Scent Jars

Do this project when the colds and sniffles are at a minimum (if there is such a time).

Objectives

Children participating will be able to match objects by their scent
and they can sniff when asked to smell objects.
Children ages 3-4 will be able to identify smells as sweeter than or harsher than Cog. IIIB
and ages 2-2 ½ years can point or name “what do you smell with?” Cog. I

 

Materials

Opaque jars (2 for each item to be used); mint leaves, lemon, vinegar, lavender leaves, vanilla, slices of apple, onion, carrot, orange; squares of gauze to fasten over the tops of the jars with rubber bands. Other items for jars can include cloves, cinnamon, pepper, mustard, ketchup, glue.

Procedures

l. Gather children in a circle or around a table. Tell them to close their mouths and hold their noses shut. What happens? They can't breathe. Tell them to put their hands on their ribs, take a deep breath, and release it. Feel the ribs go in and out.

2. Take one of the scent jars (vanilla is good to begin with) and give each child a chance to sniff it. Go around again, telling children to try to smell by breathing through their mouths, holding noses shut again. What happens?

3. Discuss breathing and smelling through nose. If they have a cold and stuffy nose, they can still breathe through their mouths. Can they smell things too? If children think they can, let them try again.

4. Pass the scent jars around, one at a time, letting each child smell the scents. Ask them to describe the scents. Which ones smell like things you eat? Which smell best? To whom? Worst?

5. Give each child a jar and let him try to find the jar which matches. Trade jars and match again.