How Do We Smell?
Summary
Have you ever wondered how smell works? Have you ever smelled something and it made you think of a memory? If so, that’s because our bodies are working with our brains to help us smell. Today, we are going to learn about how we smell and do some fun activities!
Before You Get Started
If you are not able to print out the worksheets, please copy the information from the worksheets into your notebook or on a piece of paper.
Materials
- Computer or phone to view videos
- Spices
- Food Memories Worksheet
- Family Food Memories Worksheet
Vocabulary
- Olfactory: Olfactory is a fancy word that has to do with smelling.
- Anosmia: loss or inability to have a sense of smell.
- Neurons are the basic units of the nervous system and its most important part is the brain.
- Gene is the basic unit of heredity. This means that genes determine what traits are passed down from a mother and father to their child. Eye color, height, and hair color are some examples of the traits that are controlled by genes.
- Pigmented: color (something) with or as if with pigment.
- Olfactory Epithelium: The sense of smell, called olfaction, involves the detection and perception of chemicals floating in the air. Chemical molecules enter the nose and dissolve in mucous within a membrane called the olfactory epithelium.
Watch
Please watch the TED-Ed video, "How Do We Smell?" MAKE SURE YOU PUT ON THE CLOSED CAPTION. Here is where you find the closed caption on the video. We will watch the video again later, so you don’t have to take notes. Just watch!