SMELL
Mix a child-friendly perfume
Instructions
- Collect the following items to make your own water-based perfume. Choose your own garden flowers if possible that are pesticide-free.
1 1/2 cups of flower petals
(think about fragrances you like - rose, lilacs, orange blossoms, etc.)
2 cups distilled water
Cheesecloth
Bowl
- Drape a piece of cheesecloth over an empty bowl with edges of the cloth over the edge of the bowl
- Encourage the child to pick petals off of the flowers
- Place the flower petals on top of the cheesecloth
- Pour 2 cups of distilled water over the petals
- Push petals and cheesecloth into the bowl until all of the flower petals are submerged
- Cover the bowl with a lid
- The submerged flower petals need to sit for 24 hours
- Remove the cheesecloth with flowers inside and wring out the flowers and cheesecloth into a small pan and place on the stove
- Bring this small amount of water to a simmer until only 1 or 2 teaspoons of water remain
- Place this perfumed water into a bottle for you or child to use as perfume
- Create a name for the perfume and make a label for the bottle with the name
- Keep in dark cupboard/drawer or use a brown or blue bottle
- The fragrance should last about a month
*This makes a great homemade gift!
Simplify
Let the child count the petals as they remove from the flowers and place them on the cheesecloth.
Extend
Encourage the child to create more portions by using other natural materials from outdoors. Click here for example
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
How would describe the way your mom/dad/sibling smells?
What are some things you like about nature?
Materials
- 1 1/2 cups of fresh flower petals
- 2 cups of distilled water
- cheesecloth
- bowl
- small container with top to store perfume
- small label/paper and pencil/colored pencils
Share This Activity
Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Review
- Color - Black
- Number - Seven, 7
- Alphabet Letters - J, I
- Sense - Smell
- Character Trait - Courage
- Target Words - Long, Little, Short, Small
Monthly Proverb
Chinese - If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through
Did You Know?
"Before children enter elementary school, they must develop many linguistic and cognitive skills that will make later academic learning possible. By the age of five, however, children differ markedly in their success in reaching these developmental goals." Entwisle & Alexander, 1993
Books to Read
"The Little Engine That Could"
by Watty Piper, Illustrator Loren Long (Activity 12) (audiobook available)
"My Very First Mother Goose"
with Ioa Opie Editor and Rosemary Wells Illustrator (Activity 26)
"The Color Monster, A Story About Emotions "
by Anna Lienas (Activity 8)
"The Color Monster, A Story About Emotions" VIDEO
by Anna Lienas (Activity 8)
"The Little Engine that Could" VIDEO
by Watty Piper (Activity 12)
"My Very First Mother Goose" VIDEO
with Ioa Opie Editor and Rosemary Wells Illustrator (Activity 26)
Music Playlist
"America (My Country Tis of Thee)" VIDEO
by the Hit Crew, Album: Drew’s Famous Music for Summer Games and Activities (Activity 13)
"Teeth" VIDEO
by Willa Brigham, Album: Healthy Happy Habits (Activity 25)
"Miss Mary Mack"
by Ella Jenkins, Album: You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song (Activity 9)
"My Country 'Tis of Thee" VIDEO
by Aretha Franklin (Activity 13)
"Miss Mary Mack" VIDEO
by Patty Shula (Activity 9)
"Teeth"
by Willa Brigham, Album: Healthy, Happy, Habits (Activity 25)
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
Jack and Jill
(Activity 19 Month 9)
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.