Presentation

  1. 1

    Wash hands. Place one set in a column on the left and the other on the right.

  2. 2

    Put one drop from the first left bottle onto a clean tasting spoon and taste it.

  3. 3

    Take a sip of water, then taste from the right bottles one at a time with a new spoon each time, sipping water between each.

  4. 4

    Place the bottle that tastes the same beside the first.

  5. 5

    Continue until four pairs are made.

  6. 6

    Give three-period lessons: "sweet, salty, sour, bitter".

Extensions, easiest to hardest

  1. Pair the bottles with eyes closed.
  2. Taste real foods at snack and name the taste.
  3. Sort pictures of foods by their main taste.

Control of error

Matching marks on the bottom of each pair.

Ready to move on when the child…

  • Follows the hygiene routine without reminders
  • Pairs all four tastes
  • Names the four tastes

Guide note

Get written family permission and check allergies before presenting. Make fresh solutions daily. Never let droppers touch the mouth.

Try “pink tower”, “tummy”, “diaper”, “grace and courtesy”, or “October”.