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🎄 Cinnamon Sleigh Scent Lab

  • Oct 27, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Oct 28, 2025

🌸 Overview


There’s magic in the air — and it smells like cinnamon and oranges. 💚


In Cinnamon Sleigh Scent Lab, children mix, measure, and create their very own scent dough using kitchen spices, exploring chemistry, maths, and sensory play all at once. The result? Beautifully spiced ornaments, sleigh shapes, and stars that fill your home with the scent of Christmas warmth.


It’s festive learning through smell, touch, and creativity - the kind of hands-on, heart-full activity that makes December feel extra special.


Family mixing cinnamon dough for Christmas ornaments in warm festive kitchen with cat watching from stool.

🌿 What You’ll Explore

  • Science: Mixing, evaporation, and texture transformation.

  • Maths: Measuring ingredients, comparing quantities, sequencing steps.

  • Sensory Play: Texture, scent, and temperature awareness.

  • Art: Creativity, design, and fine motor control.

  • Social & Emotional: Calm focus, anticipation, and connection through shared activity.


(Printable learning outcomes sheet and ready-to-use LA report phrases included in the pack.)


🪴 What You’ll Need

  • 1 cup flour

  • ½ cup salt

  • 1 tbsp cinnamon

  • 1 tbsp nutmeg or clove

  • ½ cup warm water (add slowly)

  • Optional: grated orange peel or zest

  • Optional: ribbon, cookie cutters, or paint for decorating


(Visual materials checklist with icons included in printable pack.)


Flat-lay of cinnamon, flour, and cookie cutters on rustic table with fairy lights and cat tail.

✨ Quick How-To

1️⃣ Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

2️⃣ Slowly add warm water and stir until dough forms.

3️⃣ Knead the dough until smooth (add more flour if sticky).

4️⃣ Roll it out and use cookie cutters to make sleighs, stars, and festive shapes.

5️⃣ Bake at a low temperature or air dry for 24 hours.

6️⃣ Decorate and hang with ribbon, or place in gift boxes for handmade presents.


💡 Parent Tip: Encourage your child to describe the scents as they mix - “sweet,” “spicy,” “warm.” This simple language link transforms a craft into a literacy moment!


(Step-by-step photo sequence included in printable pack.)


Children cutting sleigh and star shapes from spiced dough as cat paws at cookie cutter near table edge.

💚 Adapt for Every Age and Ability

  • For sensory seekers: Focus on kneading, rolling, and smelling - add different spices or zest for variety.

  • For fine motor development: Use small cutters, tweezers, or tools to strengthen grip.

  • For SEN learners: Provide a visual Now/Next schedule and picture recipe steps.

  • For allergy-safe versions: Replace flour with cornflour or baking soda, adjusting the water amount.


(Printable Now/Next visual board, large picture recipe, and sensory alternatives table included in pack.)


SEN-friendly dough-making setup with labelled bowls, Now/Next board and calm child pressing cookie cutter into dough.

🎨 Extension Ideas

  • Mystery Scent Challenge: Blindfold your child and let them guess spices by smell.

  • Science Spark: Observe how dough dries and shrinks - introduce “evaporation” and “mixture.”

  • Creative Writing Link: Write a short festive story or poem inspired by the scents.

  • Maths Moment: Graph family votes for favourite scents - cinnamon, clove, orange, or vanilla?

  • Gift Workshop: Turn dried shapes into ornaments, gift tags, or “scent sachets” for family.


(Extension activity cards and printable graph template included in pack.)


Family painting and decorating cinnamon ornaments at table with cat sniffing a painted sleigh beside Christmas tree.

💾 Download the Full Activity Pack


The Cinnamon Sleigh Scent Lab Printable Pack includes:

✔️ Parent Brief: learning outcomes, adaptations, and set-up guide

✔️ Visual Recipe Cards: step-by-step instructions for all learners

✔️ Scent Experiment Log Sheet: record ingredients, scent strengths, and observations

✔️ Sensory Cue & Regulation Cards: for calm festive play

✔️ Literacy Link: scent-themed poem frame and word bank

✔️ Certificate of Completion: “Christmas Scientist” edition


Printable pack flat-lay with recipe cards, certificate, and cinnamon sticks beside cup of tea and cat tail.

🎥 See It in Action

Watch our festive sensory science setup and scent-mixing fun here:


🪶 Why We Love This


It’s Christmas magic you can touch, smell, and create together.


🎄The Cinnamon Sleigh Scent Lab is more than a craft; it’s a sensory celebration that brings chemistry, creativity, and connection into your home.


Thanks for joining us for today’s experiment 💚


If you give it a go, we’d love to see! Tag @CuriousPawsLearning on Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, X, Pinterest or Facebook so we can celebrate your little scientist’s success together. 🐾

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