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Science Linkages in the Community
1st Science Column from the Science Co-Explorer TEAM

AIR

Have you ever thought about how we can make air "work"?
Here's a challenge for you…CAN YOU LIFT A BOOK WITH AIR?

You'll need:

• Books of varying sizes
• Zip-type sandwich bags
• Drinking straws
• Flat surface

The italic print indicates questions you might want to ask your class when working on this exploration.

Place the straw halfway in the bag. Zip the bag tightly around the straw. Blow into the straw.

How many puffs do you think it will take to blow up the bag?
Compare the predictions to the amount of actual puffs.

At this point, give the children time to explore inflating and deflating the bag. Talk with the children about what they are doing.

How do you feel while when you're inflating the bag?
What do you feel when the bag deflates?
Does the bag remind you of something else?

Now, with the straw locked in, place the bag on the edge of a table with the straw facing you. Place a book on top of the bag. Blow into the straw again.

What happens to the book? Why?
Can you think of a new way to lift a book?
What else would you like to lift with air?

To extend the activity, change one of the variables…

• Place books of different sizes on the deflated bag
• Try straws of varying diameters and flexibility
• Change the size of the bag

This variation of the activity provides an opportunity for the children to predict whether or not the book will be lifted. When changing a variable, ask the students if they think the book will be lifted. Ask how many books they think they can lift.

If you have a scale available, chart the weight of the books you can lift with the different sized bags.

Does the size of the straw, bag, or book affect the outcome?
In what way(s)?