Living things notice the world — Biology, 4–6 years
Animals and people notice changes around them through senses such as sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
Noticing what is around us
Senses give an animal information about the world. Eyes can notice light, ears can notice sounds, and skin can notice touch or warmth. Different animals have different ways of sensing, but all use information to respond to what is around them.
Why noticing helps
An animal needs to notice danger, food and other animals. A rabbit may hear a fox before seeing it, while a dog may follow a smell. This idea came from watching animals react to things people could sometimes not see, hear or smell themselves.
Finding a hidden bell
Put a small bell behind a cushion and ring it once. First, your ears notice the sound. Next, you turn your head and look for the place it came from. Finally, you lift the cushion and find the bell. Hearing gave you information before your eyes found the object.
Animals do not all sense in the same way
It is natural to think an animal sees, hears and smells exactly as we do. We use our own senses to imagine its world, so the mistake feels sensible. But a dog can smell much more strongly than a person, and a bat can use returning sounds to find its way.
Senses in everyday life
A smoke alarm uses a loud sound to warn people, but it is not a living thing and has no senses. A real animal uses its own body: a cat hears a food packet, or a person feels a hot cup and lets go. We use this idea to understand safe actions and animal behaviour.
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