Science / EVS -- Class 3

Topic: Air Around Us
Name: ____________________________Class: 3Date: ________________
Learning Objectives
Let Us Begin!

Can you see air? No! Can you hold air in your hands? No! But when you blow up a balloon, what fills it up? Air!

Air is all around us. We cannot see it, taste it, or smell it, but we can feel it when the wind blows. Without air, no living thing can survive.

Understanding Air

Air is Everywhere

Air fills every empty space around us -- inside our homes, in our classrooms, in the playground, and even inside an empty glass. There is air inside a football, inside a tyre, and inside a packet of chips.

Air Takes Up Space

When you blow air into a balloon, the balloon gets bigger. This shows that air takes up space. If you push an empty glass upside down into a bucket of water, the water does not go all the way up because air inside the glass takes up space.

Think about it: When you blow into a straw placed in a glass of water, you see bubbles. Those bubbles are air coming out!

Uses of Air

UseHow Air Helps
BreathingAll living things need air to breathe and stay alive
Drying clothesAir helps wet clothes dry on a clothesline
Flying kitesWind (moving air) lifts kites into the sky during Makar Sankranti
Wind energyWindmills use moving air to make electricity (seen in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu)
BurningFire needs air to burn; without air, a candle goes out
Sailing boatsWind pushes the sails of boats in Kerala's backwaters

Wind is Moving Air

When air moves from one place to another, we call it wind. A gentle wind is called a breeze. A very strong wind is called a storm. Wind helps in spreading seeds, turning windmills, and drying clothes.

Key Words and Meanings
WordMeaning
AirA mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth
WindAir that is moving
BreezeA gentle, light wind
OxygenThe gas in air that living things need to breathe
PollutionWhen harmful things mix with air and make it dirty

Science / EVS -- Class 3 (continued)

Topic: Air Around Us -- Clean Air and Practice
We Need Clean Air

Dirty air is called polluted air. Smoke from vehicles, factories, and burning garbage makes the air dirty. Polluted air can make us sick -- it causes coughing, breathing problems, and diseases.

Simple Ways to Keep Air Clean:

Example 1: Air Takes Up Space

Raju blew air into a flat football. The football became round and firm. This shows that air takes up space inside the football.

Example 2: Uses of Wind

During Makar Sankranti in Gujarat, children fly kites. The wind lifts the kites high into the sky. Without wind (moving air), kites cannot fly.

Key Points to Remember
Practice Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks

  1. Air is present around us.
  2. Moving air is called .
  3. When we blow air into a balloon, it shows that air takes up .
  4. All living things need to breathe.
  5. give us clean oxygen.

B. True or False

  1. We can see air with our eyes.
  2. Air does not take up any space.
  3. Wind helps in drying clothes.
  4. Burning garbage keeps the air clean.
  5. Planting trees helps keep the air clean.

C. Multiple Choice Questions

  1. What is wind?
    (a) Still air(b) Moving air(c) Hot water(d) Sunlight
  2. Which of these is a use of air?
    (a) Cooking food(b) Writing a letter(c) Flying a kite(d) Reading a book
  3. What makes air dirty?
    (a) Planting trees(b) Riding a bicycle(c) Smoke from vehicles(d) Watering plants

D. Answer in One Sentence

  1. How can you prove that air takes up space?
  2. Write two ways to keep the air clean.
Fun Activity -- Feel the Air

Try these at home and write what you observed:

1. Wave a notebook near your face. What do you feel? ______________________________

2. Blow air into a polythene bag and tie it. Press it gently. What happens? ______________________________

3. Put a straw in a glass of water and blow. What do you see? ______________________________