Activity: Senses scavenger hunt: The teacher guides students to discuss the 5 senses with which we are gifted, noting that some people, as in the case of Helen Keller, do not have use of all 5 senses. The key message of this activity is to promote appreciation of these gifts and sensitivity towards those who lack the use of all 5 senses. Students name the 5 senses: touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell. They are directed to explore, record examples in each category, and participate in a discussion led by the teacher. The teacher prepares 5 centers, one for each sense. Students are navigated through the centers in small groups, and each student records on a piece of paper what they experience at each center. A word wall is provided to assist in correct spelling. Materials needed: 5 centers (1) touch center: a variety of smooth, rough, slimy, bumpy, etc. surfaces, (2) sight center: a variety of recognizable pictures of different colors and shapes, (3) hearing: a variety of instruments, (4) taste: little plates (one per student) with different items, salty, sweet, sour, cold, savory, spicey, (5) smell: scented cotton balls (lemon, peppermint, etc.) that students can pick up and smell Directions: Explain: “Today we will explore the gift of 5 senses. I have set up 5 centers through which the teams will rotate (groups of 3-4 students). Each student has a paper and pencil. You can talk with your team members and help each other as you go through the centers. Describe what you experience at each center, including what you appreciate about each sense. When everyone has gone through all the centers we will sit at our desks and discuss what we wrote.” Guide students in a discussion about their experience using these questions: If you had to give up one of your 5 senses which would it be? What is the most important sense for you? How can you help a blind person “see” what you see? Do you think a blind person hears better because he or she works hard to compensate (make up for) for not being able to see? If a person can’t hear but can see, how could you help them? [restrict] Wrap it up: Explain that we often take our five senses for granted, not appreciating how much we depend on them to do things, simple things like we do everyday and more complex things, like going to an adventure park, or on a trip somewhere. We need our five senses to enjoy the people in our lives, to hear what they say and see their faces. We need our five senses to experience the fascinating world around us. Let’s try to be more sensitive to those who are handicapped, like Helen Keller, and let’s try to be more appreciative and take better care of our five senses. [/restrict]