Preschool Five Senses Theme
Learn about the five senses with your preschoolers this winter using these Preschool Five Senses Theme activities. Practice important early learning skills while exploring the Orchestra, Outdoor Sights and Sounds, Indoor Sights and Sounds, and even Light and Dark. You’re definitely not going to want to miss these engaging and hands-on ideas that are perfect for your winter preschool themes!
I’m so excited to share these preschool five senses theme lesson plans ideas with you today. Last month’s cozy winter senses preschool thematic study was absolutely wonderful! It’s not only the perfect Christmas preschool theme but it’s also a great way to spend some holiday-themed quality time with your little learners while exploring the five senses.
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A huge thanks to Experience Early Learning (formerly Mother Goose Time) for providing us with their Experience Preschool curriculum for free in exchange for sharing our honest and authentic stories resulting from our personal experiences. It’s been such a huge blessing to us! As always, my opinions on awesome stuff for little kids are 100% my own.
Not only are we working to develop important communication and fine motor skills, but we’re also learning about the world around us. We’re having fun exploring visual arts, dramatic play, and more!
Orchestra
During week one of our preschool five senses theme, we learned about the orchestra. Our topics were Drum, Woodwinds, Horns, Stringed Instruments, and Piano.
This week was lots of fun! We painted with ice and experimented with making music using water, glasses, and a spoon. Can you make music with water? Preschoolers can learn so much just by investigating sound using simple things that you already have around the house. What creates low notes? High notes? Can you try to play a song? What else can you tap with?
We also spent some time making rubber band strings. We stretched rubber bands over blocks and small boxes and then experimented to discover what sounds they make as well as how the sound changes when the rubber band is stretched tight versus less tight. How many strings can you use? How can you change the sound of the strings?
While learning about horns, we explored physical science and problem-solving with a breath control activity by blowing pompoms and feathers along a path using straws. Our lesson on stringed instruments meant an opportunity to practice literacy and fine motor skills by arranging pieces of string to build letters.
Outdoor Sights and Sounds
The focus for week two was Outdoor Sights and Sounds. Our topics were Animal Tracks, Ice, Owl, Bells, and Winter Birds.
There were quite a few unique activities this week including an adorable “owls in a nest” tray play idea. We made colored nests using paper and then practiced sorting with feathers and pompoms into the matching colored nests. Speaking of owls, we also made paper snow owl puppets using wiggle eyes, cupcake liners, and craft sticks.
One of the kids’ favorite things to do this week was to make wind chimes from nature items. Gather pinecones, leaves, seashells, etc. This activity would make the perfect winter scavenger hunt. When you’re finished collecting natural materials, tie them on a small branch using string or yarn.
This week’s, ice lesson was also a huge hit. We made dripping icicles process art. First, we made a cardstock house. We used watery paint and eyedroppers to explore what happens to ice when it melts. We also tried “ice fishing” by floating some ice cubes in a bowl of water and practicing different ways to pick them up including using salt and yarn. This experiment is perfect for learning about the scientific method.
Indoor Sights and Sounds
Week three of our Preschool Five Senses Theme focused on Indoor Sights and Sounds with topics such as Mouse, Pots and Pans, Cookies, House Guests, and Fireplace.
This week, we spent lots of time in the kitchen. We made “spiced playdough” by adding spices to the dough after it cooled and then kneading and rolling it. After that, we used cookie cutters to make pretend cookies and of course, discussed how the playdough smelled. One of our process art activities for the week was all about cookies too and we decorated cardstock cookies using paint and collage materials.
We had so much fun with our kitchen-themed dramatic play activities. We explored a variety of kitchen items such as spatulas, pans, cookie cutters, measuring cups, and more. We practiced stirring, measuring, scooping, and even pouring using loose parts. STEAM activities are such a wonderful way to encourage creative thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.
Of course, we can’t forget about “musical pots and pans.” We practiced patterns and sorting as well as making music with pots and pans, bowls, and wooden spoons. What sounds can you make with a spoon? Explore making patterns by tapping the pan then tapping the bowl. Don’t forget to add other kitchen items to create more complicated patterns.
Light and Dark
During week four, we learned about Light and Dark. Our topics were Candle, Star, Shadow, Winter Days, and Winter Nights.
We wrapped up our preschool five senses theme by learning all about light and dark. We experimented with shining a light through different types of objects such as translucent plastic colored cups. How does light create color changes? What colors change the most with light? This was also the perfect time to explore translucent loose parts using our light panel.
While learning about Stars, we made “star dots” using black cardstock, cotton swabs, and white paint. We drew star outlines and made paint dots on or in the star outlines. This quick and easy activity was great for practicing fine motor skills. We also made star-shaped ice using a silicone ice cube tray for our sensory bin.
This week also meant learning about shadows and of course experimenting with different ways to make shadows. We explored tracing our shadows on the driveway to practice measuring and making shadow puppets using cardstock for storytelling. This week’s favorite activity was definitely creating a snowy winter night scene using black paper, nature items, white paint, and wiggle eyes.
By now you should have plenty of ideas for putting together an awesome preschool five senses theme. If you have a favorite printable or activity to add to the list, be sure to leave a comment and share!
Don’t forget to stop by next week if you’re interested in seeing what we’re up to with our safari preschool theme!