Air Pressure Curriculum

Section 1—Reinforcement Activities

Going to Great Heights

This activity (PDF 21 KB) enables students to see for themselves that water will not rise higher than approximately 32 ft. It is a reconstruction of the historical puzzle that led to the discovery of air pressure and its role in pumps and siphons.

Reasoning About Non-obvious Causes

This activity sheet (PDF 13 KB) asks students to analyze obvious and non-obvious causes in everyday examples that are not air pressure-related. It reinforces the concepts in the lessons in everyday contexts.

Is Air Pressure Involved?

This activity (PDF 19 KB) provides a list of situations that may involve air pressure in some way as a non-obvious cause of an outcome. Students are asked to consider if and how air pressure might be involved, and to revisit the list throughout the unit as they learn more about how to answer the questions. A teacher resource sheet that explains the role of air pressure in each situation follows.