How to Use Sensory Words

in Writing

Writers use sensory words to help their readers see, hear, smell, touch and taste what

the paragraph is about.

Sensory words are words that remind us of our five senses:

-sight-sound-smell-touch-taste

What are examples of sensory words for sight?

-shiny-gigantic-scrawny-muscular-dreamy

What are examples of sensory words for sound?

-banging-ringing

-screeching-gushing

-boisterous

What are examples of sensory words for smell?

-fishy-flowery-musty-rotten-putrid

What are examples of sensory words for touch?

-fluffy-bumpy-smooth

-silky-gritty

What are examples of sensory words for taste?

-bitter-juicy-spicy

-crunchy-rubbery

In the morning while I eat my oatmeal. I can smell the scent of toast coming from our toaster.

Let’s look at this paragraph about breakfast:

Think about how it might sound if sensory words were

used in different places:

In the chilly morningwhile I eat my warm and pasty

oatmeal. I can smellthe sweet scent of cinnamon raisin

toast coming from our tiny, tin toaster.

Showing vs. Telling

Instead of just telling their readers something, writers use sensory

words to show them it!

Today, we’ll practice placing sensory words in a paragraph.

See how it changes the paragraph!

Using the Sensory Chart, create a six sentence paragraph including words from each of the columns.

Use two words per column.

Get your sensory words ready…!

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