Can You Smell It?
This activity is good for children from 3 to 7, and from 8 to 11.
Beforehand Preparation
Prepare some smells in small containers like lemon, vanilla, or spearmint. A list of more ideas is in the book, To Teach a Child a Song. I would prepare at least three sets, and if possible, one for every class. Put a small mark on each bottle with a key so that you know what smell is in each bottle.
Activity
Tell the children you have some different smells. Ask them to figure out what each smell is while you sing the song.
If you have three sets of smells, ask three teachers to walk around and give every child a chance to smell while you sing the song. If you have a set for every class, have the class teacher give every child a chance to smell the smells as you sing. Receive the children's answers.
Now ask them to imagine in their head which of the smells is most like the song, and tell you the answer after you sing the song one more time. I would also give the children one more chance to smell the smells by again passing them around.
Tell them your answer to the question. Receive a few of their answers.
Ask them to sing the song with you.
Benefits to this Activity
This activity activates the memory center of the brain because of its close proximity to the center for smell. Great for those learners which use kinesthetic and nature intelligences (See Chapter Five). Great for active participation in the learning process (See Chapter One). This activity motivates the brain to grow and learn because of the variety (See Chapter Four and Five).
This activity is good for children from 3 to 7, and from 8 to 11.
Beforehand Preparation
Prepare some smells in small containers like lemon, vanilla, or spearmint. A list of more ideas is in the book, To Teach a Child a Song. I would prepare at least three sets, and if possible, one for every class. Put a small mark on each bottle with a key so that you know what smell is in each bottle.
Activity
Tell the children you have some different smells. Ask them to figure out what each smell is while you sing the song.
If you have three sets of smells, ask three teachers to walk around and give every child a chance to smell while you sing the song. If you have a set for every class, have the class teacher give every child a chance to smell the smells as you sing. Receive the children's answers.
Now ask them to imagine in their head which of the smells is most like the song, and tell you the answer after you sing the song one more time. I would also give the children one more chance to smell the smells by again passing them around.
Tell them your answer to the question. Receive a few of their answers.
Ask them to sing the song with you.
Benefits to this Activity
This activity activates the memory center of the brain because of its close proximity to the center for smell. Great for those learners which use kinesthetic and nature intelligences (See Chapter Five). Great for active participation in the learning process (See Chapter One). This activity motivates the brain to grow and learn because of the variety (See Chapter Four and Five).
