The Five Senses: An Overview

What You'll Learn

The five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—help us gather information about the world. Each sense relies on specialized organs and nerve cells called receptors.

Key Words

organ
skeleton
muscle

Materials Needed

timer
ruler
paper
markers

Safety First

Be careful with scissors — ask an adult for help if needed.
Do not look directly at the sun or bright lights.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read about Information Processing and write down three key facts.

Step 2 — Do

Map your pulse: measure your heart rate at rest, after 1 minute of walking, and after 1 minute of jumping. Create a bar graph and explain the differences.

Step 3 — Observe

Observe what happens and describe it in detail.

Step 4 — Record

Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

How many senses do humans have?