The Georgia Early Learning Standards Activity Guides may - gapitc

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Smelly Sacks
Get some inexpensive, thin, small wash cloths. Look for packs of these at a
dollar store.
Put a few cotton balls in the middle of each cloth with a small amount of something
that has a pleasant smell. Use food flavorings such as vanilla and cherry, a
mild perfume or lotion, and baby powder, for example. Put only one “smell” in
each wash cloth.
Pull up each corner of the wash cloth and tie the edges together with string
or ribbon.
Put the “smelly sacks” where the children can explore their sense of smell on
their own. Talk about the smells and which ones they like.
Digging for Treasure
Get individual dishpans or tubs and fill them with clean sand or potting soil. Put
them on a table with newspaper or towels underneath or take the tubs outside.
Bury some “treasures” in the sand such as small rocks, plastic insects, plastic
flowers, shells, and acorns.
Provide digging tools such as large spoons and small shovels.
Add plastic containers for pouring and a small strainer or sifter.
As the children discover the treasures, help them name and describe what they
have found.
Tell Mother Nature
Gather children to go outdoors wearing a hat and carrying a basket. Tell the
children you love to find “treasures” outdoors.
Show examples of treasures such as a pine cone, a rock, a leaf, and a wood chip.
Take the children outdoors and encourage them to find these items and bring
them back to your nature basket.
As the children bring you each item, ask them to tell you about their treasure.