Teach the five senses with real-photo sorting mats, picture cards and differentiated worksheets for early learners and pupils with autism.

I created this structured resource to help pupils identify, match and sort what they see, hear, smell, taste and touch. The activities progress from explicit teaching and supported choices to mixed practice, review and independent assessment.

What is included

• 68 pages
• Introduction to seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching
• Guided practice with two and three choices
• 5 reusable five senses sorting mats
• 50 reusable real-photo picture cards
• Category strips for five-category sorting
• Identification and matching worksheets
• Cut-and-sort activities
• Mixed review and independent checks
• Complete answer keys
• PDF and PowerPoint PPTX files
• US Letter size: 8.5 × 11 inches

How teachers can use it

Begin by teaching one or two senses and connecting each sense to the appropriate body part. Pupils can then use the photo cards with the sorting mats before progressing to matching, cut-and-sort and mixed-choice worksheets.

The cards can be laminated for repeated use in learning centres, small groups, individual intervention, speech and language sessions or home learning. Actual tasting, smelling and touching are optional, allowing teachers to respect individual sensory preferences.

Pupils may respond through speech, pointing, eye gaze or AAC. Directions and choices can also be read aloud when needed.

Who it is for

This resource is suitable for early learners, Reception and Key Stage 1 pupils, as well as learners who benefit from structured visual support. It is particularly useful for autism, special educational needs, speech and language, life-skills teaching and inclusive classrooms.