It's Our Air - 1-1 What Is Air? WHAT IS AIR? ACTIVITY Through a variety of hands-on experiences presented as stations in the classroom, students will discover properties of air, including that air has volume, mass, and pressure; that it is compressible and that it expands when heated. They will also learn about the major molecular components of our atmosphere (nitrogen, oxygen, argon), the four layers of our atmosphere, and that air contains water vapor. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: What is air made of? What are some of the properties of air? How can we demonstrate those properties when air is invisible? Is our atmosphere homogenous or does it change with elevation? TIME NEEDED: one class period MATERIALS: VIDEOS: What Is Air? Part I (included) What Is Air? Part II (included) Video worksheets (included) STATION 1: Molecule sets Transparent jar containing 100 marbles or beads Worksheet (included) STATION 2: Large wide-mouth jar Dishwashing glove Worksheet (included) STATION 3: Two empty glass bottles Balloons Container of hot water Container of ice water Worksheet (included) STATION 4: Large wide-mouth glass jar Water balloons Tea candles Matches Metal tongs Worksheet (included) STATION 5(A): Large wide-mouth jar Hot water Small plate Gallon freezer bag Ice cubes Worksheet (included) STATION 5(B): Two thermometers Fan Small amount of gauze Water Rubber band Sling psychrometer (optional) Worksheet (included) CLASSWORK OR HOMEWORK: Data sheet (included) Graph paper (included) TOPICS: properties of air, components of air, layers of the atmosphere, hydrologic cycle. TYPES: hands-on demonstration, graphing NC ESSENTIAL STANDARDS for Earth/Environmental Science: EEn.2.3.1 Explain how water is an energy agent (currents and heat transfer). EEn.2.5.1. Summarize the structure and composition of our atmosphere. EEn.2.5.5 Explain how human activities affect air quality [video:https://vimeo.com/114136096] DOWNLOAD PART I VIDEO FILE [video:https://vimeo.com/114136097] DOWNLOAD PART II VIDEO FILE WHAT IS AIR? VIDEO Through a two-part video packed with demonstrations and animation, students will discover properties of air, including that air has volume, mass, and pressure; that it is flows, and that it expands when heated. They will also learn about the major molecular components of our atmosphere (nitrogen, oxygen, argon), the four layers of our atmosphere, and that air contains water vapor. Video downloads are able to display subtitles. We recommend using VLC media player for optimal playback of subtitles. WHAT IS AIR? - TEACHER TO TEACHER TIPS The quick video below has tips for doing this activity from Mark Townley, an award-winning, North Carolina high school teacher. Mark helped develop It’s Our Air and has used each of these activities with his students. [video:https://vimeo.com/185546487] BACK TO CURRICULUM PAGE OTHER MODULE 1 (AIR POLLUTANTS & THEIR SOURCES) ACTIVITIES AND VIDEOS 1-1 What Is Air? (this activity) 1-2 Combustion and Combustion Equations 1-3 Parts Per Million 1-4 The Criteria Pollutants and a Closer Look at Ozone 1-5 NC & Local Sources of Air Pollution 1-6 Making and Using Ozone Indicators 1-7 Sampling Particulate Matter Follow It's Our Air on Facebook N.C. Division of Air Quality N.C. Air Awareness Program CONTACT THE NC AIR AWARENESS PROGRAM • Mailing Address: 1641 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1641 • Physical Address: 217 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 • Phone: 919-707-8400 • FAX: 919-707-0718 • Email Us: air.awareness@ncdenr.gov MISSION • The North Carolina Air Awareness Program is a public outreach and education program of the North Carolina Division of Air Quality. The primary goal of the program is to reduce air pollution through voluntary actions by individuals and organizations.
It's Our Air - 1-1 What Is Air? WHAT IS AIR? ACTIVITY Through a variety of hands-on experiences presented as stations in the classroom, students will discover properties of air, including that air has volume, mass, and pressure; that it is compressible and that it expands when heated. They will also learn about the major molecular components of our atmosphere (nitrogen, oxygen, argon), the four layers of our atmosphere, and that air contains water vapor. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: What is air made of? What are some of the properties of air? How can we demonstrate those properties when air is invisible? Is our atmosphere homogenous or does it change with elevation? TIME NEEDED: one class period MATERIALS: VIDEOS: What Is Air? Part I (included) What Is Air? Part II (included) Video worksheets (included) STATION 1: Molecule sets Transparent jar containing 100 marbles or beads Worksheet (included) STATION 2: Large wide-mouth jar Dishwashing glove Worksheet (included) STATION 3: Two empty glass bottles Balloons Container of hot water Container of ice water Worksheet (included) STATION 4: Large wide-mouth glass jar Water balloons Tea candles Matches Metal tongs Worksheet (included) STATION 5(A): Large wide-mouth jar Hot water Small plate Gallon freezer bag Ice cubes Worksheet (included) STATION 5(B): Two thermometers Fan Small amount of gauze Water Rubber band Sling psychrometer (optional) Worksheet (included) CLASSWORK OR HOMEWORK: Data sheet (included) Graph paper (included) TOPICS: properties of air, components of air, layers of the atmosphere, hydrologic cycle. TYPES: hands-on demonstration, graphing NC ESSENTIAL STANDARDS for Earth/Environmental Science: EEn.2.3.1 Explain how water is an energy agent (currents and heat transfer). EEn.2.5.1. Summarize the structure and composition of our atmosphere. EEn.2.5.5 Explain how human activities affect air quality [video:https://vimeo.com/114136096] DOWNLOAD PART I VIDEO FILE [video:https://vimeo.com/114136097] DOWNLOAD PART II VIDEO FILE WHAT IS AIR? VIDEO Through a two-part video packed with demonstrations and animation, students will discover properties of air, including that air has volume, mass, and pressure; that it is flows, and that it expands when heated. They will also learn about the major molecular components of our atmosphere (nitrogen, oxygen, argon), the four layers of our atmosphere, and that air contains water vapor. Video downloads are able to display subtitles. We recommend using VLC media player for optimal playback of subtitles. WHAT IS AIR? - TEACHER TO TEACHER TIPS The quick video below has tips for doing this activity from Mark Townley, an award-winning, North Carolina high school teacher. Mark helped develop It’s Our Air and has used each of these activities with his students. [video:https://vimeo.com/185546487] BACK TO CURRICULUM PAGE OTHER MODULE 1 (AIR POLLUTANTS & THEIR SOURCES) ACTIVITIES AND VIDEOS 1-1 What Is Air? (this activity) 1-2 Combustion and Combustion Equations 1-3 Parts Per Million 1-4 The Criteria Pollutants and a Closer Look at Ozone 1-5 NC & Local Sources of Air Pollution 1-6 Making and Using Ozone Indicators 1-7 Sampling Particulate Matter Follow It's Our Air on Facebook N.C. Division of Air Quality N.C. Air Awareness Program CONTACT THE NC AIR AWARENESS PROGRAM • Mailing Address: 1641 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1641 • Physical Address: 217 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 • Phone: 919-707-8400 • FAX: 919-707-0718 • Email Us: air.awareness@ncdenr.gov MISSION • The North Carolina Air Awareness Program is a public outreach and education program of the North Carolina Division of Air Quality. The primary goal of the program is to reduce air pollution through voluntary actions by individuals and organizations.
