Lesson Two: (Gas) Air properties

Duration: 1 hour

Overview: Students will learn the properties of air (air has weight, air has volume, air can do work)
Vocabulary: Air, weight, volume, power
Objectives: Students understand the properties of air and are able to say the three major properties of air
Materials: 20oz plastic soda bottles, balloons, straws, string, bowl of water, cups, paper man
Resources: Song "Air is Everywhere", Video excerpt from "Magic School Bus" 
The Lesson: 
  1. Open by playing the song "Air is Everywhere"
  2. Ask students about air. "Can you see air?" "Can you smell air?" "Can you feel air?" etc
  3. Before the lesson prepare two soda bottles, each with a balloon inverted inside. In one bottle make small holes at the bottom. Leave the other bottle as is. Ask two students to come forward and try and inflate the balloon by blowing into the bottle. When only one student can ask them why. The students should find the small holes in one of the bottles. This will prompt discussion about how air "takes up space". Explain the meaning of volume to the students.
  4. Now that you have introduced volume have the students see if they can put a paper man in a cup and make the cup go underwater without the man getting wet. Students should play and discover that if they put the cup straight down the volume of air will keep water out of the cup and the man dry.
  5. Next talk about weight. Make a balance using one straight straw (or stick). Place an empty balloon on one side and a filled balloon on the other. Ask the students which one is heavier. Ask them why. This should illustrate to students that air has weight. 
  6. Play the "Magic School Bus" video
  7. End by talking about what we saw air used for in the video. Talk about what things air is used for in everyday life (i.e. windmills, sail boats...) Let students know that next class we will be discovering the power of air!
Homework: Have students make a list of things at home their air cannon is strong enough to move and things it cannot move.
Citations:
Air Air Everywhere | Music Video | From Hip Hop Harry, Published on Jan 31, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRKHchaP9Ms
The Magic School Bus (TV Series), Season 4, Episode 4, "Goes on Air". Written by: Brain Meehl, George Arthur Bloom, Jocelyn Stevenson. Directed by: Lawrence Jacobs. Released: October 4, 1997 

Lesson Three/Four: Air power

Duration 1 hour for each lesson

Overview: Students will experience the power of air!
Vocabulary: Air, power, force, friction
Objectives: Students understand that air has power and can be used to do work. Air makes our lives easier. Students will make an air cannon and a hover craft. 
Materials: 20oz soda bottles, electrical tape, balloons, CDs, sport bottle drink lids, hot glue gun/glue, candle, small puff balls
Resources: Youtube "How a hovercraft works" video. Video of racing hovercrafts, many choices on Youtube.
The Lessons:
  1. Ask students what they have previously learned about air. Ask them what we saw the students in the "Magic School Bus" video do with air. 
  2. Tell them you are going to make an air cannon! The challenge will be if students can blow out a candle using the air cannon.
  3. Making the cannon: Cut off the top of a soda bottle (just above the top of the label) using a box cutter. Tie a knot in the neck of a balloon. Cut off the very tip of the top of the balloon. Open the balloon and stretch it over the larger opening of the bottle top you cut earlier. Tape the balloon secure. You should be able and pull the knot of the balloon back, then release, to shoot a blast of air out the mouth of the bottle.
  4. Allow students to play with their air cannons (move puff balls, pieces of paper, etc). Let the students come one at a time to try and put out a candle. 
  5. ASK HOW IT WORKS: Students should connect that air has volume concept here. Pulling the balloon back brings air into the bottle. When they let go air is quickly pushed out of the bottle creating a blast of air. This air can be used to do work.
  6. BREAK HERE TO MAKE TWO LESSONS OR CONTINUE FOR A TWO HOUR LESSON
  7. Play the hovercraft video
  8. Ask students to rub their hands together. What do they feel? (HEAT). Explain the concept of friction. Guide students through questions and discussion to realize that friction is what keeps items from gliding around on surfaces.
  9. How can we overcome friction? AIR!
  10. Help each student to make a hovercraft
  11. Making the hovercraft: Hot glue the sport bottle top on a CD such as it covers the central hole. Inflate a balloon and attach it to the bottle top (the bottle top should be in the down closed position such that air cannot be released from the balloon). Let the students place their hovercraft on the floor and open the top. Air should travel down the central hole to under the CD. This creates a thin layer of air that overcomes the force of friction and allows the CD to glide across the floor. 
  12. ASK HOW IT WORKS: Students should connect the concept of friction and that air is reducing the friction and allowing the CD to glide.
Homework: Ask the students if the hovercraft will work on water. Have them try it at home in a large bin or bathtub. Ask them to record a video with their parent's phone and send to the class group chat.
Citations: 
Griffon Hovercraft Ltd. "How a hovercraft works" Published on Mar 27, 2007 by Suhyon Che https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCT7z0SlRT8