Air & Water: Feeling the Pressure

Recently, StudioLab teacher Ms. Ariel led Ms. Perez' first grade class in hands-on investigations using syringe pumps, tubes, Styrofoam and tubs of water to observe the effects of air pressure and suction, and explore the properties of air and water.

First, Ariel described and modeled the session's two activities, and invited predictions and hypotheses from the students.

Ariel explained that students would take turns working in pairs in two stations.  In the dry station, the class would experiment with two syringe pumps joined by plastic tubing.  Ariel suggested they try different connections and techniques, to see what sounds and effects might be created with the materials.

 In the second station, students would discover what happens when a cylinder is submerged in water, with and without a small piece of Styrofoam.  As Ariel demonstrated, and bubbles escaped,  she asked the class to think about what made the bubbles, and why the Styrofoam sometimes floated, and sometimes seemed pushed to the bottom, depending upon how the cylinder was positioned.

Next it was the students' turn...

Jeffrey: "It sucks up Paloma's cheek!"

Paloma: "It felt like a vacuum cleaner!"

Jeffrey: "It sucked her skin in, and when we push, it goes back in."

Parker: "I'm wondering if the air would push something else out."

Ms. Perez works alongside her students.

 

These hands-on explorations of the properties of liquids and gasses supports the California state standards for 1st grade Science, in the areas of Physical Sciences, Investigation and Experimentation.

For more on Walgrove's Studio Lab Program, go to http://publicschoolstudio.blogspot.com/p/faq.html.