Year 1 Scientists Explore Their Five Senses With Herbs!

This week in Science, Year 1 became real-life botanists as we explored how our five senses help us learn about the world around us. The classroom was filled with excitement (and some very interesting smells!) as the children investigated a selection of fresh herbs: basil, rosemary, thyme, parsley and mint.

To begin, each child was given their own mystery plant. Without being told what it was, they used their senses to become detectives:

👀 What can you see?

Children looked closely at the leaves, noticing colours, shapes and patterns. Some spotted “spiky leaves”, others described “tiny curls” or “smooth, shiny green”.

👃 What can you smell?

This was definitely the favourite sense of the day! We heard comments like:

• “This one smells like pizza!”

• “It smells like Christmas trees!”

• “This one is minty!”

✋ What does it feel like?

Children gently touched the leaves and stems, describing them as “soft”, “bumpy”, “tickly”, or “rough”.

👂 What can you hear?

A surprisingly fun moment—children held the herbs close to their ears and listened as they gently rustled the leaves. Some said it sounded like “tiny rain” or “a quiet whisper”.

👅 What does it taste like?

With careful supervision, children had the chance to taste a tiny piece of their herb. There were lots of brave faces and giggles as they discovered which flavours they liked best!

🌱 Plant Adoption Certificates

To finish our investigation, each child received a special Plant Adoption Certificate. This means they are now the proud carers of their chosen herb for the term! They will be responsible for watering it, checking its growth, and observing any changes over time.