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Basic 1 · Science · Earth Science

Air is All Around Us

In this topic you will show that air is all around us, even though we cannot see it.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Show that air is all around us
  • Show that air takes up space
  • Say how we feel air

What you already know

  • Solids, liquids and gases

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Cycles
Sub-strand
Earth Science
Indicator
B1.2.1.4.2 – Demonstrate the existence of air in the environment

Introduction

You cannot see air. But you can feel the wind on your face. You can see trees moving. Air is everywhere.

1. Feeling Air

We know air is there when

  • we feel the wind on our face
  • trees and clothes move in the wind
  • we blow up a balloon
  • we fan ourselves

2. Air Takes Up Space

An "empty" bottle is not really empty. It is full of air.

Bottle test

  1. Push an empty bottle into a basin of water, mouth first.
  2. Tilt it a little.
  3. Watch the bubbles come out.

The bubbles are air leaving the bottle.

An empty bottle pushed into a basin of water with bubbles coming out
Figure 1: Air bubbles from an empty bottle Draw the bottle in the water with bubbles.Illustration: Sirbus
A child blowing up a balloon
Figure 2: Air fills a balloonIllustration: Sirbus

Remember: We cannot see air, but it is all around us.

New words

air
A gas all around us that we breathe.
wind
Moving air.
bubble
A small ball of air in water.
space
Room that something takes up.

Summary

  • Air is all around us.
  • We feel air as wind.
  • Air takes up space, as in a balloon or a bottle.

Class activity: Find the Air

  1. Blow up a balloon. Feel the air when you let it go.
  2. Push an empty bottle into a basin of water.
  3. Watch the bubbles.
  4. Say what is inside the "empty" bottle.

You need: Inflated balloon, Empty plastic bottle, Basin of water

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. What is moving air called?

    • A. Rain
    • B. Wind
    • C. Water
    • D. Mist
    Show answer
    Answer: WindWind is moving air.

  2. 2. What comes out of an "empty" bottle in water?

    • A. Sand
    • B. Air bubbles
    • C. Milk
    • D. Stones
    Show answer
    Answer: Air bubblesThe bottle was full of air.

  3. 3. Air is all around us.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueAir is everywhere.

  4. 4. We can see air easily.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseWe cannot see air.

  5. 5. When we blow into a balloon, it fills with ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: airOur breath is air.

  6. 6. Write two ways we know air is there.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: we feel wind, trees move, balloons fill, bubbles in water.These show air is present.

Homework

  1. Make a paper fan. Use it to feel the air on your face.