The Mystery Box Lesson
Level: High School
Description: This is a tactile learning activity in which students describe objects placed into a
“mystery box” using only their sense of touch.
Instructions:
1. Before doing this lesson, prepare a medium size cardboard box to use as the mystery box
by cutting a hand-sized whole in the lid.
2. Before class, place 10 to 20 small objects with labels around the classroom. Objects should
be things that have a distinct texture or are otherwise easily identifiable by sense of touch. I
use things like a banana, a wet sponge, a pinecone, a feather, a ball of cotton, and bubble
wrap. But use whatever you like.
3. Inform students that they will learn to describe objects based on their sense of touch.
4. Go over a list of tactile vocabulary with students. In my lessons, I put the vocabulary list at
the top of a worksheet I hand out with the lesson. But use whatever means you like to
present students with the information. These are the words I use:
Hard
かたい
Soft
柔らかい
Rough 粗い
Smooth なめらか
Slimy ヌルヌル
Sticky 粘い
Thick 厚い
Thin 薄い
Big
大きい
Small 小さい
Long
長い
Short 短い
Fluffy フワフワ
Round 円形
Flat 平らな
Sharp するどい
Light 軽い
Heavy 重い
Dry 乾いている
Wet 濡れている
Plastic プラスチック
Metal 金属
Solid 固形の
Liquid 液状の
5. Ask students to go around the room, feel each object, and then write a description of it
using as many of the words from the lesson vocabulary list as they can. For example, in
describing a banana, students could say, “It’s long, smooth, and dry.”
6. After students have written descriptions for each object, collect all the objects and ask them
to return to their desks.
7. Tell students that they will play a game and ask them to make teams with 2 – 4 people,
depending on the size of the class. Give each team a name, or ask them to come up with
their own, and write the team names on the board.
8. Secretly place one object into the mystery box.
9. Explain the game: One student at a time will come to the front of the class. In low-level
classes, allow students to bring their papers up with them. The student will place his or her
hand into the box, feel the object, and describe it for the rest of the class. Other students
guess which object is in the box by saying, “Is it a ____________?” The first student to get
the correct answer wins a point for his team. The student who described the object also
wins a point for his team. Repeat with a new object and student.
10. Play the game for a while using the objects for which students have already written
descriptions on their papers. Once students have become comfortable with this, switch to
using mystery objects that students have not yet seen. I try to use objects that are obvious
for the feeler to discern and are either funny or strange. Student favorites have been
cooked soba, a whole goya, and a roll of toilet paper. They tend to get really excited and
nervous about putting their hands into the box at this point. I award double or triple points
for this round.