Sleman, Indonesia - The Jogjakarta Montessori Elementary School (JMES) Grade 3 recently ventured into a fascinating field study at Rumah Atsiri, located in the scenic hills of Tawangmangu, Central Java. As part of the JMES’s hands-on learning commitment, this trip was designed to enrich the students’ current cultural studies on compounds, mixtures, and the changes in states of matter, embodying experiential, hands-on learning.

Rumah Atsiri Indonesia, a renowned center for essential oil production and botanical education, offered the perfect setting for this exploration. It not only preserves Indonesia’s rich legacy in aromatic plants but also transforms scientific knowledge into an interactive experience for young learners.

One of the dynamic experiences of the trip was the interactive museum tour. The students walked through the rooms showcasing insightful exhibits about scents and scientific facts about them. They also discovered the history of essential oils in other countries like China and India that emphasize wellness, spirituality, and mindfulness through essential oils, enriching students’ broader perspectives.

During the visit, students delved into the scientific processes firsthand behind essential oil production through the distillation technique. They observed a real-world application of how mixtures can be separated based on their physical properties and witnessed the changes in states of matter as oil was extracted from plant material. The students smelled the freshly produced oil at the end of the distillation process, completing the multisensory experience.

In the aromatic garden, students explored through a diverse collection of plants such as marigold, citronella, rosemary, lavender, chocolate mint, and eucalyptus, delighting their senses as they viewed, touched, smelled, and even picked the plants they passed. This activity encouraged students to explore a wider range of scents, from the soothing and familiar to the unique ones.

The aromatic workshop was another engaging part of the trip, where students participated in botanical soap making. They learned how to blend natural oils and other ingredients and gained practical insight into how mixtures are formed and manipulated to create valuable products. This activity connected their classroom concepts with creative, real-life applications.

This field study was a wonderful science trip that enriched students’ multisensory journey and encouraged curiosity and critical thinking. Furthermore, it also helped students see the relevance of their learning beyond the classroom, inspiring them to explore how chemistry, nature, and culture intersect in meaningful ways.

Through Rumah Atsiri, the JMES Grade 3 friends truly experienced the joy of learning by doing.

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