Teaching Sense of Smell to Kids | Learning the 5 Senses

Learning Sense of Smell

Teaching the five senses usually begins in preschool and Kindergarten. These concepts will be used later in scientific discovery as kids explore various attributes of objects in the world around them. Before they can begin observing and documenting facts about the world, they need to understand the five sense they use for observation and how those senses work.

Learning about our sense of smell can be fun! Children usually enjoy putting their nose to work and talking about what they discover through their sense of smell. Here are some fun activities to teach sense of smell to kids.

Activities to Teach Smell to Kids

Teaching Kids Sense of Smell and Having Fun Doing It!

1. Ask what part of your body is used to smell. If the child does not identify "nose" as the answer, simply tell them. Model smelling with your nose by sniffing something fragrant. Let them smell it too.

2. Walk around smelling anything aromatic that you can find, discussing what you are smelling and whether the smell is pleasant or unpleasant. Ask the child to describe the smell. Write your observations down in a notebook.

3. Gather several strong smelling household items. Without the child watching, place the items individually into a paper bag. Ask the child to identify the smell inside the bag without peaking. Play this game with several items asking often what part of your body you use to smell.

Other Ideas for Teaching 5 Senses to Kids

More Ideas to Teach After Sense of Smell

Teaching the other senses: hearing, touch, sight and taste.

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  Teaching Sense of Touch - The Five Senses

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  How to Teach the 5 Senses to Kids

  We use our 5 senses in scientific observation. For this reason, most kindergarten students learn about the 5 senses. The sense of touch, smell, sight, heari...
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  Teaching Sense of Taste to Kids - Five Senses

  Taste is one of the five senses that children begin to learn in Kindergarten. Exploring the sense of taste and how it helps us identify and make observations...
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  How to Teach Kids Sense of Hearing - Five Senses

  The five senses, including hearing, are usually taught at the kindergarten level. Here are some resources to make learning about the five senses fun and easy....

Teaching Long and Short to Kids

Long and Short

Long and short are preschool and kindergarten math concepts that children need to grasp in order to compare objects later. Here are some ideas to help a child learn the comparison words: long and short and how to apply these concepts to daily life. For kids who are struggling in trying to understand these concepts, books read frequently comparing long and short often help.


Photo by Cardivonius.

Comparing Length

Teaching a Child About Long and Short

1. Place two crayons of equal length horizontally on a table. Explain that the crayons are the same length.

2. Next, cut a straw into multiple length pieces. (One 3 inch pieces, two 4 inch piece, and one 5 inch piece works well.)Ensure at least 2 pieces are equal lengths.

3. Lay them out horizontally on the table. Ask the child to look at the straws. Ask the child if two pieces are the same length. See if the child can identify the straws that are the same length. If not, tell the child which are the same.

4. Remove the 3 inch straws from the table.

5. On two index cards, write the words "long," and "short." Place the index card labeled, "short" under the 3 inch straw. Place the card labeled long under the 5 inch straw. Point to the cards and read each to the child.

6. Ask the child to identify the "long" straw and "short" straw.

7. Repeat this with other objects around the house that are long and short, such as strings, people, and toys. If you feel the child can answer a question as to which object is "longer," or "shorter," then ask the child to identify that object. If the child is struggling, or you don't feel they are ready to answer the question. Keep pointing out long and short objects until they have a better grasp of the concept.

8. Read books about long and short to your child for reinforcement of the concept.