Geography Functional Chapter 1 Experiments 8A and 8B Air Occupies Space

Age

6-9.

Materials

• Experiment 8A: a glass bowl, a small bottle, a stopper, and water
• Experiment 8B: a funnel, pitcher of water, rubber stopper with an opening, and a bottle

Preparation

• Teacher should have conducted the First Great Lesson: God Who Has No Hands/The Universe Story before beginning these experiments.

• Chapter 1 of Functional Geography is Formation of the Earth and includes Impressionistic Charts 1-6

• Functional geography curriculum focuses on a presentation of the world in terms of the active and functioning processes affecting the earth as a planet in the sun's family. Geography examines the social and cultural contexts of the world while functional geography explores the geological and astronomical contexts of the earth in the universe.

• When we teach functional geography to the child, we are both performing and recording with words and pictures the forces affecting our planet earth.

• Functional Geography is presented to the child as an experiment which isolates a concept and then an impressionistic chart which makes a visual impression.

Presentation

Experiments 8A and 8B are a part of the LAYERS OF THE EARTH experiments. What is air?

Experiment 8A: Air Occupies Space 1. Take the small bottle and cork it. 2. Fill the bowl with water.3. Dip the bottle under the water and slowly take off the stopper.

Record your observation:

Statement: (Air Occupies space, and air rises. When the small bottle is tilted upward under water and uncorked, the air bubbles rise to the water surface.)

Experiment 8B: Air Occupies Space 1. Thread the funnel through the stopper. 2. Plug the bottle with the stopper. 3. Pour the water quickly into the funnel. Attention: The funnel must always remain full of water.

Record your observation:

Statement:

(Air occupies space inside the bottle, preventing the water from entering the bottle.)

CLASSIFIED NOMENCLATURE:

IMPRESSIONISTIC CHART

Points Of Interest

The classified nomenclature is usually presented before the impressionistic charts and after the experiments, but can also be parallel to the charts. Since the classified nomenclature can be very long, it is not necessary to present all of the classified nomenclature before beginning the charts.

Purpose

• The Montessori methodology first gives the concept of the formation of the earth through experiments. These experiments are the key to giving the child the concrete verification that the universe is not a static universe, but one in which elements are in motion.
  

Variation

• Usually, the teacher presents the experiment first, and the the child does it independently using the direction card for directions. With the older children, the experiments are presented in a more scientific way.

• TECHNICAL ASPECT: Air Occupies Space

The universe is made of energy and matter. The number of substances which compse matter is infinite. The substances which compse matter are either simple or compound:

To be added