Tasting Bottles

The Tasting Bottles isolate the gustatory sense, helping children identify and name basic tastes independent of other sensory input.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Sensorial
• Learning area: Gustatory Discrimination
• Level: Ages 4-6

Objectives

• Refine sense of taste
• Identify basic tastes
• Develop vocabulary for flavors
• Prepare for food science

Materials

• Tasting bottles with dropper tops
• Solutions: sweet, salty, sour, bitter
• Small tasting spoons or droppers
• Water for rinsing

Instructions

1. Drop small amount on tongue or spoon. 2. Identify taste: 'This is sweet.' 3. Rinse with water between tastes. 4. Three-period lesson for taste vocabulary. 5. Classify foods by taste.

Educator tip

Always check for food allergies. Use very diluted solutions—strong tastes are not necessary.

Assessment

Child identifies basic tastes and applies vocabulary to foods.

More from Sensorial

• Fabric Matching Box
• Geometric Cabinet
• Binomial Cube
• Trinomial Cube
• Mystery Bag / Stereognostic Sense
• Sorting by Multiple Attributes
• Color Mixing with Droppers
• Sound Matching Bottles