Curated OER
The Marvels of the Molecule
Students experiment with common substances to observe molecular behavior. In this molecular properties lesson, students move through four stations as they try to inflate a balloon inside a bottle, pour water from a jar, and observe how...
Curated OER
The Science of Sound
In this explanation of sound activity, students discover what sound is, how different sounds are made, frequency, how sound travels, how we hear, and a summarization. In this physical science activity, students answer ten comprehension...
Yale University
Airplane Mathematics
The history of aerodynamics is rich with experimentation and international collaboration. Author Joyce Bryant relays this dynamic past and provides math word problems using the formula of lift, the force that makes airplanes fly. She...
Curated OER
Science: Discovering Earth's Air Prressure
Fourth graders discover earth's air pressure through observation of several experiments. In the "Experiment of the Leaky Bottle," they observe how air pressure forces water out of the lowest hole farther than the holes above it. In...
Curated OER
Science: The Changing Life of Air Pressure
Fourth graders observe demonstrations how heated air rises and becomes a low pressure area. After watching several teacher-conducted experiments, 4th graders, in groups, discuss and answer questions in their journals. Finally, they...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Science Rocks: Air Lift
Through this experiment, students are challenged to lift a book (and other items) with just air. Requires simple household items, gallon-size, zipper-lock plastic bag, book, pencil, drinking straw, and tape.
NASA
Nasa: Drag, Lesson 4
This video [12:28] shows how Newton's law of motion relates to the drag of an airplane. Watch as an instructor shows how the molecules colliding with the airplane create drag.
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute: The Science of Sound
This Franklin Institute webpage provides an introduction to understanding sound waves based on 5th grade science lessons.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Gas Pressure in a Syringe
Explore why it is difficult to pull back on a capped syringe and why the plunger moves back in when you let go.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Standing Wave Simulator
Create standing waves in a virtual rope, or watch air molecules as they vibrate in a virtual tube in this interactive standing wave simulator.
Hunkins Experiments
Hunkin's Experiments: Potato Peel a Banana Automatically
Hunkin's Experiments is a group of simple cartoon illustrations of scientific principles. Some would work well in the classroom, but others have little value beyond entertaining students. All of the projects are easy to do. This one is a...
NASA
Nasa: How Air Pressure Affects You
This site from NASA offers a general overview of air pressure. Explores the concept through experiments and interactive games, as well as discussion questions.
Bill Nye
Bill Nye: A Wing and Some Air
Try this at-home science experiment to learn about air pressure.