How To Use The Five Senses To Help Students Improve Descriptive Writing

9/22/2024

Teaching young students how to write descriptively can be a fun and creative process, especially when using the five senses as a guide. By focusing on what they see, hear, smell, taste, and touch, children can learn how to "paint a picture" with words, helping someone visualize what is happening.

using the 5 senses to develop descriptive writing

Why use the five senses?

For beginning writers, telling them to "describe something" can feel overwhelming. But, if you ask them to think about their senses, it becomes easier to break down descriptions. Describing what they see, hear, feel, smell, or taste is something every child can do. This method also helps them focus on details, making their writing more interesting and engaging.

Descriptive writing using the five senses not only builds students' vocabulary but also helps them develop observation skills and emotional connection to what they are describing.

Simple sensory exercises

Start by introducing the senses one by one. Here are some simple ways to help children practice using each sense to describe the world around them.

1. Sight: Ask students to describe what they can see. Consider color, size, and shape. You might hold up an object like a stuffed animal or show a picture of a yellow flower. Instead of just saying, "It's a yellow flower," encourage them to add more detail.
  - Example: "The flower is bright yellow like the sun, with long, green leaves that are as tall as my hand."

2. Sound: Play common sounds—like clapping hands, a dog barking, or the sound of rain. Ask students to describe what they hear and how it sounds.
  - Example: "The rain sounds soft. It goes 'tap, tap, tap' on the window."

3. Touch: Let students feel different objects, like a soft blanket, a rough rock, or smooth paper. Then, ask them to describe how the object feels.
  - Example: "The blanket is soft and warm."

4. Smell: Bring in simple scents, like an orange peel or a cinnamon stick. After they smell it, ask them to describe what it reminds them of.
- Example: "The orange smells sweet and fresh."

5. Taste: If possible, offer small samples of different tastes, such as something sweet or salty. Ask them to describe how it tastes.
  - Example: "The candy tastes sweet like sugar.”

simple sensory activities with the 5 senses

Combining the senses

Once students are comfortable describing individual senses, encourage them to combine two or more in their writing. This will make their descriptions richer. You can explain that they are "painting a picture" with their words for someone who can’t see what they’re talking about.

For example, if they’re writing about a sunny day, they can describe what they see and feel:
"The sun is bright. It makes me feel warm. I can see the blue sky and hear birds singing."

This paints a picture for the reader, who can imagine the scene even if they can’t see it.

Describe what would be on a screen

Another helpful idea is to teach students to describe something as if they were explaining what’s on a TV or computer screen. If they were telling someone about a favorite cartoon, what would they describe? They might talk about the colors, the sounds, or how the characters move.

For example, if they’re describing a dog in a cartoon, they might say:
"The dog is big and brown. It is barking loudly, and its tail is wagging fast."

This encourages them to focus on simple but clear details that help the reader imagine the scene.

Visual aids and templates

To help beginning writers organize their thoughts, you can use graphic organizers or templates. These can guide them to think about each sense. For instance, you can provide a worksheet with spaces for sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. This helps them make sure they’ve used more than one sense in their description.

My Using The Five Senses For Descriptive Writing: Graphic Organizers And Templates resource offers a great starting point for young students. These tools make it easier for children to think through their ideas and build their writing skills step by step.

Using the 5 senses for descriptive writing

Make it fun!

You can turn sensory writing into a fun game. For example, take your students outside and have them describe what they sense on the playground. Ask them to notice what they see (like flowers or trees), hear (children playing), or feel (the wind).

You could also create classroom “sensory stations” with different objects and sounds to inspire their writing. For instance, one station might have soft fabric, while another plays sounds of rain or birds chirping.

By using the five senses, you can make descriptive writing accessible and fun for younger students. With a bit of practice, they’ll be able to "paint pictures" with their words, describing their world in ways that help others see, hear, feel, smell, and taste it too.