Physical
Items required: this is a “teaching moment” activity that can be done when you happen to have several bouquets of fresh flowers (often donated after funerals). Also you will need several flower vases and something to cut stems and a small pitcher of water.
Place the flowers on a large tray or two in the center of the table. Gather your participants around the table. Greet each one using first names while looking them in the eyes and touching their hands.
Explain that you have many flowers and they need to be in vases with water. Give each participant a flower vase. Then give each participant a flower and ask that they put it in the vase. If the stem is too long, explain that you must cut it to fit and then do so. Ask the participant to return the flower to the vase. Give each one another flower and perform the same routine until all the flowers have been placed in the vases.
Pour a little water in each vase to keep the flowers fresh (or wait until after the cognitive phase) and then give each participant the opportunity to smell the flowers. Pass the vases around so they get all the sweet aromas.
Cognitive
Items required: fresh flowers of several varieties and flower vases.
Place the flowers on a tray in the middle of the table. Hold up on stem of flowers. Comment on the color of the flower and if you know the type you may share this as well. “This is a beautiful red rose”, or “This is a gorgeous big orange daisy”.
Assist each participant in the holding of each stem. Encourage them to look at it and to give it a smell. Hand the stem around so everyone handles it. Move on to a second flower stem and do the same with it as you did with the first.
As each pass is completed, lay the flowers back on the tray. Once all the flowers have been thus shared, move the tray so it is out of sight. Then again, display only one flower stem. Encourage participants to look at it and to name its color. If they are unable to verbalize the color, prompt them by asking, “Is this red?” (ask only the correct color) then give them the flower stem and ask them to place it in the vase that you will have set in front of them. When all the flower stems are back in the vases, the activity is over. Thank everyone for their participation!