Materials
3 or more Eric Carle books (see list of children's books)
paper
paste or glue
child-safe scissors
colorful magazine pages
Instructions
Put small amounts of each food into containers. (Safety note: Check for
children's allergies before picking the foods for this activity.) The number of
different foods you use depends on the number of children you have. Four will
do for 8 to 12 children, six for 12 to 18, while eight extends to 16 to 24 children.
* Cut circles out of wax paper. Prick holes into the wax paper, so the contents
are easy to smell.
* Fasten a circle over the top of each substance container with a rubber band.
Safety Note: Be sure none of the children have a peanut allergy before
introducing peanut butter to the classroom.
What to Do
1. Tell the children that bees use smells to recognize each other.
2. First give the children opportunities to practice smelling the containers.
3. Then, have the children spread out around the room, giving each child a
smelling container.
4. Ask the children to sniff the container and then "smell out" the other child or
children with the same smell. Their smelly containers and their noses will help
them find and join the vinegar group, or the peanut butter group.
5. Tell them to find their partners just by smelling each other's aroma containers.
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip
* Use this game as a fun transition to get the children into partners or groups
before an activity.
Assessment
Consider the following:
* Can the children identify by smell only?
* Are the children able to use the smells to find their partners?
* Do the children cooperate with each other in the activity?
