamwork, plus they’ll love tasting their creations!

3. Art Time – Paper Plate “Pizza” Craft

Provide each child with a paper plate as the “pizza base” and let them add their favorite toppings using cut-out construction paper or stickers (cheese, pepperoni, pineapple, mushrooms, etc.).
Talk about which toppings are sweet, salty, or savory!

📚 Story Time:

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
This colorful book introduces children to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables from A to Z. Encourage children to call out ones they’ve tasted—or would like to try!

🎵 Song of the Day:

“I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas”
This classic silly song is a favorite for kids, helping with vowel sounds while celebrating yummy fruits. Add funny faces and dance moves to make it even more fun!

🧺 Extension Ideas:

• Add real or pretend food items to your dramatic play kitchen

• Set up a "restaurant" with menus showing different tastes

• Have children draw their favorite food and describe how it tastes

💡 Blog Tip for Educators:

When exploring taste, always consider allergies and parental permissions. Keep tasting sessions small and optional—never force a child to try something they’re uncomfortable with. It's all about discovery and fun!

Let little tongues lead the way—today is a flavorful adventure that will have your preschoolers giggling, guessing, and asking for more!