Kindergarten, Science, Week 8

Continuing our unit on Air:

Monday we learned what  a bag of air could do (air is real and takes us space).

• You'll Need: a sturdy paper bag (larger than a lunch sack), an air pump, tape, and a book or video cassette or some such object
• To Prepare: place the end of the air hose in the bag, gather the bag opening around the hose and use tape to secure it.
• Experiment:
• Place the book on top of the flat bag.
• Ask, "Do you think a bag of air could move this book?"
• Pump air into bag.
• Bag will inflate, causing the book to rise.

Tuesday we learned what can push up water in a narrow tube (air presses on everything on all sides).

• You'll Need: a kitchen baster or medicine dropper, container of water, drinking straw, food coloring (if your baster or straw are not clear, color the water so you can see it better)
• Experiment:
• Examine baster. Is it empty? What comes out when you squeeze the bulb?
• Put baster in water. Squeeze bulb. What comes out? What happens when I let go of the bulb?
• Why does the water stay in the tube?
• Now try the same thing with straws. Put a straw in the water, cover the end tightly with your finger and raise it out of the water. Remove your finger and the water runs out. Air pressure keeps the water in, when more air enters the straw it pushes the water out.
• Let child experiment.

Wednesday we learned air pushes on us (moving air pushes things).

• You'll Need: sheets of newspaper
• Experiment:
• Wave your hand in front of your face. What do you feel? When air is moving you can feel it. We feel air moving against us both when the air is moving (wind) or when we are moving.
• Go outside. Stand still and hold a sheet of newspaper against you. When you let go does it stay?
• Now run as fast as you can. Does the newspaper stay?
• You can also play with pinwheels, kites, or even a plastic bag tied onto a string.

Thursday we learned that a glider drifts on moving air.

• You'll Need: a paper airplane
• Experiment:
• Launch the airplane back and forth. Notice that moving air carries the airplane, but when the airplane stops moving, it falls to the ground.

Friday we learned that air slows moving objects.

• You'll Need: 2 sheets of 8-1/2" x 11" paper, a toy parachute, a high place. To make the parachute you'll need a handkerchief, bandanna, or piece of fabric 12" square, string, and a toy that is heavier than the fabric. Tie a 12" string to each corner of the bandanna. Then tie the other ends together and around the toy.
• Experiment:
• Show both sheets of paper. They are the same size. Crumple one. Which do you think will fall faster? Have child drop them at the same time. Why did the crumpled paper drop faster? Less air pressing against it to slow it down.
• Let child play with parachute. When the parachute opens in descends slower than if it doesn't open.