Smelling Bee
Students will learn how many pollinators use their sense of smell to navigate to different flowers and plants.
Lesson Created By: Savannah River Ecology Lab
Essential Question
How do bees use their sense of smell to navigate?
Grade(s):
- 1
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
- 2 smells from juices or oils Ex: Lemon and Cinnamon
- 12 Deli Cups- dark colored or covered
- Plastic wrap
- Pencil
- 6 tables/ desks
- 6 signs, one for each table (Ex: Table 1)
- 10 directional signs that say “Go To Table # ” (2 signs for each number 2-6)
- 2 signs that say “FINISH”
- Tape
Lesson Progression
Pre-Activity (see resource attachment for setup diagram)
- Place each type of scent into 6 deli cups (for 12 total) and cover with plastic wrap. Poke holes in the wrap to allow the scent to come through. Make sure containers are covered well enough that students can’t see inside.
- Set up 6 tables into 2 rows of three. Place a sign on each table that says what table number it is (1-6)
- On each table place one cup with each scent (ex: lemon and cinnamon). Tape a sign by each cup with directions that will lead the student to the next table.
- Tape “FINISH” signs on the cup where you want the students to end up.
The Activity:
- Ask students to name the different senses we use every day (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). Ask them which ones they think would be the most important to insects trying to find their way back to their favorite flowers (smell/ sight).
- Tell students they will be using the sense of smell to see how some insects like bees, navigate to find their way around to sources of food and their homes.
- Play the Smelling Bee!
- Tell students they are honey bees that need to go out and collect nectar from their favorite flowers.
- Tell them they are starting at their home and have to find their way to their flowers using their sense of smell to guide them.
- Have two students start at Table 1 (HOME). Tell them to pick a cup and smell. Instruct them that the smell they have chosen is their smell. In front of each cup is a sign that will direct the student to the next table (Ex: Go to table 3). At that table, the student will need to smell both cups to figure out which scent matches theirs. And then follow the sign to the next table.
- They will repeat this process until they get all the way to the flowers they were looking for (indicated by the “FINISH” sign).
- This activity helps students understand how many insects use their sense of smell to find their way around.
- If working with younger children, reduce the number of tables to simplify.
Teacher Notes
Background:
All animals use their senses to communicate, feed, mate and navigate. These senses are extremely important to the survival of these animals. For many pollinators, smell is the most important sense to help animals find their way around. They can recognize the smell of their home compared to that of their favorite flowers they feed from. This helps them as they move around looking for food. Honeybees, in particular, have an amazing sense of smell. Their sense of smell is more than 100 times more powerful than that of humans. And this helps them locate their homes and flowers even miles away. Without their sense of smell, these bees would likely not be able to pollinate nearly as many flowers and products we like to eat.