Spaces and Places: What if I couldn't see?
Ages: 8-11
Time: One or two class periods depending on time given for work and sharing
Learning Objectives:
Describe using the senses
Create a multi-sensory depiction of a familiar place (ART OR ENGLISH)
Curricular Connections:
English
Citizenship
Art & Design
Materials:
English: pens and paper or digital writing tools
Art: Paper, scissors, various available tactile mediums (sand, glue, paper, cotton)
Steps:
Activate (whole group): 5 min
Ask students to close their eyes and think of a place they’ve all been (e.g., the school cafeteria or playground, a local body of water, somewhere close by). Ask:
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
What do you feel? What’s the temperature like? What can you touch?
What might you taste?
How do you feel?
Allow for several volunteers to raise their hands and share as you go through each sense.
Pair (or Individual) Preparation: 5-7 min
Put students in pairs and ask them to think of a place they have both been. (Activity can also be done individually.)
Ask them to write the place at the top of their paper and draw lines dividing the paper into four parts. Label each part “smell,” “touch/feel” “hear,” “taste.”
Give students 5-7 minutes to brainstorm, filling in each section with as many words as possible. (You might ask them to write only adjectives.)
Pair (or Individual) Worktime: teacher’s choice depending on expectations or classes allotted
Students are given time to create a written description (if English) or artwork (if Art) depicting their place. Stress that they should focus on sensory details and words that are not sight-based. Guide them towards words that can be multi-sensory.
Question: Is beautiful a sight-based word? Can something feel beautiful?
Question: What about blue, shiny, dark?
Gallery Walk or Share: (10-20 min)
If time, place text or images around the room and allow students to walk around silently observing. Students might have post-its to write kind comments and leave for the writers/artists. Alternatively, they might carry their own notebook to record their observations. This can also be done with a share-out at their desks.
After gallery-walk/share, allow time for students to share observations and noticings.
Debrief / Discuss / Share: Ask students to share in pairs before sharing with the whole group
Discussion Questions:
How might the experience of your place be different for a blind or visually impaired person?
Would your feelings about it change?
How might you change the place to make it more enjoyable for a blind or visually impaired person? How would you help your friend if they couldn’t see there?