Real Proof that Air is Just As Real as Water
Materials
5 gallon bucket or bucket more than a foot deep.
Two or three gallons of water
Clear plastic cups
Paper towels
Solid glue
Preparation
Put water in the bucket enough to cover a cup when pushed all the way to the bottom. Have the glue and paper towels close to the bucket for replacement while students take turns.
Procedure
Model how to put the cup in the water by holding it upside down the entire time, especially at the end.
Show them you will put glue in the bottom of the cup. Wad up a paper towel and undo it and stuff it in the cup lightly so that it stays when turned upside down.
Keep the cup upside down. Never turn the cup upright. Push it slowly into the water, and under the water. Lift it straight up. Lift it over your head , still upside down to feel the towel. Students have to verbally say if it’s dry or wet.
After everyone has had a turn, partners talk about what they did for a few minutes. Regroup and share verbally. Write down key words they will want to use later in typically simple sentences. Give students a stem sentence to begin writing in their journals.
We put the _______ in the ____.. (noun)
We put the cup under the ______ . (noun)
It was still _________ . (adjective)
Students should read what they wrote, then read it to three others in the class. Draw and color a picture of what we did.
