134 The Five Senses: Supplemental Guide 5C | I Use My Skin to Touch
Show image 6A-3: Nerves diagram
You r skin is able to feel because it contains nerves. Nerves are like
tiny wires running through your whole body that carry messages to
your brain.[Point to the nerves running through the body and to the brain in the picture.]
What kinds of messages do nerves send to your brain about the
things you touch?Some parts of your body have more nerves. We say those parts are
more sensitive.^Do you remember which part of your body is the most sensitive?[Wait for students to answer.]
Your fingertips are very, very sensitive, which makes them especially
good for feeling things. Show image 6A-4: Foot being tickled with feather
If you have any ticklish spots, like the bottoms of your feet, those are
also examples of sensitive areas that have a lot of nerves.[Ask students if they are ticklish on particular parts of their body. Repeat their
answers using the word sensitive, like, “Oh, so are you sensitive under your
arms!”]
Show image 6A-5: Textures
You can use your sense of touch to feel the texture of things. Texture
is the way objects feel when you touch them.
To describe texture, we use words like soft and hard, wet and dry,
smooth and bumpy, rough or sharp.
Use this picture to explain to your partner the different textures.[Allow forty-five seconds for students to talk. Encourage them to use soft,
smooth, bumpy, and sharp.]
Show image 6A-6: Hand on shish kebabs over coals
Your sense of touch helps to protect you and keep you safe and
healthy.
How can the sense of touch protect the person in this picture?[Call on two students to share.]