Using Your Senses Activity

Question:

Which senses will be most useful for identifying various white powders?

Prediction:

Rank the value of each sense for helping you identify the substances listed below.

Most valuable	2nd most	3rd most	4th most	Least valuable

Materials:

granulated sugar, powdered sugar, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, rice, tapioca, salt

Procedure:

1. Fill in the table below, recording your observations of each of the substances. Use objective, descriptive words such as: gritty, no odor, dull white. Don't use subjective words such as: nasty, boring.
    

   Substance	Color	Taste	Odor	Texture
   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   6
   7
   8

   
   
2. From your observations, identify which substances are each of the eight plates.

   1.	3.	5.	7.
   2.	4.	6.	8.

Analysis:

Answer these questions in complete sentences.

1. Why couldn't you identify each of these substances by its color alone?
    

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2. Why was your sense of smell not always useful?
    

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3. What sense did you use to distinguish between sugar and flour?  How did you do this?
    

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4. What sense did you use to distinguish between sugar and salt?  How did you do this?
    

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5. What sense did you use to distinguish between baking soda and cornstarch?  How did you do this?
    

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6. Which substance was the most difficult to identify?   What helped you make the correct identification ?
    

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7. How would you now rank the value of each sense for helping you identify the substances?

   Most valuable	2nd most	3rd most	4th most	Least valuable