The sense of smell: fruits and their aromas

CONTENTS:
Sensorial game to develop the sense of smell by distinguishing the aroma of different fruits. The game comprises 12 bottles with the aroma from 12 fruits + 24 photographs fromthe 12 fruits (entire and in two parts). The real photographs allow to establish a visual smell comparison between the fruits and their aromas which increases the knowledge ofthem.

RECOMMENDED AGES:
From 3 to 8 years.

PSYCHO-PEDAGOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The educational content of this material is based on developing the sense of SMELL. To do so, it makes use of the natural aroma of certain fruits: strawberry, banana, peach, pineapple, orange, apple, pear, lemon, cherry, coconut, melon and plum. These aromas can be clearly distinguished between each other and encourage OLFACTORY DISCRIMINATION while at the same time enabling the children to establish, together with the photos, a VISUALOLFACTORY ASSOCIATION between each fruit and its respective smell. There is also the possibility of relating the external appearance of each fruit with its internal appearance and aroma, enabling the child to build up a comprehensive and accurate image of the fruit.
This is also an excellent method of DEVELOPING LANGUAGE and extending basic VOCABULARY by means of describing the smells and images of the fruit in terms of their
intensity, shape, size, colour, flavour, etc. It also enables classifications to be made using these same criteria.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
– Developing the sense of smell and improving olfactory discrimination.
– Comprehensive knowledge of fruit (external and internal appearance and smell).
– Enhancing visual-olfactory association and logical thinking.
– Interiorisation and classification of the smell of the fruit.
– Developing observation skills and acquiring the ability to relate objects morphologically.
– Introduction to using abstract thought (acts as a basis for establishing mental associations and taking the first steps from concrete thought to abstract thought).
– Improving psychomotor coordination by handling the cards and putting them together correctly.
– Incorporation and development of basic vocabulary.

METHOD OF PLAY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE:
– A TESTING SYSTEM for the TEACHER can be found at the base of the bottle. It includes a number that should coincide with the number on the back of the correct cards. It is difficult for the child to see, in order to avoid his or her classifying by number instead of by smell.
– Due to the characteristics of the game, the cards and aroma bottles can be used either together or separately.
– It is recommended that the 12 aroma bottles are initially distributed amongst the children so that, in an orderly fashion, they can try to recognise the smells, knowing in advance that they are fruit aromas. To do so, you simply need to slightly twist the top of the bottle. As the child is not yet familiar with the photographs of the fruit, this promotes the development of the sense of smell in terms of his/her existing knowledge.
– Next, the child should try to relate each smell with the photograph of the fruit that corresponds to it (outside appearance) and finally identify the internal appearance of the fruit.
– Once every smell has been matched with the relevant fruit, the bottles and cards can be turned over to check that they have been matched correctly.