We use our sense everyday to make sense of the world around us. The coffee mug feels hot so we probably shouldn't drink from it unless we want to burn our mouths. The cake looks and smells appetizing so we crave a piece. The sound of a train's whistle and the flashing red lights warn us that the tracks are not safe to drive across. Everything we encounter during the day is processed through our 'sense filters'. Jackie, preschool teacher and blogger, has put together a fun experiment to teach preschoolers about the importance of taste. Taste Test
Look for taste test items that provoke different responses (i.e. salty, sweet, sour, bitter). To make things interesting, pick food items that look similar to each other, reinforcing the importance of taste in making distinctions. Jackie suggests using sugar, salt, lemon juice, and unsweetened chocolate.
Food Picture Cards
Now that your students have been introduced to food taste categories (again salty, sweet, sour, bitter), show them food picture cards and have them decide which category each falls into. Provide worksheets for them to fill in as the decisions are made.
Pocketful of Posies: The Five Senses: Taste
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