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skunk

Odors

"There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted." Henry David Thoreau

skunk cabbage flower

Our world is filled with odors and fragrances. Some are welcome and some are not. Some are natural
while some odors are manmade. Plants and animals use odors for several purposes.

right arrow Read - Natural Odors - Shenandoah National Park

right arrow Brainstorm a list of all the local odors you can identify. (Include seasonal ones)

Sort them by one's you like or enjoy and those you dislike.

right arrow Select one odor you like and one you dislike or anticipate you dislike.

Compare and contrast these two odors.

What is the origin or source of the odor?

What is the purpose?

Can the odor be controlled?

Decide: Should the odor be controlled? How?

Control - by law, by regulation or by individual choice?

Example: Foul odor from trash can

Odor attracts flies and other decomposing insects

Yes - regularly flush trash can

In an urban/suburban neighborhood, yes. In a rural setting, no. Clean trash cans regularly.

People & businesses should do it.

 

right arrow Many organisms emit pheromones. Name some. Describe the role the pheromone plays for that organism.

right arrow People use odors in many ways. How do odors influence people? Is it ethical for a business to use odors to its advantage?

Extensions:

A tutorial on the sense of smell - Olfaction | Lesson #2 - Smell Loss

In Love With a Jersey Smell, New York Times, Editorial February 6, 2009

"There is nothing like an odor to stir memories." William McFee

butterfly iconFields, Meadows, and Fencerows: Habitat | Mammals | Birds | Insect - Butterflies & Moths | Trees & Plants | Conclusion

Screech Owl Activity | Bats are our Buddies Activity | Food Web Activity | Food web relationships - Predator or prey?

Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly Science Journal Entry | Digital Science Journal | Bluebirds Project

Wildflowers info | Outside - In Showcase Project | School Habitat Garden

Environmental Education Curriculum in Pennsylvania | Environmental Careers | Using trees as cleaning tools article

Internet Hunts / Puzzles and Projects / Water and Watershed Studies / Civics & History / Habitat Garden / Computers / Nature / Home

Posted 2/2009 by Cynthia J. O'Hora

tree icon Save a tree - use a digital answer format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the word processing document in an easily read, contrasting color or font. (No yellow, avoid fancy fonts like: Symbols, broad font, dear font). Save frequently. Make Your Own Printed answer sheet.