Air in Space — Air Occupies Space and Exerts Pressure – Primary 1 Basic Science Lesson Note

TOPIC: Air in Space

SUBTOPIC: Demonstrating that Air Occupies Space and Exerts Pressure

CLASS: Primary 1

DATE: ___________________________

PERIOD: _________________________

DURATION: 40 minutes

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Demonstrate that air occupies space.
2. Show that air exerts pressure.
3. Explain in simple terms how air fills empty spaces around us.

KEY VOCABULARY WORDS

Space, Pressure, Fill, Empty, Balloon, Bottle, Air, Push.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

• Balloons
• Plastic cups or bottles
• Bowl of water
• Pictures/charts showing air in objects (e.g., tyres, balloons)
• Polythene bags

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY

1. The teacher displays a deflated balloon and asks: “What happens when I blow air into this balloon?”
2. Pupils respond: “It becomes big!”
3. The teacher asks: “What filled the balloon?”
4. Pupils answer: “Air!”
5. The teacher then explains that air occupies space — that means it fills any empty place where it enters.

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

Air Occupies Space

Air takes up space wherever it is found.

When we blow air into a balloon, it fills the balloon.

When we push a cup upside down into water, the air inside stops water from entering fully.

This shows that air occupies space.

 Simple Experiment 1:

• Take an empty plastic bottle and try to put it into water with the mouth facing down.
• You will see bubbles coming out.
• The bubbles show that air is inside the bottle, taking up space.

(Diagram: Bottle in water showing bubbles escaping)

Air Exerts Pressure

Air can push things; this is called air pressure.

When we blow air into a balloon, it pushes the walls of the balloon and makes it stretch.

Air pressure helps kites to fly and tyres to move vehicles.

 Simple Experiment 2:

• Blow air into a balloon.
• Release it without tying the end.
• Watch the balloon fly around.
• It moves because air pressure pushes it.

(Illustration: Balloon flying around when air escapes)

Summary

CLASS EXERCISE 1

Fill in the blanks:

1. Air takes up _______.
2. When you blow a balloon, air fills the _______.
3. Air can push things. This is called air _______.
4. When we turn a cup upside down in water, bubbles show there is _______ inside.
5. We cannot see air, but it is _______ us.

CLASS EXERCISE 2

Match the pictures (or items) to what air does:

ASSIGNMENT (Multiple-Choice Questions)

Choose the correct answer and write the letter of the correct option.

1. Air takes up _______. (a) Space (b) Time (c) Colour (d) Shape)
2. When you blow a balloon, it becomes _______. (a) Empty (b) Bigger (c) Smaller (d) Flat)
3. The bubbles from a cup in water show that there is _______. (a) Stone (b) Air (c) Sand (d) Water)
4. When air pushes something, we say air exerts _______. (a) Colour (b) Pressure (c) Shape (d) Weight)
5. Air is found _______. (a) Only in bottles (b) Everywhere (c) In the sea only (d) In food)