Begin exploration of sight with an explanation of the sense. Have children point to their eyes and ask them what their eyes help them do. Explain to children that eyesight is one of the five senses and explain the importance of the sense. Ask children to cover or close their eyes and ask them to describe the difference between having their eyes open and having them closed or covered. This is an ideal time to tell children about blindness.
Put children's sense of sight to the test with a missing items activity. Set out different objects; a toy, a book and an article of clothing, for example. Invite children to examine the items and instruct them to close their eyes. While their eyes are closed, remove one of the objects and have them reopen their eyes. Ask kids if they can see what item is missing. Continue the activity, setting up and removing different objects throughout the activity. Set out small amounts of objects; large amounts of objects can overwhelm children and detract from the purpose of the activity.
Use descriptions as a means of exploring the sense of sight. Describe a common object to children, such as a toy truck or a cat. Only use adjectives that relate to how the objects look. Ask children whether they can tell what you're describing. Explain to children that the sense of sight helps paint a mental image of items and that this mental image is used for future encounters with objects, or familiarizes people with items. Ask kids to describe objects and try to determine what they are describing.
Send children on a hunt to look for objects hidden around a room. Hide small toys, pieces of paper with pictures drawn on them or craft supplies. Invite children to look around the room for the objects you hid. After they find the objects, discuss how the sense of sight enabled students to find the items.