Sense Training 



Roland C. Ross 

 (Dept. of Nature-Study, Los Angeles City Schools.) 



Music and art develop the ear and eye but there are five senses, 

 five roads from without to within. Feeling, smelling, tasting, 

 each contribute to successful and pleasurable living. 



The following sense games are offered to primary teachers, 

 as aids in all 'round sense training and as lessons which are fun. 

 Their use will suggest quite sensible methods in studying the 

 regular subjects of the year's course in nature-study. Then, 

 when studying the goat or cow, the feel of the hair or the smell 

 will be recognized to be just as characteristic as the horns or the 

 voice. 



Feeling 



These are "blind man" games. In a box place one or two 

 kinds of vegetables, or fruits, or later a series of "useful objects." 

 Tell the class the subject as; fruits. One by one they feel in the 

 box and whisper to the teacher what they are. Either have eyes 

 shut or use a large paper cap blindfold. No cloth. Keeping 

 score by sides keeps things moving. 



Pass kinds of cloth as silk, velvet, burlap; and paoers, as 

 waxed, tissue, etc. Again pass chem with eyes shut. 



Feel difference between apple and plum; between beans, 

 peas, fig and pear, orange and peach, etc. 



Compare the "feel" of ivy with geranium; or hoarhound with 

 cheeseweed. 



Touch lightly both cheeks at once with ice on one side and 

 metal on other. Which is warmer? 



Always get the feel of new things, as trees, weeds, animals — 

 "eyes shut!" 



Smelling 



Another way a blind man "sees." With eyes shut pass (by 

 monitors) an object which is to be smelled. Use onions, orange, 

 peanuts, lemon; camphor and eucalyptus leaves; apple, etc.; 

 and walnut shucks. Constantly test your hand lest it carry an 



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