1
Engage

Is Air Real?

Duration
30 minutes
Type
Engage
Standards
K-PS2-1, K.MD.A

Learning Goals

Students will be able to:

Big Question

"Can you see air? How do you know it is real?"

Materials Needed

  • Plastic bags (one per student or pair)
  • Straws (one per student)
  • Cups of water (one per pair)
  • Paper fans or paper to fold into fans
  • Balloons (optional)

Circle Time: Wondering About Air (5 min)

Teacher Says:

"Today we are going to be air detectives! I have a question for you: Is air real? Can you see it? Touch it? How do you know air is there?"

Let students share their ideas. Write them on the board. Common answers: "I can feel wind," "I breathe it," "I cannot see it."

Activity 1: Catch the Air (10 min)

Steps:

  1. Give each student a plastic bag
  2. Ask them to hold the bag open and run across the room
  3. Tell them to quickly close the bag when it feels puffy
  4. Ask: "What is inside your bag?"
  5. Have them squeeze the bag gently - they can feel the air pushing back!
Discovery: "We caught air! Air is real because it takes up space inside our bags!"

Activity 2: Bubble Breaths (10 min)

Steps:

  1. Give each pair a cup of water and straws
  2. Show students how to blow gently through the straw into the water
  3. Watch the bubbles appear!
  4. Ask: "Where do the bubbles come from?"
Discovery: "The bubbles are made of air! The air comes from inside our bodies when we breathe out!"

Movement Break: Feel the Air Song (3 min)

Sing to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It":

"If you want to feel the air, wave your hands! (wave wave)
If you want to feel the air, wave your hands! (wave wave)
You cannot see it, but it's there,
Moving gently through the air,
If you want to feel the air, wave your hands! (wave wave)"

Do the motions: wave hands, blow air, fan face

Wrap-Up Circle (2 min)

Ask Students:

  • "Is air real?" (Yes!)
  • "Can we see air?" (No, but we can feel it)
  • "Does air take up space?" (Yes! We caught it in our bags!)

Key Takeaway

Air is real! We cannot see it, but we can catch it, feel it, and blow bubbles with it. Air takes up space all around us.

Teacher Tips

Safety Note

Remind students not to drink the bubble water! Straws are for blowing only.

Extension

Blow up balloons and let students feel how air fills them up and pushes them round.

← Unit Overview Lesson 2: Air is Everywhere →