WINDMILL MATH: Have students put together a paper mill windmill. The teacher supplies a simple square of paper that has been cut half way along each diagonal towards the center. Have the children write one number on each of the four corners (i.e. 1-4). help students fold over the alternate points and secure at the center with a small piece of tape. Attach to a pencil with a thumb tack. When they blow on the windmill the number that is on top will either be added or taken away from the number that the teacher supplies.

LIVING AIR: Have the class think of things that need air to live. Together count the number of items and make a simple chart under the following categories: people, animals, plants, and fish. The children can define people: (i.e. fireman, policeman, banker, fisherman, etc..,) the animals: (i.e. cows, dogs, horses, cats, sheep, etc..,) the plants: (i.e. pine tress, ferns, daisies, grass, etc..,) and the fish: (i.e. porpoises, dolphins, whales, trout, etc..,).

Have students collect a group of assorted materials that they think may be able to float in air, such as; cotton, dandelion seeds, hair, etc.. Have the students make a list of their objects and put a check mark next to the items that could float. Then have them count how many could float and how many could not float.

HUFF AND PUFF: Reading the classic "Three Little Pigs" have the students play "Huff and Puff. " In this game the students blow on an object counting how many times they have to blow the object to make it move three feet. When the students have "huffed and puffed" on the various objects have them write the results down on a chart.

WONDERFUL WANDS: Provide a variety of objects for use as bubble wands. Large buttons, beads, slotted serving spoons, funnels, bottomless paper cups, strawberry baskets, and bent pipe cleaners. Ask the children to predict which objects will produce small bubbles and which will produce large ones. Encourage them to try all of the wands to test their predictions. Have them count to see how many of their predictions were right.

PUFF A GOAL: Tape a container to each end of a table. The children stand at opposite ends of the table to try and "huff and puff" a ping pong ball into the opponent's container. Score can be kept with tally marks or numeral cards.

PIG HUNT: After reading "The Three Little Pigs" to the class, cut the bottoms of three small milk cartons. Cover the cartons to represent the pigs' houses. Ask the children to place the houses in the correct sequence. While they cover their eyes, hide a small plastic pig or wolf under one of the cartons. The children guess where the animal is hiding by responding with the ordinals - first, second or third. After they have stated their guess have the students blow the house down while counting to ten.

BLOW A "B" PUFF A "P": Place a number line on the floor. Have the children take turns blowing a ping pong ball down the strip. Encourage them to move the ball down the strip as far as possible in just one blow, naming the number that the ball last touches.

WEATHER MATH: Supply the air pressure numbers and air temperatures for one week for, the local news to your students. Have them graph the numbers and compare the differences between air pressure and temperatures for that week and how the differences affect our weather.

BROWN BAG TWIST: Give each student two brown bags; one small and one large. Have them blow each of them up and twist the end with a twisty. The student takes a pin and pokes holes into the first inflated bag. Have the student count how many holes he has to poke the bag with before all the air is released. Repeat with the second bag and compare numbers with the first bag, keeping in mind that the bags are different sizes.

UNDER CONTROL: Draw large shapes or numerals on the floor. With the air inside of them, the children blow ping pong balls on the figures, trying to keep the balls on course. Have them write all of the numbers and shapes that they thought were the easiest to follow.

Using air vocabulary create a message that can be decoded using math problems.

LOAD 'EM UP: After reading the story "Tubby and the Lantern" to the children provide ten paper lanterns and a long stick such as a broom handle. Choose one child to be an Ah Mee and another to be his father. As "Ah Mee" holds the stick on his shoulder, "Ah Mee's father" hangs lanterns on the stick. The children count the number of lanterns on the front of "Ah Mee's" stick and the number of lanterns on the back to determine his "load." Have the children state the corresponding addition fact. Continue the activity, creating new "loads" for "Ah Mee."

Variation: To create subtraction problems, the children pretend to be Ah Mee selling his lanterns at the market.

WARM BED: Recall the birthday gift Ah Mee made for Tubby. Ask the children which bunk they think was the warmest and why. Place a thermometer near the floor and another close to the ceiling. After a short time, read the thermometers to compare the temperatures.

MAKE IT ENORMOUS: Score a picture of an air-related object into equal sized squares. Number the squares on the back and cut the grid apart. Give one of the pieces and a large square sheet of paper to each child. Instruct the children to recreate and enlarge the small picture on their big paper. The children then place their large pictures in order, creating an enormous version of the original air-related picture.

WIND TUNNEL: Make a wind tunnel out of several boxes taped together with both ends open. The wind tunnel should be large enough to fit both hands into easily. Before taping the tunnel together make one inch divisions on the floor of the tunnel for measuring the distance that objects move when the current is applied. Have the students make up a ratio of the weight of the object (using a scale) to the distance it moves (in inches) when the fan is turned on. You can also have the students turn on the fan at different speeds to make a mathematical comparison between the force of the air and the distance the object moves. Ideas for objects in the tunnel are: pencil, paper clip, tissue, cotton, balls, barrette, and bottle cap.

SUBMARINE AIR: Have students design their own submarines and calculate how much air will be needed for the crew to live for a week in the submarine.

Using the principals of air make a Venn diagram that explains how the properties of air have similarities.

MAKE IT ENORMOUS: Score a picture of an air-related object, cut it into equal sized squares. On the back of the square put multiplication problems as well as division problems. Have the students solve the problems and then place them in numerical order. Give one of the pieces and a large square sheet of paper to each child. Instruct the children to recreate and enlarge the small picture on their big paper. The children then place their large pictures in numerical order, creating an enormous version of the original air-related picture.

SOW YOUR SEEDS: Help the wind scatter seeds. Using a variety of seeds have the students throw on set of seeds into the air allowing the wind to carry them. Find the farthest seed and measure its distance. Proceed to do this with the rest of the seeds. Have them measure each distance and then create a Venn diagram showing their results.

THE AIR MACHINE: Have the class write a make-believe story together about an Air Machine that can turn air into ice cream.

AIR POETRY: The children can make up a simple poem about air using letter of the word "air". An example would be:

AIR BUBBLE: As an expanded activity with the Air Bubble paintings have the children write a sentence of what they would do in their Air Bubble: (i.e. travel, rest, play, invent). Please see Visual Arts for the Air Bubble painting activity.

OUT OF BREATH: Encourage the children to observe their normal breathing pattern as they sit quietly. Instruct them to jog swiftly in place. After they stop, ask the children to describe how the increased activity affected their breathing. Have them observe how the air that they breath was steady before they went jogging compared to the quick breath that transpired after the jog.

Read to the students the book "The Air Around Us." After completing the book have the students draw a picture of themselves surrounded by air.

Bring in assorted air-related objects, such as empty plastic bottles, straws, a tire, a raft, or other swim toys. Have the children write a little story about what you can do with four of the objects. Have them draw a picture with their air-story book.

AIR ESCAPE: Invite the children to take turns pushing a paper cup, bottom down, into a container of water. Next, invert the cup and have them try again. As the children feel the added force, ask them what is causing it. Poke a hole in the bottom of the cup. Then keep it inverted and lower it into the water. Encourage the children to feel the air push through the hole. Have the children writ a scientific report about what they observed. For Kindergarten children have them draw a scientific report about what they observed.

ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY: Have the students make an illustrated dictionary of words that have links with air and wind. Here are some examples of words: air current, air pressure, airborne, airbrush, air lock, and atmosphere.

HAIKU POETRY: Have students write a Haiku poem about air. A Haiku poem consists of 17 unrhymed syllables organized into 3 lines: Line 1 has 5 syllables, Line 2 has 7 syllables, and Line 3 has 5 syllables.

CREATIVE STORY: Air is fluid, which means it will flow as water (H2O) does. Air hates to be crowded, and when compressed it will try to escape to an area of lower pressure. Air is viscous; it resists movement of any object going through it. Reading the above paragraph have the students write a brief creative paragraph describing how air demonstrates one of the three simple facts stated above.

NEWS STORY: News reporters use five W's to relate information clearly and quickly. In a newspaper, space is limited, so important facts are told first and details are added later. Using the five W's (who, what, where, when and why) write a news story about how air can be viscous. Think of tornadoes, and how forceful they can be. Be creative and descriptive.

EMPTY OR NOT: Show the children an empty plastic bottle. Ask them what is inside the bottle. Squeeze the bottle to let the children feel the air. Challenge them to squeeze the air out of the bottle. Have them write a two paragraph story with picture about where the air went once it left the bottle.

FLOATING ADVENTURES: Instruct the children to close their eyes and imagine they are floating high in the sky. Ask them about where they are and what they see. Have them try to envision flying over different lands. When they have completed the exercise have them write and illustrate a story about where they went and what they saw.

"TUBBY AND THE LANTERN": Read "Tubby and the Lantern" to your students. Have them close their eyes during Ah Mee and Tubby's flight. During this section stop for a while and have the students write a brief summary of what and where they think their journey will take them. Repeat this step a few more times throughout the story and each time have the students write the corresponding chapters as well as a title for the book. By the complete end, the students' will of created a brief synopsis.

ADVENTURE STORY: Take related words such as air pressure, balance, blow, speed, faster, gas, balloons, matter, submerge, oxygen, nitrogen, and space and have the students write an adventure story.

FRISBEE ESSAY: Using Frisbees have the students throw one Frisbee and feel the lift of the air. Afterwards have each student write a short essay on the sensations they experienced when they threw the Frisbee.

WRITE AN ADVERTISEMENT: You have just discovered what you believe to be the best "AIR" ever found anywhere. This air is bottled and fresh. It came from a place where there are no pollutants, this air is very pure. Now, with the brief information given above have the students write an advertisement trying to sell their bottle of air. Have the students present their sales pitch to the class.

WIND RUN: On a windy day have the students run with the wind behind their backs and then run against the wind.

SHAPE POEM: Students can write a "shape" poem about air. First have them list descriptive words and phrases about air. Second have them draw an air bubble shape with a marking pen (make it large enough to fill a good portion of the page). Place a sheet of plain paper (ditto or typing) over the drawing. Fasten the pages together with a paper clip. thirdly have them write the words or phrases following the shape of the object to create the "shape" poem. Remove the top sheet of paper to see the finished poem.

AIRPLANE SCRAPBOOK: Explain to the children that in 1738 a Swiss scientist named Bernoulli discovered that air that is moving can't push as well as air that is still. He did not know that one day his idea would be used to lift airplanes. Have the children cut out pictures of airplanes and put them into a scrapbook. then ask the children to design their own airplane and put their picture in the scrapbook along with the pictures they cut out of the magazines.

Have the students bring in a list of foods chosen from their mothers grocery list. Categorize those foods which have been transported by air. Have the students answer the following questions; Why were these items transported by air? How long did it take?

Have the students make a list of ways air effects their neighborhood. As well as a list of ways to help improve air quality. Example: Plant a tree, Ride a bike or walk.

SAILING VESSELS: Sailing clippers are powered by air currents. Early sailboats had square sails and were blown along by the wind. Later, triangular sails were introduced. When Christopher Columbus sailed to America how many and what type of sails were on his sailing vessels? Have the students also discover how long it took Columbus to sail to America.

On a large map have the students identify the location of their relatives. Have the students map out the destinations between their home and their relatives home. Have them write a brief paragraph telling how air travel can facilitate family relationships.

WINDMILL POWER: The windmill is an ancient source of power. In the year 650, the Persians used windmills to grind corn. By 1200 windmills in Europe pumped water, ground corn, and moved machinery. Today windmills make electricity without producing pollution. Have the students do reports on different types of windmills and their uses around the world today.

WEATHER STATIONS: Since the earliest times, people have been aware of the effects of the change in seasons. People have always recorded the weather. It was often the first item in a diary entry. Have students study the evolution and history of weather stations. Then have them write an essay on the history and different types of weather stations.

Discuss on a panel the reasons why airmail and air freight are central to the international import-export business. Identify specific items that must be imported or exported and show why a balance is essential. Discuss differences in air mail charges from country to country. Prepare a master chart of U.S. air shipments for 10-20 countries in and out - also for foreign products. Ask the students the following questions: What are some exports by air? Why do some countries use aviation a great deal while others use air shipments less often or not at all? Have students check suppositions in encyclopedias and geography books.

FLOATING ADVENTURES: Have the students close their eyes and imagine they are floating high in the sky. Throughout their air floating journey, they must travel to each continent. Have the students write a travel journal about their journey naming each continent the city, and the country. Have them write what oceans they crossed and what life is like in the country.

AIR BUBBLE ART: Have the children draw an Air Bubble. Tell them to make it large enough to paint a picture of themselves inside. (See Language Arts for an added activity that you can have the children do along with this art activity).

WINNIE THE POOH ACTION: Read the story, "Winnie the Pooh and The Blustery Day". Have the children act out the scenes in the story where everything is blown around by the wind. The children can pretend they are the different objects do animals.

MR. BUBBLE PLAY: Have the class make up a play about Mr. Bubble, the Air Man who helps children get out of trees when they get stuck way up high. They can make up simple costumes out of baggy clothes from home and act it out for their parents.

PARACHUTE WIND: Using a parachute have the children pretend that they are the wind. Get them into a very large circle holding the edges of the parachute. Place a lightweight ball in the center of the parachute and have the children move the ball by waving the parachute. The ball will be caught up by the air and move freely.

Play any song that has a smooth rhythm to it. Hand out a variety of scarves to the children. Have them dance around waving their scarves in the air. This will allow them to feel the movement of the air.

WIND BE STILL: As windy music is played, the children "blow" around the room pretending to be the wind. Each time the music is interrupted, the "wind" stops "blowing."

CATCH THE WIND: On a windy, challenge pairs of children to run and catch the wind in large plastic trash bags. Tie the ends closed and invite the children to sit on the air-filled bags or play catch with them.

SAND BLOWING: Ask the children to make a scene or design with glue, on brightly colored construction paper. Then have them blow sand across their paper. Shake off the excess sand.

Variation: Use colored sand on white paper.

PAPER WAVER: Have your students make a paper waver. They will need colored tissue paper, paste, scissors and a piece of construction paper. 1. Cut some strips of colored tissue paper and glue them along the bottom of the sheet of construction paper. 2. Roll the construction paper into a handle ( A plant support stick is useful to start the roll). Glue the end and leave it to dry. 3. Have your students take their waver outside and see if there is a breeze. If it is a still day, have them run with their waver.

NEWS SPOTS: Students can create "News" spots about air and pollution. They can share them on the intercom during daily announcements at school.

Have students make a collage from assorted newspapers and magazines about how air affects our daily lives.

PING PONG PUFF: Place a sheet of paper in a shallow box. Fill small containers with different colors of paint. The children use eyedroppers to drip drops of paint onto the paper. Ask the children to place a ping pond ball in the box and blow it back and forth across the paper to create interesting patterns and designs.

DIRTY AIR: Suggest the children draw a picture of our beautiful world using colored chalk or crayons. Paint with black tempera on the entire surface of a large tray. While the paint is wet, have the children place their drawing face down on the painted tray. The children lift the paper to discover the effect of "dirty air."

Challenge students to design and create their own "Air Machine" using empty paper towel tubes, egg cartons, spools, pipe cleaners, buttons, etc.. Then have the students decide what their "Air Machine" can be used for in our world today.

KITE DAY: Have the students bring kites from home. In class have the students write messages on thin pieces of paper and attach to the tails of the kites. Then go out on a windy day and fly the kites with their "air mail" messages. Have the class make up messages about fantasy lands or magical kingdoms - tell the students to let their imaginations soar!

Using the vocabulary for air have students act out the concepts or words for the principals of air.

DESIGNER AIR: Give each student a 2 liter plastic bottle. Have students draw designer labels for "pure air". Then have them attach the labels and distribute them to the teachers and administrators on campus. This is a creative way for students to make others aware of how important our air is.

PAPER FAN: Design a paper fan. Your students will need a sheet of 81/2 by 14 inch paper, scissors, a ruler, a pencil, glue, a 3/4 inch strip of cardboard, and felt-tip pens.

1. Have them fold the sheet of paper in a zigzag. Use the strip of cardboard to keep the widths even.

2. Then have the students cut the folded paper in half. Glue the 2 pieces together to make a long zigzag. Draw a pencil line 3/4 inch from the bottom edge.

3. Then cut some pieces from one side of the folded paper. Unfold and decorate with felt-tip pens.

4. Now have your students try out their fans on one another. Can they feel the air moving?

BALLOON ART: Have each student draw a picture on a large, flat balloon with a permanent marking pen. Afterwards have the blow up the balloon and attach to a thin circular stick. The picture expands as they blow up the balloon.

ACTION SPOT: Contact a local T.V. Station and seek an opportunity for our students to have an "Action Spot" weekly to act out short skits about ways to save our air and make a safe environment for everyone.

BE A METEOROLOGIST: Make an anemometer (which measures the wind speed). The simplest anemometer works like a pinwheel. The wind pushing against its cups spins the instrument, and the number of turns it makes in a minute is recorded into miles per hour. You can make an anemometer. You will need: tape, 2 plastic straws, a cap from a ball-point pen, 2 ping-pong balls, a crayon or marking pen, glue, a piece of wire 10 inches long, (made from a coat hanger). Use the tape to attach the straws crossways to the tip of the pen cap. Cut each ping-pong ball in half. Color one of the halves. Glue one to each straw as close to the end as possible. Put the wire into the pen cap. You can hold the anemometer in your hand, or attach it to a suitable object out in the open. To measure the wind speed, count the number of times the colored cup passes in front of you in a minute.

KITE STRING PAINTING: Instruct the children to fold a piece of paper in half and place it on a flat surface. Dip a kite string, twice the length of the paper, into paint and lay it inside the folded paper. Press down gently on top of the paper with one hand and pull out the string. The children unfold the paper to see the colorful design.

Variation: Use a clothespin to hold one end of a painted string, dip the string in paint and swirl it on the paper to make designs.

Synopsis:

This well-known classic tells the story of three little pigs and a very hungry wolf. The first and second pigs are "huffed and puffed" out of their homes by the sly wolf. They find refuge in their brother, who wisely built his house out of bricks. As the wolf attempts to enter the sturdy house, he finds he has been outsmarted by the little pigs.

Synopsis:

Filled with majestic paintings and simple poetic text. This book will give children a greater understanding of the role air plays in the weather and in sustaining life on earth.

Synopsis:

This simplistic story tells about a little boy who finds an unusual playmate. Sometimes his playmate tricks Gilberto and makes him sad. Other times it is kind and full of fun. When it gets tired and curls up beside him to rest, Gilberto finds comfort with his playmate, the wind.

Synopsis:

Catching the wind takes you on a journey of the imagination to a place between the earth and the clouds where the wild birds soar. Come along and enjoy this journey.

Synopsis:

This is an endearing story of a friendship shared by five stuffed animals. Bramwell Bear confronts the others with the idea of rescuing their friend Old Bear, who is tucked away in the attic. After many attempts, the animals spy a wooden airplane, a blanket, and some handkerchiefs which they use to successfully complete their rescue mission.

Synopsis:

Earth provides food and shelter, fire warms us; our bodies are made mostly of water; and air gives us the breath of life. In a rich folk-art style Earth, Fire, Water, Air captures not only the majesty of these basic elements but also the inextricable link we share with them.

Synopsis:

This lovable story depicts a special relationship between Little Critter and his grandmother. When spending a day together at the beach, they experience frustration caused by moving air. It moves their beach umbrella toward the sea and blows their kite on top of a sunbather's head. Little Critter soon discovers, however, that air can be helpful when it fills his swim ring and keeps him a float.

Synopsis:

This story is about an enormous paper lantern that a little elephant, Tubby, makes his friend for his birthday. The birthday surprise creates too much hot air and takes Tubby and Ah Mee on an incredible journey in the sky. When the candle goes out and the lantern begins to fall, they are threatened by a ship of pirates. Using the lantern and hot air from a ship's smokestack, they outwit the pirates and float home for a birthday celebration.

Synopsis:

This book offers a variety of activities related to the weather and weather patterns around the world.

Synopsis:

After stowing away in a hot-air balloon, a Siamese cat takes a suspenseful flight across the country.

Synopsis:

A little boy spends many long hours trying to whistle and then delights in his accomplishment.

Synopsis:

A clever verse that portrays a child's perception of the wind.

Synopsis:

This poetic book tells the true story of a sheep, duck, and rooster on their flight in the world's first hot-air balloon.

Synopsis:

This is a fun book for children - quaint and wholesome. It delights the imagination and always tickles ones fancy. In this episode Winnie the Pooh and his friends are "blown" around by the wind.

Synopsis:

This is a beautiful book about air with photographs and text which expresses the loveliness of our elements on planet earth and how it affects our lives.

Synopsis:

A delightful story about the wind and how he got cold and decided that he needed a hat. He not only blew off a hat; in his adventures he got a lot more things. Children will be enthralled with this story.

Synopsis:

A colorful, funfilled book for youngsters. The photographs are lovely and the text is written in such a clear way to promote discussion about the illustrations.

Synopsis:

A sweet story about the wind and who has seen it. The line drawings lend to the simplicity of the story and its timeless treasure of discovery.

Synopsis:

A gentle breeze of a story about wind and how it is always about us. The illustrations lend to the charm of the book and at the end of the book are simple illustrations on how to make a weather vane.

Synopsis:

A fun book for children to discover where air is and where it isn't. There are ways to show where air is and the book does a good job helping youngsters in their discoveries. The illustrations are delightful.

Synopsis:

This is the fun story about the Ostrich who wants to fly. The reader will cheer the Ostrich on in his pursuit of flight. The illustrations are watercolors and adds a dimension to the whole reading experience.

Synopsis:

A great book to read to know all the various reasons a kite flies. The photographs and illustrations are really helpful to the student in understanding the flight dynamics of the kite.

Synopsis:

A wonderfully illustrated book on all that your students will want to know about flying machines. It explores the history of flight from the dreams of flying in ancient Greece, to today's high-tech war planes.

Synopsis:

A great book for students who want to know the step by step actual process to balloon flight. This is the actual trip of a British millionaire who led a team of adventurers. The photographs add to the spark in this book.

Synopsis:

This book is filled with informative details and amusing facts about early flying contraptions, and also brings the reader up to date on some of the latest breakthroughs in flight. Photographic illustrations adds depth along with drawings and step-by-step plans for building your own "flying machine."

Synopsis:

This is a well-illustrated, hands on book for art projects that relate to air.

Synopsis:

This is a very thorough book on how to make your own weather station. It would be a wonderful adventure for a group of students who really want to understand our air patterns, pressures, and the like. There are illustrations and photographs to help in building the weather station.