Using your senses to learn
Test of the sense of smell
Objectives:
Students use the sense of smell to distinguish differences. Students experience using the senses for observation and categorization. Students have an object of discussion that requires an answer.
I do this at the beginning of the year in first grade as part of a short unit on using the senses to observe, distinguish and learn. The are always familiar with the scents although they often do not know the correct name.
Materials:
Small amounts of the following liquids:
And these materials:
Procedure:
Students in groups mark their bags, A, B, C and D. Wet a cotton ball for each group with a few drops of the first liquid so that the students cannot see. Put one ball in bag "A" for each group. Students are to identify the smell by putting their nose in the bag to smell the liquid drops in the cotton. The students write down what they think liquid #1 is. Repeat this with the second liquid and put each cotton ball in each group's bag "B". Students record their guesses (or answers) on their paper for liquid #2. Repeat this with "C" and "D" for the third and fourth liquid and then have students discuss to decide which smell is which liquid. I would NOT tell the students the correct answer with certainty until there is consensus among them from their discussion which liquid is in which bag. The discussion may need intervention and guidance but it part of group decision making. After revealing the correct answers have students list where these liquids are commonly found, like in the kitchen or the doctor's office.
Close:
Have students review how they decided on the answers. What characteristics of each smell led to your decision? How did each group come to a final decision? What other ways can we talk things over to solve problems? Do this in combination with other lesson plans that allow children to use their senses to distinguish differences, categorize and learn.
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