ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM
Winter is all about familiar sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. In this simple STEAM activity, kids learn the basics of the sense of taste and what tastes are commonly found during winter. The blindfold will heighten their sense of taste and help them isolate the sensation of taste during this activity.
- Large tray
- Tastes of winter – for example, you could use a marshmallow, an ice cube, a candy cane or other peppermint candy, and sprinkles of ginger, cinnamon, and hot cocoa mix
- A blindfold for each child
- Set a small amount of each taste on a tray. You’ll want to make a tasting tray for each child. Each child will also need a blindfold.
- Blindfold each child before starting the tasting procedure.
- Instruct the kids to dip their finger in each pile and see if they can identify the taste. Ask questions and prompt them: is this flavour bitter, sweet, spicy, or sour? What does this flavor remind you of? Where would you find this taste in winter?
- Ask the kids to try each flavour both blindfolded and un-blindfolded. What differences do they notice about the tastes when they are blindfolded versus when they can see what they’re tasting?
This activity supports the development of the following STEAM skills:
Science: This activity explores the sense of taste. Kids explore the flavours of winter and learn about the differences between bitter, spicy, sour, and sweet tastes.
You can also integrate art into this activity by asking kids to draw a picture of their expression after trying each flavour.