Sensory Teacher Guide Sensory Sleuths • Unit Lesson 1 of 3 45 Minutes • Grades K–1 Inquiry
Look and Notice: Scientist Observation Lab
Focus: Observing physical properties (color, shape, pattern) using hand lenses and scientific sketching.
Standards
NGSS K-2-ETS1-2, CCSS W.K.2/W.1.2. Students observe an object, draw 2 details, and write an evidence claim.
Vocabulary
Observe: Look closely. Property: What it looks/feels like. Evidence: Clues we see.
Materials
Hand lenses, specimen trays (leaves, rocks, pinecones), colored pencils, student lab sheets.
1 Engage: Scientist Eyes (7 min)
Teacher Script: "Scientists! Put your hands up like binoculars. What does a scientist do first? They observe ! From far away this leaf is just green. But with my magnifying lens... I see tiny yellow veins and fuzzy ridges! Today you will use your scientist eyes to discover clues nobody else noticed."
2 Explore: Hand Lens Investigation (13 min)
Turn-and-Talk: "Turn to your partner and say: 'I notice my object has...' Find at least two special clues like stripes, spots, bumps, or jagged edges."
3 Explain & Elaborate: Scientific Sketching & Primary Writing (25 min)
Students record physical properties in their workbook. Model drawing authentic shapes and veins with labeled arrows before writing on primary lines.
Kindergarten: Dotted sentence word banks; oral descriptive dictation.
1st Grade: Independent two-sentence evidence writing with punctuation.
Page 1 of 3 • Teacher Planning Guide
Sensory Sleuths • Unit Lesson 2 of 3 45 Minutes • Grades K–1 Inquiry
Feel and Hear: Sensory Evidence Lab
Focus: Investigating textures (smooth vs rough) and acoustic evidence (vibrations make sound).
Standards
NGSS 1-PS4-1, CCSS W.K.2/W.1.8. Students test textures, demonstrate vibrations make sound, and record evidence.
Vocabulary
Texture: Surface feel. Vibrate: Fast back-and-forth motion. Pitch: High or low sound.
Materials
Mystery texture swatches (sandpaper, silk), rubber band vibration cups, shakers, student workbooks.
1 Engage: Mystery Touch Box (7 min)
Teacher Script: "What if we close our eyes? Can we still gather clues? Yes! My fingers feel something gritty and rough... sandpaper! Today we gather clues by feeling textures and hearing vibrations with our ears."
2 Explore: Rubber Band Vibrations (13 min)
Teacher Script: "Pluck your rubber band! Feel the cup rim buzz against your fingertips. That fast buzzing motion is called a vibration . When things vibrate, they push the air and make sound!"
3 Explain & Elaborate: Data Table & Writing (25 min)
Students sort tested materials into the texture matrix, sketch sound vibrations, and write complete evidence sentences on primary lines.
Kindergarten: Tactile swatches on desk; trace 'rough' and 'soft'.
1st Grade: Compare tight vs loose rubber bands; write pitch explanation.
Page 2 of 3 • Teacher Planning Guide
Sensory Sleuths • Unit Lesson 3 of 3 45 Minutes • Grades K–1 Inquiry
Same and Different: Property Sorting Lab
Focus: Comparing two objects, identifying shared vs unique properties, and constructing comparison claims.
Standards
NGSS 2-PS1-1, CCSS W.K.8/W.1.7. Students compare 2 objects, record 1 similarity and 1 difference, and write claims.
Vocabulary
Compare: How things are alike. Contrast: How they differ. Sort: Group by property.
Materials
Object pairs (wooden block vs sponge; metal vs plastic spoons), hula hoops for floor Venn diagram.
1 Engage: Block vs Sponge Challenge (7 min)
Teacher Script: "Both are rectangles! Both are solid! But when I squeeze them: the sponge squishes flat, but the wooden block is rigid! Scientists sort by looking at what is the same and what is different ."
2 Explore: Floor Venn Diagram Modeling (13 min)
Teacher Script: "Where do shared clues go? In the middle where the circles overlap! Unique clues go on their own side. Today your workbook will organize your findings just like this!"
3 Explain & Elaborate: Comparison Writing (25 min)
Students test flexibility and weight, fill out the comparison organizer, and complete primary handwriting lines explaining how items are alike and different.
Kindergarten: Pre-printed property picture stickers; trace similarity sentence.
1st Grade: Independent written comparison linking properties to object uses.
Page 3 of 3 • Teacher Planning Guide
Sensory Student Workbook LOOK AND NOTICE
Sensory Sleuths • Lab Sheet 1 of 3
Name: Date:
Word Bank:
leaf rock lines spots green brown
1. Scientific Sketch: Magnified Observation Draw real details • Add 2 labels with arrows
Observe specimen with hand lens...
Label 1: _________ Label 2: _________
2. Properties Observed: (Circle matches)
Smooth Rough / Bumpy Stripes / Lines Pointed
3. Scientist Conclusion
I observe that my object is
When I look closely, I see
Page 1 of 3 • Student Science Journal
FEEL AND HEAR
Sensory Sleuths • Lab Sheet 2 of 3
Name: Date:
Word Bank:
rough smooth soft loud vibrate sound
1. Material Texture Test
Material Feels Smooth Feels Rough Feels Bumpy/Soft Sandpaper swatch Silk fabric swatch Bubble wrap square
2. Sound & Vibration Sketch: Vibrating Cup
Draw the rubber band vibrating back-and-forth and making sound waves...
3. Scientist Evidence
The sandpaper feels
When the rubber band vibrates, it makes
Page 2 of 3 • Student Science Journal
SAME AND DIFFERENT
Sensory Sleuths • Lab Sheet 3 of 3
Name: Date:
Word Bank:
hard squishy heavy light bends same different
1. Property Comparison Organizer
Only Object A (Block)
Draw / write block properties
hard • solid wood
BOTH (The Same)
Draw / write shared properties
rectangle • solid
Only Object B (Sponge)
Draw / write sponge properties
squishy • has holes
Did the block bend? NO Did the sponge squish? YES
2. Scientist Conclusion
Both objects are the same because they are
They are different because the sponge is
Page 3 of 3 • Student Science Journal
Sensory Adapted Workbook LOOK AND NOTICE
Adapted HOH
Sensory Sleuths • Adapted Sheet 1 of 3
Name: Date:
Prompt Level:
[ ] Hand-over-Hand (HOH) [ ] Partial Physical [ ] Eye Gaze / Point
1. Touch or Stamp What You Observe:
LEAF Green • Lines
STAMP HERE
ROCK Hard • Gray
STAMP HERE
2. Hand-over-Hand Word Tracing:
🟢
L - E - A - F
🔴
3. Guided Statement Tracing:
I S E E A L E A F .
I T I S G R E E N .
Page 1 of 3 • Adapted Physical Support Edition
FEEL AND HEAR
Adapted HOH
Sensory Sleuths • Adapted Sheet 2 of 3
Name: Date:
Prompt Level:
[ ] Hand-over-Hand (HOH) [ ] Partial Physical [ ] Eye Gaze / Point
1. Touch or Stamp What It Feels Like:
ROUGH Sandpaper • Scratchy
STAMP HERE
SMOOTH Silk • Soft
STAMP HERE
2. Hand-over-Hand Word Tracing:
🟢
R - O - U - G - H
🔴
3. Guided Statement Tracing:
I F E E L I T .
I T I S R O U G H .
Page 2 of 3 • Adapted Physical Support Edition
SAME AND DIFFERENT
Adapted HOH
Sensory Sleuths • Adapted Sheet 3 of 3
Name: Date:
Prompt Level:
[ ] Hand-over-Hand (HOH) [ ] Partial Physical [ ] Eye Gaze / Point
1. Touch or Stamp What You Notice:
SAME Both are Solid
STAMP HERE
DIFFERENT Hard vs Squishy
STAMP HERE
2. Hand-over-Hand Word Tracing:
🟢
S - A - M - E
🔴
3. Guided Statement Tracing:
B O T H A R E S O L I D .
O N E I S H A R D .
Page 3 of 3 • Adapted Physical Support Edition
Weather Teacher Guide Weather Detectives • Teacher Guide Part 1 of 2 45 Min/Day • Grades K–1 Inquiry
Sunlight Heat & Cloud Sky Watchers
Focus: Investigating sunlight surface warming (NGSS K-PS3-1) and observing cloud cover patterns (NGSS K-ESS2-1).
Lesson A: Sunlight Warming (K-PS3-1)
Core Phenomenon: Sunlight heats blacktop, sand, and soil while shady areas stay cooler.
Materials: Black/white paper test swatches, infrared or analog thermometers.
Lesson B: Cloud Cover & Rain (K-ESS2-1)
Core Phenomenon: Fluffy white clouds vs thick dark clouds carrying precipitation.
Materials: Window viewfinders, cotton puff sky organizers, rainsticks.
A Sunlight Investigation Script (Outdoor / Window)
Teacher Script: "Scientists! Step into the sunlight. What do you feel on your skin? [Warm!] Now step into the shade of the building. What changed? The sun is Earth's giant heat source! Whenever sunlight shines directly onto ground, it transfers thermal energy and makes surfaces warm."
B Cloud & Sky Observation Script
Teacher Script: "Hold up your sky window viewfinders! Look up at the sky safely without looking at the sun. Is the sky clear blue, or covered in fluffy cumulus clouds? Dark gray stratus clouds block the sun and bring rain drops that fall to the ground."
Kindergarten: Trace 'warm' and 'cool'; color-code sun/shade thermometer bars.
1st Grade: Explain how cloud cover changes temperature between daytime and nighttime.
Page 1 of 2 • Weather Teacher Guide
Weather Detectives • Teacher Guide Part 2 of 2 45 Min/Day • Grades K–1 Inquiry
Blowing Wind & Daily Weather Station
Focus: Observing air in motion (pinwheels, windsocks) and recording daily weather patterns (NGSS K-ESS2-1).
Lesson C: Wind & Air Motion (K-ESS2-1)
Core Phenomenon: We cannot see air, but we can see and feel moving wind push objects.
Materials: Pinwheels, silk scarves, paper ribbons, mini hand fans.
Lesson D: The Weather Station (K-ESS2-1/3-2)
Core Phenomenon: Scientists track daily weather (sky, temperature, wind) to choose proper gear.
Materials: Classroom weather board, thermometers, student tracking journals.
C Wind Investigation Script
Teacher Script: "Hold up your pinwheel! Is it moving? No. Now blow on it! What made it spin? Your breath! When air moves outside across Earth, we call it
Weather Student Workbook SUNLIGHT AND HEAT
Weather Detectives • Lab Sheet 1 of 2
Name: Date:
Word Bank:
sun shade warm cool heat ground
1. Scientist Sketch: Sun vs Shade Heat Test Draw sun rays on open ground • Draw cool shade under tree
Draw where the sunlight warms the ground...
Direct Sun (Warm) Tree Shade (Cool)
2. Touch Evidence: (Circle matches)
Surface in Direct Sun: WARM / HOT
Surface in the Shade: COOL
3. Scientist Conclusion
The sunlight makes the ground feel
When I move into shade, it feels
Page 1 of 2 • Student Weather Journal
OUR WEATHER STATION
Weather Detectives • Lab Sheet 2 of 2
Name: Date:
1. Today's Sky Condition (Circle One)
Sunny Sky
Cloudy Sky
Rainy Sky
2. Temperature:
Hot Warm Cold
3. Wind Speed:
Calm (Still) Breezy (Windy)
4. Best Weather Gear for Today: (Circle matches)
Sun Hat / Cap
Raincoat / Boots
Warm Jacket
Umbrella
5. Today's Weather Report
Today the weather is
I will wear my
Page 2 of 2 • Student Weather Journal
Weather Adapted Workbook SUNNY DAY WONDER
Adapted HOH
Weather Detectives • Adapted Sheet 1 of 2
Name: Date:
Prompt Level:
[ ] Hand-over-Hand (HOH) [ ] Partial Physical [ ] Eye Gaze / Point
1. Touch or Stamp What Feels Warm:
SUN Bright • Warm
STAMP HERE
SHADE Cool • Tree
STAMP HERE
2. Hand-over-Hand Word Tracing:
🟢
S - U - N
🔴
3. Guided Statement Tracing:
S U N I S W A R M .
S H A D E I S C O O L .
Page 1 of 2 • Adapted Physical Support Edition
OUR WEATHER STATION
Adapted HOH
Weather Detectives • Adapted Sheet 2 of 2
Name: Date:
Prompt Level:
[ ] Hand-over-Hand (HOH) [ ] Partial Physical [ ] Eye Gaze / Point
1. Touch Today's Sky Condition:
SUNNY
STAMP HERE
RAINY
STAMP HERE
2. Hand-over-Hand Word Tracing:
🟢
R - A - I - N
🔴
3. Guided Statement Tracing:
I S E E T H E S U N .
I N E E D A C O A T .
Page 2 of 2 • Adapted Physical Support Edition
