
Using the senses
Levels 1 and 2

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Science Investigations: Carry out classifying and identifying; exploring; looking for patterns and modelling; fair testing; problem solving; making/building an object or a system.
Ngā Momo Tūhuratanga: Ka oti te whakarōpū me te tautohu, te torotoro, te rapu tauira me te whakatauira, te whakamātau tika, te whakaoti rapanga, te hanga i tētahi mea, i tētahi pūnaha rānei.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Coming Soon!
English (Writing and Presenting): Collect an item from the natural environment, describe it orally using all the senses, and record observations and personal responses in writing.
Mathematics and Statistics (Geometry and Measurement): Explore a variety of shapes and objects found in nature by touching, observing, and talking about them.

Related Topics
Resources

Using senses such as sight, touch and taste, your brain is capable of making amazing calculations that let us respond to the world around us. Teach students more about this with our fun brain activities and lesson plan.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Brain & Senses
Science Kids
Using senses such as sight, touch and taste, your brain is capable of making amazing calculations that let us respond to the world around us. Teach students more about this with our fun brain activities and lesson plan.

Scientists are detectives. They try to solve the mysteries of nature. They use all their senses to find out what life, the world, and the universe are up to.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 2: ‘Take a Closer Look’
Ministry of Education NZ
Scientists are detectives. They try to solve the mysteries of nature. They use all their senses to find out what life, the world, and the universe are up to.

Animals use amazing senses to navigate the world. How do dolphins find things underwater? Why do dung beetles roll their dung at night? Scientists gather and use evidence about animals’ super senses to support their ideas.
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2014 Level 2: ‘Super Senses’
Ministry of Education NZ
Animals use amazing senses to navigate the world. How do dolphins find things underwater? Why do dung beetles roll their dung at night? Scientists gather and use evidence about animals’ super senses to support their ideas.

Does your body have a dominant side? Test yourself with a variety of challenges to find your dominant eye, hand and foot.
Level
1-4
Type
Experiment
Dominant Side
Science Kids
Does your body have a dominant side? Test yourself with a variety of challenges to find your dominant eye, hand and foot.

Ears are great! You can hook your glasses over them; you can hang earrings from them, and they can stop your hat sliding down over your eyes! But, how do your ears work?
Level
1-2
Type
Video
Ears: How do ears work?
Suzy's World
Ears are great! You can hook your glasses over them; you can hang earrings from them, and they can stop your hat sliding down over your eyes! But, how do your ears work?

Music offers a context for concepts of sound that is familiar to children and that they can easily relate to. The concepts on ways in which musical sounds are produced and reach our ears can be investigated and explored in activities that are both relevant to and extend children’s experiences.
Level
1-2
Type
Activity Book
Exploring Sound: Using Sound-makers and Musical Instruments
Ministry of Education NZ
Music offers a context for concepts of sound that is familiar to children and that they can easily relate to. The concepts on ways in which musical sounds are produced and reach our ears can be investigated and explored in activities that are both relevant to and extend children’s experiences.

Connecting to nature is important for our mental and physical well-being. It is a great way to reduce stress, anxiety and pain. Nature helps us to feel calm, peaceful, and happy. In our first day of nature connection we will be exploring local green spaces. Let’s start to look closer at nature, put our listening ears on, breathe in the fresh air, and open up our hearts to nature!
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Hauora/Wellbeing and Nature
Kids Greening Taupō
Connecting to nature is important for our mental and physical well-being. It is a great way to reduce stress, anxiety and pain. Nature helps us to feel calm, peaceful, and happy. In our first day of nature connection we will be exploring local green spaces. Let’s start to look closer at nature, put our listening ears on, breathe in the fresh air, and open up our hearts to nature!

Light is an integral part of our sense of sight. The physical phenomena of light and of how it travels form patterns that we interpret as sight and colour. These provide excellent opportunities for students to investigate the sources and nature of light.
Level
1-2
Type
Activity Book
Light and Colour: Our Vision of the World
Ministry of Education NZ
Light is an integral part of our sense of sight. The physical phenomena of light and of how it travels form patterns that we interpret as sight and colour. These provide excellent opportunities for students to investigate the sources and nature of light.

Scientists use a special tool called an underwater hydrophone to learn more about our big and magnificent marine mammals!
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Make a Underwater Hydrophone
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Scientists use a special tool called an underwater hydrophone to learn more about our big and magnificent marine mammals!

As this topic is Manu/Birds of Aotearoa, our activities are based around identification through sight and sound, along with bird feeding habits and creation stories.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Manu/Birds of Aotearoa
Kids Greening Taupō
As this topic is Manu/Birds of Aotearoa, our activities are based around identification through sight and sound, along with bird feeding habits and creation stories.

Mindfulness is such an important skill to learn for children in an increasingly hectic and sometimes stressful world. Joe takes you through some simple exercises you can do to be still in the moment and start your mindfulness practice.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Mindfulness
Whenua Iti Outdoors
Mindfulness is such an important skill to learn for children in an increasingly hectic and sometimes stressful world. Joe takes you through some simple exercises you can do to be still in the moment and start your mindfulness practice.

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill Nye the Science Guy is here to talk about patterns
Link to video: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5uigft
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Patterns
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill Nye the Science Guy is here to talk about patterns
Link to video: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5uigft

This resource can help you plan, implement and take action on restoration projects throughout the school year.
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
Restoration through the seasons
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
This resource can help you plan, implement and take action on restoration projects throughout the school year.

Year 1-8 resource including English, Mathematics and Science for learning about safe road use and citizenship.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Road safety: Everyone is a road user
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Year 1-8 resource including English, Mathematics and Science for learning about safe road use and citizenship.

To describe the properties of different materials that objects are made from, using the senses of touch and sight. To select and describe decorations for a hat, based on the properties of materials
Level
1
Type
Activity
Science for families: Sorting objects
Primary Connections
To describe the properties of different materials that objects are made from, using the senses of touch and sight. To select and describe decorations for a hat, based on the properties of materials

Today let’s explore stillness. I want you to find a place outside in your garden. It’s good if you can see a dripping tap, pond, stream, or somewhere damp. You will want to see an open area, and perhaps be slightly undercover – you could sit up against a tree ...feeling comfortable!
Level
1-4
Type
Mindfulness
Sit Spot
Whenua Iti Outdoors
Today let’s explore stillness. I want you to find a place outside in your garden. It’s good if you can see a dripping tap, pond, stream, or somewhere damp. You will want to see an open area, and perhaps be slightly undercover – you could sit up against a tree ...feeling comfortable!

Learning about skin science is no sweat.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSGuPWAwRhc
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Skin
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Learning about skin science is no sweat.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSGuPWAwRhc

Bill Nye is using his sniffer to find out about the science of “Smell”.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6QK3g1vP1M
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Smell
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Bill Nye is using his sniffer to find out about the science of “Smell”.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6QK3g1vP1M

Listen up, scientists. Bill Nye is here to make some noise in the “Sound” episode.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ZlU2qk1Go
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Sound
Bill Nye The Science Guy
Listen up, scientists. Bill Nye is here to make some noise in the “Sound” episode.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ZlU2qk1Go