LESSON PLAN #1

Title: Seeing Our World: Exploring Our Sense of Sight

Age Range

6-8 years (Grades 1-2)

Timing

60 minutes

Lesson Number

Lesson 1 of 4

LEARNING OBJECTIVE Statements

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Students should describe how eyes enable human vision by explaining their fundamental purpose.
  • Examine three different ways our vision helps us perform daily tasks.
  • Conduct simple observations using magnifying glasses
  • Investigate the variations in object appearances when viewed through multiple perspectives
  • Explain how our vision functions as a tool for understanding our surroundings.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING (UDL) Connections

  • Multiple Representation Methods: The presentation of sight-related content will incorporate videos alongside physical demonstrations and engaging visual aids as well as hands-on exploratory activities.
  • Multiple Engagement Approaches: Students learn through individual observation time as well as through paired activities and whole-group discussions
  • Multiple Expression Options: Students can convey their understanding by creating drawings or providing verbal explanations and also through demonstrations.

ESSENTIAL Question(s)

  • How does the ability to see enable us to understand the world around us?
  • What kind of information is unique to our vision that our other senses are unable to provide?
  • What changes would occur in our daily experiences if seeing was not possible for us?

MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGIES Description

Students or Teachers will use the following materials, tools, and equipment:

  • “How Do We See?” educational video
  • Magnifying glasses (one per student or pair)
  • A selection of objects such as feathers, leaves, fabric, and rocks for students to examine
  • Eye diagram poster
  • “Sight Explorer” worksheets
  • Colored pencils/markers
  • Optional: Digital camera/tablet for taking close-up photos
  • Blindfolds (for brief sight limitation activity)

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE & PRE-CLASS Preparation

Students will need to know the following before beginning this lesson:

  • Basic understanding that we have five senses
  • Familiarity with basic body parts
  • Students must understand proper care techniques for classroom materials.

The teacher will need to make the following preparations prior to the lesson:

  • Set up video and testing equipment
  • Gather collection of safe observation objects
  • Prepare “Sight Explorer” worksheets
  • Arrange classroom into observation stations
  • Review safety guidelines for using magnifying glasses
  • Identify students with visual impairments and set up necessary accommodations for them

LESSON PLAN Sequence

  • How does the lesson progress through each step from beginning to end?
  • How long will each activity in the lesson plan receive time allocation?
  • Which questions will serve as guides to engage students and deepen their understanding?
  • What specific activities or tasks will students perform at each part of the lesson?
  • What will be the sequence and transition process between the lesson’s introduction and concluding parts?

1. Introduction

  • Begin with a brief sensory warm-up: We’ll play ‘I Spy’ for two minutes to help activate our vision.
  • Play the first two minutes of the “How Do We See?” video as the introductory section. video.
  • Conduct a brief class discussion using questions:
    • “What do we use our eyes for?”
    • Can you share some things you observed using your eyes today?
    • “Why is seeing important?”
  • Present the main questions and learning goals of the lesson to children using simple language

2. Instructional Content

  • Present the remaining portion of the “How Do We See?” video to students. video
  • Refer to the eye diagram poster to recognize the fundamental components of the eye.
  • Show students the function of light in vision by briefly turning off the lights.
  • The “close your eyes, open your eyes” activity helps students understand the difference between vision states.
  • Quick partner activity: During the partner activity students describe observed objects to their partner without giving away their names.

3. Interactive Learning Activity

  • Begin “Sight Explorers” activity and hand out magnifying glasses to students.
  • Demonstrate proper use of magnifying glasses
  • Explain observation stations and worksheet
  • Students rotate through stations in pairs:
    • Station 1: Natural items (leaves, feathers, soil)
    • Station 2: Fabric and textiles
    • Station 3: Everyday objects (paper clips, coins, classroom items)
    • Station 4: Students examine hidden items through tiny peepholes in boxes during this activity.
  • Students sketch and record their observations by concentrating on visible details both with magnification aids and unaided vision.
  • Guiding questions during activity:
    • Which features become visible through the magnifying glass that were invisible before?
    • What new information emerges about this object when you examine it in detail?

4. Conclusion

  • Gallery walk: Students briefly share one interesting observation
  • Brief experience with visual limitation: Students put on blindfolds for half a minute and then contemplate what they experienced
  • Review the major concepts that explain vision functionality and its significance
  • Preview next lesson on hearing
  • Exit ticket: Students finish writing “One new thing I learned about my sense of sight is…”.

ASSESSMENT Overview

Students should demonstrate the ability to:

  • The formative assessment evaluates student participation through observation of their engagement.
  • Students need to finish “Sight Explorer” worksheets with sufficient details and observations.
  • Responses on exit tickets reveal student comprehension of fundamental concepts.
  • Students should demonstrate the ability to:
    • Use magnifying glasses appropriately
    • Identify and describe visual details
    • Describe one method by which our vision allows us to gather knowledge about our environment.
    • Make important contributions to discussions regarding the value of sight.

RESOURCES, DIAGRAMS, & REFERENCES

  • “How Do We See?” video from Nemours KidsHealth
  • Magnifying glass usage safety guidelines
  • Sample “Sight Explorer” worksheet templates
  • Children’s book reference: Joanna Cole authored “The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Understand the needs of visually impaired students by teaching that sight varies among individuals.
  • For students who finish early, provide extension activity: “Design a new animal with super sight”
  • The classroom lighting should be appropriate to allow detailed observation.
  • Control students’ enthusiasm during tactile exercises by setting defined expectations
    Prepare different activities for students who might feel uneasy about temporary blindfolding.

Instructional Content #1 How Our Eyes Work Video

What You’ll Learn from the Video As you watch, you’ll discover:

  • Key components of the eye include the pupil, iris, lens, and retina.
  • The process by which light travels through the eye to form visual images
  • Our brain processes the visual information we receive to help us comprehend what we see.
  • Glasses help certain people achieve clear vision due to their eye conditions.
  • Our eyes enable us to detect colors and observe motion.

What To Do

  • Be sure to watch the video through and you have the ability to stream or download it for watching later. It’s about 4 minutes long!
  • Take notes While watching, try writing down:
    • 3 interesting facts you didn’t know before
    • The video introduces two new vocabulary words with their definitions.
    • Identify one remaining question you have regarding your eyes.
  • Look for key sections like:
    • How light enters the eye
    • How the eye works like a camera
    • Our eyes function together to enable us to perceive depth.

What’s Next? After watching the video, you’ll move on to:

  • Students will participate in a matching activity designed to review the functions of various parts of the eye.
  • An observation activity using magnifying glasses
  • Proceed to complete a sketching task that demonstrates your understanding of the material.

Optional: Reflection Prompt Think about this as you move forward:

  • How can you maintain healthy eyes while protecting them?
    You can write your thoughts down or post them as comments.

MICROMODULE Overview

Title: Our Five Senses: Exploring How We Experience the World

Age Range

6-8 years (Grades 1-2)

Lessons

4 lessons (one focused on each sense grouping: sight, hearing, smell/taste, and touch)

LEARNING OBJECTIVE Statements

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

  • Students will gain the ability to demonstrate their understanding of the unit’s key concepts by performing several tasks related to human senses.
  • Students should understand the five senses which include sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
  • Describe how our five senses function to collect information about our environment.
  • Perform basic experiments to examine the functionality of our sensory systems
  • Explain the way human senses collaborate to help us comprehend the world around us.
  • Understand how people adjust to limitations in one sensory function
  • Connect sensory experiences to everyday life situations

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING (UDL) Connections

  • Multiple Representation Methods: We will deliver content via videos, illustrations, hands-on activities, songs and interactive demonstrations to accommodate various learning styles
  • Multiple Engagement Approaches: The course activities will consist of solo exploration tasks along with paired exercises and group discussions while students work on choice-based projects to satisfy various learning preferences and requirements.
  • Multiple Expression Options: Students have the opportunity to show their understanding through drawings and digital recordings as well as physical demonstrations and verbal descriptions.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO Description

  • Title: “Meet Your Five Super Senses!”
  • Description: Students learn about the five senses from a friendly animated character in a 3-minute video that demonstrates sensory usage every day. The video demonstrates each sense function and the corresponding body parts while explaining the significance of our senses.
  • Accessibility: The video features straightforward narration along with visible captions and descriptive visuals while also providing audio descriptions. The video uses basic language and captivating visual elements to reach a broad range of students.

ESSENTIAL Questions

  • Our senses provide the information we need to understand our environment.
  • Why do we need different senses?
  • How do our senses work together?
  • What are the consequences if one of our sensory systems becomes impaired?
  • What methods help us explore our surroundings safely through our senses?
  • How do different animals use different senses?

INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT Overview

  • Content 1: “How Our Eyes Work” Video
    YouTube channels such as SciShow Kids and Science4Us offer short educational videos which explain eye functions by describing basic eye parts and how light enables vision. Select animated videos that last between 3 and 5 minutes and are suitable for children.
  • Content 2: “Hearing and Sound” Educational Video
    A BrainPOP Jr. video or an alternate educational resource that explains auditory system functioning. Educational videos explain ear structure and sound waves along with volume control through interactive age-appropriate content.
  • Content 3: “The Sense of Taste” Educational Video
    A Smile and Learn video that explains the sense of taste is important for humans basic needs when considering the effects it has on everyday life. Taste has nutritional factors that help differentiate between healthy and unhealthy, yummy and disgusting, spoiled or rotten, etc. Taste has a major role in humans pleasure in eating and influences the appetite. Taste is heavily reliant on smell, which will be discussed in your lesson plan.
  • Content 4: “How does the sense of smell work” Educational Video
    A Smile and Learn video that explains The sense of smell is important for humans basic needs when considering the effects it has on everyday life. Smell can help detect hazards, such as smoke from a fire, smell can help connect us to past memories and even forgotten memories. Smell has the influence of attraction, and malaise. Smell is an essential being in everyday life.
  • Content 5: How Your Skin Works Video
    The Nemour KidsHealth YouTube channel explains how the skin works in a fun, interactive way, via a conversation between two cartoon characters. The idea is to present the concepts to the students in a manner where one of the characters is also confused and asking questions, and the other is teaching them. The video is 6 minutes long and specifically made for kids.
  • Content 6: Skin diagram
    The skin diagram provided is more advanced, and more anatomically detailed. Here, the idea is to show the students exactly what our model of the skin looks like. Here, the students are challenged to apply their intuition gained from the video to learning the anatomy rigourously.
  • Content 7: ‘How Your Ears Work’ Educational Video
    A video by Nemour KidsHealth that is part of a series intended to teach kids how different parts of the body works. This video focuses on the ears and its delivery is suited for children with its cartoon style. Two characters interact with each other with one asking various questions and the other answering them. The video describes the parts of the ear and their function.
  • Content 8: Ear Diagram Quiz
    A supplemental teaching aid for the ‘How Your Ears Work’ Educational Video. It features a diagram of the ear similar to the one in the video and lets learners apply their knowledge on the location of the different parts of the ear.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES Sequence

  • Activity 1: “Sight Explorers”
    In this guided observation activity students examine everyday objects through magnifying glasses and document their observations with drawings and brief descriptions. Students will analyze their observations and explore how visual perception enables them to identify specific details.
  • Activity 2:“How Smell and Taste work together”
    The interactive learning activity demonstrates to students the combined functionality of their smell and taste senses through a blindfold taste test experiment. Students will observe significant changes in their food identification ability when their sense of smell is blocked compared to when it operates with their sense of taste.
  • Activity 3:“Exploring the Sense of Touch”
    This lesson uses video instruction alongside hands-on experimentation to teach students about how our sense of touch operates. Students will gain knowledge about the structure of skin as well as the functionality of touch receptors and the mechanisms our bodies use to sense textures and temperatures. The lesson consists of educational video viewing about skin structure followed by diagram examination and hands-on exploration in a “Tactile Treasure Hunt” activity which allows students to experience tactile sensations through various materials. Students will link their sensory experiences with daily life applications and safety concepts through collaborative activities and reflective exercises.
  • Activity 4:“How we Listen to the World”
    This instructional session designed for children aged 6 to 8 lasts 60 minutes to teach students about ear functions and the significance of hearing. The lesson starts with students participating in a sensory activity to listen to the sounds produced by different materials placed inside containers. Participants view an educational video about ear anatomy while they work through a diagram quiz to identify ear parts and their functions. The main activity, “What Have you Heard? Students participate in an exercise where they identify everyday sounds and then create drawings and rank them according to volume, pitch, and resonance. Students work both on their own and as teams to produce visual interpretations of the sounds they encounter and then work together to arrange these representations. Students review ear protection measures and safety procedures during the final discussion of the lesson. During this lesson students learn vocabulary for sound characteristics while understanding how hearing enables their interactions with the world.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Teaching Strategies: Always prioritize safety by not tasting unknown substances and handling fragile objects carefully during tactile activities.
  • Potential Challenges: Teachers should identify students who have sensory sensitivities or impairments and implement suitable modifications for them.
  • Inclusive Considerations: Teach students to appreciate sensory diversity and adaptations by highlighting that individuals perceive senses in unique ways.
  • Extension Opportunities: Link activities to appropriate science standards about light waves sound waves and biology.

RESOURCES & REFERENCES