Kindergarten students have been learning about the five senses in science this month and how we use them to navigate the world around us. Through discussion and experimentation, Kindergarten scientists have been exploring the variety of information they can glean from sensory observation. First, students learned about the sense of touch by examining the contents of paper bags and trying to determine what was inside. Next, they explored smell by sniffing the concealed contents of various jars and encountering strong scents like peppermint and lemon. Last week, students were excited to learn about one of their favorite senses - taste! 

 

Kindergarten teacher Lee Bogaert shared a book with the class about taste, stopping to ask and answer questions along the way. The class learned how the senses of smell and taste are linked and work together to tell you how food tastes. Saliva is an essential aid to the process by breaking down the food so that the thousands of taste buds on the tongue can process the flavor. The taste buds contain tiny receptors that send a message to the brain about each taste. Students learned that there are four primary tastes: salty, sweet, sour, and bitter.

 

Active exploration and experimentation have been critical aspects of this unit. After learning how their taste buds process different flavors, students were ready to explore the differences between diverse tastes. Lee placed four items in front of each student and asked them to pick out which item might be salty. Many students identified the pretzel and listed off other favorite salty foods. Students were less familiar with the taste of bitter foods and were surprised by the small piece of (unsweetened) dark chocolate in front of them. Not surprisingly, the sweet taste of an Oreo cookie was very popular, and they finished the taste test by sampling a lemon slice which some students enjoyed, and others did not. Lee encouraged students to describe each flavor as they experienced it to appreciate how different flavors feel. “Exploring the five senses is a critical first step in the journey towards becoming a scientist,” says Lee. “In this unit, students learn to be critical observers, thoughtful questioners, and accurate predictors. They interact with the world around them in a hands-on way and begin to understand why things are the way they are - essential skills for future science units in Kindergarten and beyond.”