Sniff, Sniff....What's that smell?


 Classification Using Your Senses: The Sense of Smell
Kindergarten



Table of Contents



Georgia Performance Standard Used for this Topic Page
SKP1. Students will describe objects in terms of the materials they are made of and their
physical properties.
        b. Use senses to classify common materials, such as buttons or swatches of cloth,
            according to their physical attributes.




Rationale
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the senses and their scientific use. From this lesson, the students will be able to use the sense of smell to classify and sort items into groups. This lesson is important because people and animals rely on their senses, especially the sense of smell to make assumptions about certain items. Our sense of smell allows us to know things we don't like and like, and also sort things into groups based on this criteria. Using the sense of smell, allows people to apply their likes, dislikes and possible harmful things to items that they know nothing of. They are able to apply this knowledge to similiar but not the same items.




Instructional Topic Websites

COMING TO OUR SENSES


This website provides background information on the sense of smell that is age appriopriate to be read to the students. Also, has some great suggestions for activities for enrichment.


What's That Smell?





This website provides background information for children to explore on their own or to provide the information for an instructional activity. The article is designed with children in mind and present information in a very age appriopriate manner.


Fun Facts About Your Nose


Take a little break for all that learning! On this site, Professor Nosetradamus tells you some things that you may not have known about that little nose on your face.

Your Gross and Cool Body: Your Sense of Smell

Exactly what are smells? Well this website tells you all about them. Also, includes great developmentally apprioprate language.


Expose Your Nose

Well really, how strong is your sense of smell? Let's expose our nose to some smells and just find out!


You Know About Your Nose, but What About Them?

By now you know all about your sense of smell, but what do other animals use to smell? Click on the fly to find out.




Topic Activities
  I like to smell......
In this activity, students will be blindfolded and allowed to smell certain distinct scents.

  PLO - Students will be able to identify items that have distinct scents.
Students will create a picture of their favorite item and least favorite item smelled during the activity.

  Integration: This activity is designed to integrate Creative Arts into Science.
 
Procedures  
  • Using the website, Expose Your Nose, create a table of items that will be used for the smelling test.
  • Blindfold the children and have them smell a very small amount of each material. Keep the items separated and enclosed in plastic containers so that the odors do not mix. Use only small amounts of each item and instruct students to take only small whiffs from each container. Be especially careful with perfume and moth balls.
  • Have the children rate the scent. For Kindergarten, use the terms good and bad.
  • Explain to the children that by classifying the scents as good and bad and being able to identify them, they are describing the scent using their sense of smell.
  • If any of the children have conflicting answers on some of the scents, explain that the sense of smell are unique to each person.
  • After the children have finished with each item, allow to see what item is.
  • Using Microsoft Paint, have the children create a picture of their favorite item sniffed and their least favorite item sniffed.
  Product:  The students will create a picture of good and bad classified items using Microsoft Paint. From the items listed on the website, the children will acquire a knowledge of distinct smells and have sensory experience.

What do they smell with?
In this activity, students will learn about animals that use other things to smell besides their nose.

  PLO- Students will be able to identify animals and their unique sense of smell.
           Students will be able to classify animals under their "smell headings".

Integration: This activity is designed to integrate Technology into Science.

Procedures
  • Using the website, What's That Smell? read Sniff, Sniff, Take a Whiff, to review how humans smell.
  • Using the website, You Know About Your Nose, but What About Them?, review facts about animals, reptiles and insects and what they use for their sense of smell.
  • After reviewing the animals, discuss with the children the key animals and the key ways that other animals smell. Also discuss, that they use their sense of smell for classification as well.
  • With the teacher's assistance, create a graphic organizer using KIDSPIRATION. Classify animals under their "smell headings". As the organizer is projected on the screen, review these animals.
  • As guided practice, create an empty organizer and have the students come up with ideas to classify the animals based on smell and also include other animals that smell in a similiar way.
  Product:  The students will create a graphic organizer with teacher assistance to classify the animals in categories based on the way they smell.


Smell Detectives: Discover Those Smells
 Take a walk around the playground or the school and discover the smells that exist. 

PLO - Students will be able to classify smells discovered into the categories good and bad.
          Students will be able to describe smells discovered using adjectives such as salty, sour, sweet etc.

Integration: This activity is designed to integrate Math and Language Arts into Science.

Procedures
  •  Using the website,  Expose Your Nose,  scroll down and explain to the class the directions listed on how to Take a Walk on the Smelly Side.
  • With a clipboard visit the cafeteria, the library, the main office, a garden, or the playground. As you take the walk, have the students tell you things that you smell. When they tell you the things write them down. Ask the student to describe the smell by categorizing it into either good or bad then by using a descriptive word (adjective). Write down the response.
  •  When you get back to class compare the smells that you found with those found by other students.
  • Compile the data collected, and have the students count how many students used certain adjectives.
  • Using MICOSOFT EXCEL, create a graph of the most frequent smells and how many students smelled each and described them the same. Allow the students to assist in counting the similiarities and differences.
  Product:  The students will learn to classify the smells they discovered and how to find similiarites and differences. From the website, the directive given will be very clear to the students.





Five Software Programs
Title of software program __Microsoft Excel__________________________
Published by __________________Microsoft___________
Software can be used with this topic to enhance learning by creating a graph of the most frequent smells and how many students smelled each and described them the same. Allow the students to assist in counting the similiarities and differences. This program can be used to help in data collection and mathematical skills such as graphing.
Problems that may exist include Excel can be a little unfriendly in use to younger children. Program commands may be hard to operate. Excel has a higher difficulty level. It is recommended that some teacher training is necessary or constant teacher help and interaction.


Title of software program __Microsoft Paint__________________________
Published by __________________Microsoft___________
Software can be used with this topic to enhance learning by creating a picture of their favorite items sniffed. This program allows children to display their creativity and their technology skills and applications. Paint can be used with other projects as well. This program assists in creative development.
Problems that may exist include Paint's application uses the mouse to draw. Young children will probably experience difficulty in keeping their hand straight due to premature mouse control. This could result in some frustration and can hinder application of student creativity. This program works well when there is constant teacher interaction.

Title of software program __Microsoft Powerpoint__________________________
Published by __________________Microsoft___________
Software can be used with this topic to enhance learning by creating a powerpoint slide show of the kids favorite nose facts or items that they indicate they enjoyed the best. This software allows for creative development as well with deciding graphics and colors. A great way for presentations and organization of knowledge. Software can be used to promote teamwork by children working together to put together things they have learned about their senses.
Problems that may exist include Powerpoint has select applications that are not age appriopriate. Teacher interaction is recommended for this age group.


Title of software program __Kidspiration__________________________
Published by __________________Inspiration Software INC___________
Software can be used with this topic to enhance learning by creating and presenting learned information graphically organized. Facts and information can be grouped according to topic and similiarities. Children can make a chart of things they have learned about the sense of smell.
Problems that may exist include age appropriateness for Kindergarten age range, however this program was designed for children making the application user friendly.




Title of software program __Sammy's Science House__________________________
Published by _____________Edmark________________
Software can be used with this topic to enhance learning by teaching skills on experiments and scientific discovery. Children can use what they have learned using the software to attempt sensory experiments of their own. With this software important science processes and early science development skills will help students sort information from experiments. Software is age appriopriate.
Problems that may exist software does not teach the senses themselves. However, the software teachs skills needed for the activities above. No direct teacher interaction is needed.





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