Session 6: Herb Lab – Smell, Taste, & Kitchen Magic

In this session, kids become mini herbalists and kitchen scientists. We’ll explore a real herb garden with all our senses, learning how different leaves smell, taste, and are used in everyday foods and drinks. Students will create their own simple herb blends—like tea satchels or seasoning mixes—to take home, along with notes and drawings in their Outdoor Journals.

Historical Inspiration Spotlight: Hildegard of Bingen – Medieval Herb Gardener
We’ll introduce Hildegard of Bingen, a medieval abbess who tended gardens, studied plants, and wrote books about how herbs could support health and flavor. She observed plants carefully and connected the garden to the kitchen and to daily life—just like we’re doing in a kid-sized way.

What Kids Will Do

1. Meet the Herb Lab (Senses Warm-Up)
Short group chat:

• What is an herb? (leafy plant used for flavor or tea)

• Where do herbs show up at home? (pizza, spaghetti sauce, pickles, tea, tacos, etc.)

• Quick “senses check”: smell, touch, look, maybe taste (with permission).
  
  

Outdoor Journal starter:

• Draw a simple “Herb Lab” page with sections labeled:

  • Smell, Taste, Looks Like, Reminds Me Of.

2. Garden Walk – Smell & Tell
We’ll walk through the herb beds, pausing at plants such as:

• Mints (strawberry or pineapple mint)

• Basils (sweet, lemon, purple, etc.)

• Thyme, oregano, chives, dill, sage, lemongrass, etc. (depending on what’s growing)

At each stop, kids:

• Rub a small leaf between their fingers (if appropriate) and smell.

• Describe the scent in kid-language: “pizza,” “lemon candy,” “spicy,” “minty,” “grass,” etc.

• Add quick notes or tiny sketches in their journals.
  
  

We’ll emphasize:

• Only tasting when an adult says it’s okay.

• Respecting the plants and taking small samples.

3. Tasting Station – Tiny Bites, Big Flavors
Back at the table, kids will:

• Taste tiny, safe bits of selected herbs (with parent/allergy info in mind).

• Compare flavors:

  • Sweet vs. sharp, strong vs. gentle, citrusy vs. earthy.

• Match herbs to food ideas:

  • Basil → pizza/pasta

  • Dill → pickles

  • Mint → tea or desserts

  • Chives → potatoes/eggs, etc.
    
    

In their journals, they’ll:

• Circle or star favorite herbs.

• Add notes like: “Too strong,” “Yum,” or “Good in soup/tea.”

4. Kitchen Magic – Mix Your Own Herb Blend
No knives needed; we’ll use pre-cut or easily torn herbs.

Option A: Tea Satchels

• Kids choose 2–3 herbs that are tea-friendly (e.g., mints, chamomile, lemon herbs).

• Gently tear or crumble small amounts into a bowl.

• Spoon into empty tea bags or small cloth sachets and label with:

  • Herb names

  • Their own blend name (Minty Moon, Sleepy Garden, Sunshine Tea, etc.).
    
    

Option B: Seasoning Sprinkle (if you’d like to offer this too)

• Using dried or partially dried herbs, kids create a small seasoning mix (e.g., Italian-style blend).

• Put into tiny jars or packets, label with herb names and suggested uses (“sprinkle on pizza or garlic bread”).

We can run both options if time/materials allow, or just focus on tea.

5. Journal Wrap-Up – My Herb Story
In their Outdoor Journal, kids will:

• Draw or list the herbs in their blend.

• Finish one or two prompts, such as:

  • “My blend is called…”

  • “It smells like…”

  • “I want to try it with…” (tea, soup, pasta, bread, etc.)
    
    

Optional creative twist:

• Write a short “recipe card” in kid language:

  • “Boil water. Add tea bag. Wait. Sip carefully.”

What Kids Learn

Science & Nature:

• Herbs are specific parts of plants (mostly leaves) that carry strong scents and flavors.

• Plants make different chemicals that give us smells and tastes.

• The garden is directly connected to what’s in our kitchen.

Sensory & Observation Skills:

• Using smell, taste, sight, and touch to notice differences between plants.

• Comparing and describing flavors in their own words.

• Recording observations like a naturalist.
  
  

Math & Practical Skills:

• Counting spoonfuls or pinches for their blends.

• Simple ratios (more mint, less lemon, etc.) in a very intuitive way.

• Following basic steps in a “recipe” process.
  
  

Social & Emotional Skills:

• Respecting each other’s likes/dislikes.

• Confidence in trying new smells and tastes (at their comfort level).

• Pride in creating something they can share with family at home.

Take-Home Items

Each student will leave with:

• 1–3 herb tea satchels or a small herb seasoning blend (depending on setup).

• Journal entries full of herb notes, favorites, and blend ideas.

• A simple instruction note for parents on how to brew or use their herbs.

Practical Notes for Parents 

• Allergies & Sensitivities: Please let us know about any food/plant allergies in advance. We’ll only taste herbs that are safe and appropriate for kids, and tasting is always optional.

• Mess factor: Low – mainly small herb bits and paper.

• At-home support: Help your child brew their tea or use their herb blend in a simple family meal. Ask them which plant it came from and what it reminds them of—this reinforces the garden-to-table connection.