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Learners smell balloons filled with different scents to guess what's inside. From this, they infer the presence and motion of scented molecules. This is a good introduction to atoms and molecules, as well as an opportunity to talk about diffusion, states of matter, chemoreceptors and the sense of smell. For latex-sensitive learners, this activity also works with non-latex gloves. Extensions include measuring diffusion rates, and extracting essential oils from plant parts. Educator-led demonstrations include having learners act as molecules in a model of a solid, liquid, and gas, and then diffusing through a model membrane as a gas. Part of the "No Hassle Messy Science with a Wow" activity guide by OMSI, where all activities use only household materials.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 4 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English, Spanish
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 5-10 balloons (1 per scent used)
- 1 permanent marker
- 5-10 straws, pipettes, or eyedroppers
- 1-2 teaspoons each of selection of extracts, for example: anise, almond, vanilla, coffee, lemon, chocolate, orange, banana, coconut
- 1-2 teaspoons each of selection of spices, for example: cinnamon, curry, cloves, garlic, chili
- 1-2 teaspoons each of other strong smelling products, for example: Vicks Vapo-Rub, baby powder, soap, perfume, lotion
Subjects
-
Life Sciences
-
Human Senses and Perception
- Smell
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Human Senses and Perception
-
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry
-
States of Matter
- Solids
- Liquids
- Gases
- Changes of Phase
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- smell
Learning styles supported:
- Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Foreign language versions of this resource:
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, 2007
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation
- Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation