Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the logic behind air and atmosphere and how they relate to Earth Science.

Materials and Prep

• No materials needed
• Prior knowledge of basic science concepts

Activities

• Activity 1: Air is Everywhere

Take a walk outside and observe the air around you. Notice how you can't see it, but you can feel it. Discuss with your parent or teacher about why air is important and how it affects our everyday lives.

• Activity 2: Air Pressure Experiment

Take an empty plastic bottle and place a deflated balloon over the mouth. Now, blow into the balloon and observe what happens. Discuss with your parent or teacher why the balloon inflates and how it relates to air pressure.

• Activity 3: The Atmosphere Layers

Using a drawing or diagram, create a visual representation of the layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Label each layer and discuss their characteristics, such as temperature and composition. Talk about how these layers protect us and affect weather patterns.

Third Grade Talking Points

• "Air is all around us, even though we can't see it. It fills up the space and we need it to breathe."
• "When we blow air into a balloon, it inflates because the air pressure inside the balloon is higher than the air pressure outside."
• "The Earth's atmosphere is divided into different layers. The closest layer to the Earth is called the troposphere, where weather occurs. Above that, we have the stratosphere, which contains the ozone layer that protects us from harmful UV rays."
• "The mesosphere and thermosphere are the higher layers of the atmosphere. They are very cold and contain the ionosphere, where auroras happen. Finally, we have the exosphere, which gradually merges with outer space."