Experiment Based on The Story of Doctor Dolittle
Chapter 18: “Smells” — Inspired by Jip the Dog
Purpose
In the story, Jip uses his powerful nose to help find the boy’s uncle.
This experiment helps us explore how our noses work and how well we can identify scents.
Materials
- A blindfold
- Several non‑toxic items with strong scents, such as:
- Peanut butter
- Vanilla extract
- Coffee grounds
- Shampoo
- Perfume
- Toothpaste
- (Any other safe, familiar household scents)
What to Do
- Blindfold the person who will be guessing the smells.
- Hold one scented item under their nose.
- They should sniff, but not touch the item.
- Let them guess the smell.
- Repeat with each item.
- Switch roles and see who can identify the most scents.
What You’re Learning
Our noses help us notice and identify things around us—just like Jip did in the story.
Some smells are easy to recognize, while others take more concentration.
