Materials
Pine branches
Shallow cardboard box
Orange peels
Paper plates
Nandina berries
Spoon
Dried whole cloves
Rock salt
Cinnamon sticks
Baby food jars
Red or white nylon net, cut into 4" (10 cm) squares
Rubber bands
Narrow red ribbon
Instructions
What to do
1. Let the children strip needles
from the pine branches and
spread them in a shallow
cardboard box to dry.
2. Collect orange peels and lay
them on paper plates to dry.
3. Have the children remove
nandina berries from their
cluster and allow them to dry
also.
4. Once dry, break the pine needles
and orange peels into
tiny pieces.
5. Let each child spoon a little
bit of the pine needles,
cloves, orange peels, and the
rock salt into a baby food jar.
Have them add a few of the
cinnamon sticks and berries.
6. Place a square of nylon net on
top of the jar, then secure
with a rubber band. Tie a red
ribbon around the jar to
cover the rubber band.
7. Encourage the children to
shake the contents of the jars,
and sniff the aromas of
Christmas.
More to do
Science: Discuss the various textures, colors, and smells with the children.
