The senses are perfect for young children: every word can be acted out.
Senses, body parts and verbs
| Sense | Body part | “I …” |
|---|---|---|
| Sight | عَيْن (eye) | أَرَى (I see) |
| Hearing | أُذُن (ear) | أَسْمَعُ (I hear) |
| Smell | أَنْف (nose) | أَشُمُّ (I smell) |
| Taste | لِسَان (tongue) | أَتَذَوَّقُ (I taste) |
| Touch | يَد (hand) | أَلْمِسُ (I touch) |
A senses game
- Blindfold: smell an orange, “أَشُمُّ بُرْتُقَالًا”.
- Sounds: close eyes, listen, “أَسْمَعُ …”.
- Feel a mystery object in a bag: “أَلْمِسُ …”.
The Quran link
“Allah brought you out of your mothers’ wombs knowing nothing, and gave you hearing, sight and hearts so that you might be grateful” (Quran 16:78). Allah’s names السَّمِيع (All-Hearing) and الْبَصِير (All-Seeing) use the same roots. See names of Allah.
A gratitude moment
After the game, say Alhamdulillah for each sense together.
Teacher’s tip: children remember verbs best with action. Act out each sense while saying the word, and they’ll learn all five in one afternoon.
Related: Body parts in Arabic.
