Using Your Senses






Daniels, Elizabeth A.              Collins High School  
1748 E. 83rd Street                1-312-542-3500
Chicago, IL 60617

Objectives

To use your senses in identifying unknown substances.

Apparatus and Materials

1. Nutmeg                          8. Spinach
2. Cloves                          9. Corn Meal
3. Cardimis                       10. Lime Gelatin  
5. Grits                          11. Banana Nectar
6. Baking Soda                    12. Parsley Flakes
7. Carrot Juice                   13. Light Corn Syrup
                                  14. Vinegar
                                  15. Fennel

Supplies

  Santa Hat
  Blackboard and Chalk
  Lab. Sheet
  Petri Dishes
  Cotton Swabs

Substances other than the ones listed may be substituted.

Recommended Strategy

(Phenomenological Approach) 

1. Review the following terms: Observation, Identifying characteristics, Categorized. 

2. Discuss the meaning of the word Observation using a "gimmick" which will help lead 
   into discussion on methods used in "Observing things". Students responded 
   positively to the use of a Santa Claus Hat worn by the teacher. The teacher may 
   use any object that will help initiate the "Observation Process." 

3. Senses identified and used by students during class discussion and Lab Experiment 
   are the following: 

                           (a) Seeing
                           (b) Hearing
                           (c) Tasting
                           (d) Smelling
                           (e) Feeling

4. Students worked in groups of 3's in observing substances listed under Apparatus 
   Materials using the senses listed above. 

5. Each group of students will receive eight substances to observe. Students will 
   record results on a prepared Lab-Sheet. 

                        Lab-Sheet:
              Things you should Observe and Record:
                        
                        Number of substance used
                        Color
                        Odor
                        Taste
                        Texture
                        Name of substance?

                       Class Evaluation:

Students will discuss "Observations" and "Substance Identification" after the 
experiment has been completed.