Name: Vivian Phan

Grade:   Pre-K

Central Focus/Overarching Theme: The Five Senses

Title of Lesson: Snack Taste Test

Objectives:
 Students will be asked to explain what the five senses are.
 Student will describe various snacks using content specific vocabulary words, relating
to taste (soft, sour, salty, sweet)
 Students will participate in both large and small group activities.
 Students will share their ideas and demonstrate appropriate behaviors when sharing
ideas (raising their hand to speak)
 Students will demonstrate listening skills when listening to their classmates share their
ideas.
 Students will be able to describe which of the five senses they are using
 Students will be able to compare the results of what their classmates’ favorite snacks
were.
 Students will count how many of their classmates like one type of snack, compared to
the others.

Connection to Standards:

PK.AL.4. Exhibits curiosity, interest, and willingness to learn new things and have new
experiences
PK.PDH.1. Uses senses to assist and guide learning.
PK.SEL.6. Understands and follows routines and rules
PK.AC.1. Demonstrates motivation to communicate
PK.AC.2. Demonstrates they are building background knowledge
PK.AC.4. Demonstrates a growing receptive vocabulary
PK.AC.6. Demonstrates their ability to represent ideas using a variety of methods
PK.ELAL.27. [PKL.4] Explores and uses new vocabulary in child-centered, authentic, play-
based experiences
PK.ELAL.28. [PKL.5] Explores and discusses word relationships and word meanings
PK.MATH.3. [NY-PK.CC.3.] Understands the relationship between numbers and quantities to
10, connects counting to cardinality
PK.MATH.6. [NY-PK.CC.5.] Recognizes whether the number of objects in one group is more
than, fewer than, or equal to (the same as) the number of objects in another group (e.g., using
matching and counting strategies
 Materials Required:

 Muffin tins, or trays with separated sections for each table

 Different snacks (enough to have one for each student): crackers, goldfish, cheerio,
apples, pretzels, small slice of lemon
 Chart to record children’s favorite snacks
 Labels of different words that can be used to describe snacks
 Post-its with each student’s name on them
Classroom Arrangement:

Students will first be sitting at the meeting area, where the teacher will be explaining the
lesson and activity for the day. Afterwards, students will be asked to go back to their tables,
where each table will have the same set of snacks for each student to try and eat. The tasting
activity will be done at the table. Afterwards, students will be asked to come back to the
meeting area, where they will put a post-it on the chart, indicating what their favorite snack
was. Students will also have time for discussion and reflection while sitting at the meeting
area.

Rationale:

This lesson is important as it create an opportunity to explore their sense of taste. This hands-
on activity where children get to taste different foods will also encourage them to use new
vocabulary they have learned, in order to describe how these foods taste. This also activates
children’s prior knowledge about what they have learned about the five senses and the sense of
taste. Students will also have a chance to practice their speaking and listening skills as they
share their ideas and listen to their classmates’ ideas. When the teacher is recording what
students’ favorite foods are, the students will also have an opportunity to practice their
counting and cardinality skills. This allows children to also engage in math concepts like
counting.

Lesson/Procedure:

1. The materials will first be set up. Using a muffin tin or plastic tray with separated sections,
each section will have enough crackers, goldfish, cheerio, apples, pretzels, and a small slice of
lemon for each student at the table. The teacher will also create labels that have different
words that can be used to describe foods. These words include salty, sweet, sour, hard,
crunchy, juicy, bitter, crispy, munchy, and wet.
2. Students will be asked to have a seat at the meeting area. The teacher will activate prior
knowledge and ask students about the five senses, and which one of the senses we have used
in our classroom activity for previous lessons. The teacher will then tell students that today, we
will be using our sense of taste.
3. The teacher will display labels of different words that can be used to describe foods. The
teacher will then read each word, explain what the word means, and will ask students if they
have ever eaten a food that has any of these characteristics. Students will have a chance to
share their ideas with the rest of class.
4. Afterwards, the teacher will explain the activity. The teacher will tell students that at their
table, there will be a tray of different snacks at each table. Before heading back to the tables,
students will wash their hands with soap and water.
5. As a class, we will try each snack one at a time and share what the snack tastes like.
Students will be able to discuss with their table mates, and afterwards will get to share with the
whole class. The teacher will ask questions such as: How does this food taste? How does it
look? Do you like the taste of it? etc.
6. After all the snacks have been tried, each student will get a post-it with their name on it. As
each table is called back to the meeting area, students will place their post-it on the chart,
under their favorite snack.
7. After all students have placed their post-it on the chart, identifying their favorite snack,
everyone will have a seat at the meeting area. Students will have a chance to share how they
felt about the snacks and why.
8. The teacher will then have students look at the chart that is presented in front of the
classroom. Students will be engaged in a math and counting activity, to determine which snack
has the most votes. Students will also be comparing which snack has the least number of votes.
Some questions that would be asked are:
 Which snack had the most votes?
 How many children said that snack was their favorite?
 Which snack had the least number of votes?
 How many children voted for that snack?
 How many children said that cheerios were their favorite? What about the crackers?
etc.
During this activity, the teachers and children would be counting out loud to determine how
many votes each snack received.
9. To close the lesson, the teacher will have students reflect on what they’ve learned. This
includes talking about new vocabulary words that they have learned and what their favorite
types of food are. This gives children another opportunity to share their ideas. In order to
connect this with children’s personal lives, the teacher can ask questions such as: Have you
ever had any of these snacks at home? What is your favorite food that you eat at home? How
would you describe that food, using one of these words? This emphasizes the importance of
the five senses and demonstrates to children that the five senses are something that we use in
both our school and home lives.
Differentiation:

 Labels of different words used to describe food will be displayed in front of the
classroom. This way, students are able to look at the labels if they have forgotten any
of the words. This also provides extra support for children who are visual learners and
may need to see these words displayed.
 The chart/graphic organizer of students’ favorite snacks also provide a clear visual for
children to look at when the math activity is being completed.
 Children will also be touching the foods, which can help them have a better
understanding of the food and their senses.
 Assessment:

During the activity, teachers and assistants will be walking around the classroom and
observing children. They will take notes on whether or not children are able to describe the
foods, use specific vocabulary (like sweet, salty, sour), or other thoughts about how the food
feels or tastes. Notes will also be taken on student’s participation and if they are engaging in
small and whole group discussion as well.
Follow-up/ Extension Activity

An extension to this activity could even be sorting different foods. They can be sorted based
on color, shape, texture, feeling, taste, etc. This allows students to continue exploring different
types of food and encourages students to keep using their five senses in different ways.