Gustatory - taste bottles

Age
3-6

Materials

 * Eight bottles which have eyedropper lids. Prior to use the bottles are filled with water to which flavors have been added, e.g. salt, sugar, peppermint, and almond. Prepare a pair of each taste.

Preparation
This can be carried out as an individual exercise on the table or in a group on the floor. (Note: work cycle to be observed)

Presentation

 * 1) The Directress sits beside the child.
 * 2) Start with three sets of different tasting bottles first.
 * 3) Invite the children to taste all the different taste in each bottle by either squeezing a drop of the water on the tip of the child's tongue or using a spoon.
 * 4) Then the Directress shows the child how to do the pairing exercise.
 * 5) She first arranges one set of bottles in the first row of the rack.
 * 6) The Directress invites the child to taste the water from the first row and then encourage the child to go through the rest of the bottles to find the matching bottles.
 * 7) When a match is found, that bottle is placed on the second row in front of the bottle from the first row.
 * 8) Continue in this manner until all the bottles are matched.
 * 9) For a group presentation, the children are invites to sit in a circle, and the Directress invites the children to taste all the different taste in each bottle by either squeezing a drop of the water on the tip of the child's tongue or using a spoon.
 * 10) Encourage the children to describe the taste.

Control Of Error
The Directress, when preparing the bottles, coded-codes the bottles to mark the difference between the tastes.

Purpose

 * Focus a child's awareness on different tastes.
 * Develop language.

Variation
The child matches and pairs the flavors.