One way to organize show and tell around the five senses is to divide the class into five groups, one for each sense. Assign students in each group to bring in an object that appeals to their assigned sense. Students in the sound group, for instance, might bring in a favorite music recording, while students in the taste group can bring in a favorite food for all to try. Have students explain to the rest of the class why they chose their object, how it appeals to their assigned sense and why it is important to them.
Some show-and-tell items can stimulate all five senses. Challenge every student in the class to bring in an object from home that appeals to sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Warn them that objects should be sanitary if they are to be tasted. Otherwise, ask students simply to describe the taste. Students might bring in an object such as an orange. Allow students to pass it around, feeling and smelling its peel.
Show and tell is an opportunity to play a guessing game. Have students bring in show-and-tell objects masking their primary sense. The rest of the class must use a different sense to guess what the object is. For example, a student might bring in a sound recording of a vacuum cleaner or a computer turning on. The class must listen to it and guess what it is. A student could bring in a small statue and pass it around while the rest of the class closes their eyes. Students must feel the object to guess what it is.
Regular show and tell can work for a lesson on the five senses. Have students bring in any object from home that has meaning to them, such as a stuffed animal or a photograph. Have the rest of the students choose one sense and describe their sensory response in writing. For example, a student might respond to a photograph of a forest by writing what the forest smells or sounds like. For younger students, do this exercise orally.