Curated OER
Warm and Cold Air
Students conduct an experiment to discover what happens to air when it is heated or cooled, discover that wind moves from a high-pressure area (an area of sinking air) to a low pressure area (an area of rising air).
American Chemical Society
Air, It's Really There
Love is in the air? Wrong — nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are in the air. The final lesson in the series of five covers the impact of temperature on gases. Scholars view a demonstration of gas as a type of matter before performing...
Colorado State University
If Hot Air Rises, Why Is it Cold in the Mountains?
Investigate the relationship between temperature and pressure. Learners change the pressure of a sample of air and monitor its temperature. They learn that as air decreases its pressure, its thermal energy converts to kinetic energy.
Colorado State University
How Can Clouds Keep the Air Warmer?
Condensing water warms the air around it. Young scholars consider this concept as they experiment with air temperature around evaporating and condensing water vapor. They simulate the formation of clouds to experience the associated...
Colorado State University
Why Can Warm Air "Hold" More Moisture than Cold Air?—Vapor Pressure Exercise
Does it feel a little humid in here? Learners assume the role of water vapor in the atmosphere as they explore the differences between warm and cold air. They roll dice to determine their level of energy, which determines if they stay...
Curated OER
Specific Heat of Air and Soil
Students are introduced to the concept of specific heat. In groups, they are given a set of data showing the temperatures of air and soil samples in which they calculate the ranges of the data. They identify whether the air or soil...
Curated OER
What Happens When Air is Heater or Cooled?
In this air pressure worksheet, students use a can to demonstrate how air pressure collapses a can when placed in hot water.
Curated OER
Air Pressure and Wind
In this air pressure and wind worksheet, students answer fifteen questions about how air pressure is measured, what it is, the reasons for changes in air pressure and the weather as air pressure changes. They also answer questions about...
Curated OER
Air Pressure
Students examine air pressure. In this air pressure lesson, students perform a series of experiments to evaluate the effects of air pressure.
Curated OER
Surface Air Temperature Trends of the Caribbean
Students use real satellite data to determine the changes in near-surface air temperature at different times of the year over the Caribbean Sea. They discover how Earth's tilt causes seasonal differences in incoming solar energy. They...
NorthEast Ohio Geoscience Education Outreach
Density and Pressure of a Hot Air Balloon
Using a dry cleaner bag and a blow dryer, create a hot air balloon! The materials list suggests obtaining one dry cleaner bag per student, but since this is probably inconvenient, consider doing this as a demonstration during a lesson on...
Virginia Department of Education
Charles’ Law
Searching for a relatively interesting way to demonstrate Charles' Law? Here is a lesson in which pupils heat air inside a flask and then cool the flask to quickly cool the air. They make observations about what occurs during the cooling...
Curated OER
Movement of Air II
For this movement of air worksheet, students determine the deflection of air masses that result from Earth's eastward rotation. Then they describe what winds provide for different trades. Students also identify and describe the imaginary...
Curated OER
Air Masses
Students are given maps depicting two or more air masses and they then categorize bodies of air by temperature and moisture characteristics. They recognize large regions of similar type air. Students are given a map of air temperatures...
Curated OER
Shrinking Air
In this science investigation worksheet, students follow the listed procedures to find out how temperature affects air pressure as they heat and cool balloons.
Colorado State University
Why Do Clouds Form in the Afternoon?
The stability of the atmosphere changes on a daily basis. A kinesthetic lesson models how the stability of the air changes as it's warmed by the sun. Learners connect their models to the changing air currents and movement of warm and...
Curated OER
Wind and Air Pressure
Students make an anemometer, barometer, and wind catcher to see how wind and air pressure are related. In this wind lesson plan, students use these tools to measure the wind speed.
Colorado State University
Can Gravity Push Something Up?
How does a hot air balloon fly? An experimental lesson has scholars build a balloon from a garbage bag and monitor the movement of air. As the temperature of the air in the balloon increases, gravity moves the denser cool air down,...
Curated OER
How Does the Air Get Polluted?
Learners listen to or read a story that introduces awareness of environmental issues and in particular pollution.
Curated OER
What happens When Air is Heated or Cooled?
In this pressure worksheet, learners write down their observations of a can placed into hot water. They explain what happens to the air molecules and the pressure inside the bottle which causes it to collapse.
Curated OER
Reactions of Metals with Water, Acid and Air
In this chemical reactions worksheet, students experiment with reactions between 4 different metals with water, acid and air. Students make observations of copper, iron, zinc and magnesium with water, acid and air. They write an analysis...
Curated OER
Newton's Law of Cooling
In this Newton's Law of Cooling worksheet, students complete an essay format write up of a convection model. They write the purpose and assumptions of their lab. Students complete three rate of change problems. They describe a model in...
Curated OER
Water in the Air
Students simulate how clouds block radition and how water in the air condense around containers.
Curated OER
Out Of Sight Air; Weather
Fourth graders conduct an experiment to get them thinking about the invisibility of air, and to prove that air has weight.