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outcomes
 Lead students to think about what air on Earth is
made up of.
 Explain to students that air is made up of these
gases – nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, noble
gases and water vapour.

Concept Development
 Provide each student with a worksheet showing
the following:

Pie Chart: Percentage composition of air in a particular

location

Column1
Carbon Dioxide Noble Gases Water Vapour
0% 1% 1%
Oxygen
20%

Nitrogen
78%

Q&A
- Is air an element, a compound or a mixture ? Explain
(Mixture. Air contains both elements and compounds
refer to Year 7 Textbook Chapter 3 , Section 3.4 Elements, Compounds
that are not chemically combined.) and Mixtures
- What percentage of air is nitrogen? ( 78%)
 - What percentage of air is oxygen? (20%)
Learning Suggested instructional strategies / activities Resources and comments
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- What percentage of air is carbon dioxide? (0.03%)
- What other gases are present in air? (Noble gases
and water vapour)
- What are the noble gases found in air? (Argon, neon,
xenon, helium, radon and krypton)
-
- Is the air composition shown in the pie chart the
same in the different parts of the world? (Air highlight: composition of air varies depending on the location, light
compositon is very similar in different parts of the intensity, humidity, temperature and so on.
world. Standard dry air contains mainly nitrogen
(about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%). Other gases in
standard dry air include noble gases (about 1%) and
a small amount of carbon dioxide (about 0.03%).
Depending on the conditions of the environment, the
percentage of water vapour in air can vary between
0% and 5%)

- Compare the percentages of gases in the pie chart

with the ones in the textbook and lead the discussion
to the variation of air composition according to the
location, for example, a very low percentage of
water vapour in the desert compared to a higher
percentage of water vapour in the rainforest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUVX5rg1E0I

- Show students a video clip on the presence of oxygen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PmD2GWB4u4&feature=youtu.be

in the air

- Provide students with a list of questions associated

with the video clip.

i. Name the organisms that produce oxygen. (Plants)

ii. Name the process that produces oxygen (
Photosynthesis)
ot Suggested instructional strategies / activities Resources and comments

- How it the composition of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air

kept constant? (Oxygen produced by plants during
photosynthesis is taken in by living things during respiration.
Carbon dioxide produced by living things during respiration is
taken in by plants during photosynthesis.)

Activity for investigating combustion and showing the presence of

oxygen in air Oxygen is a component of air that is required for
 Stick a candle onto the bottom of a water trough with melted combustion.
wax. Fill the trough with water such that the water level is
1
approximately the height of the candle.
3
 Light the candle and place a gas jar over the burning candle.
 Discuss the following:
o Why does the candle flame go out? (Oxygen is needed
for combustion. The candle flame extinguishes when
the oxygen in the gas jar is used up.)
o What can you conclude from this experiment? (Oxygen
is a component of air that is required for combustion.
Once oxygen is used up, combustion stops)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZQNKMP3yCU
Activity for observing the presence of water vapour in air
 Place a few ice cubes in a beaker and observe the condensation
that takes place on the external surface of the beaker.
 Engage students in discussion in relation to air and water vapour
by asking the following questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQWtZd8jM3g
o Where does the water on the external surface of the
beaker come from? (Water vapour in the air condenses
into water droplets on the cold external surface of the
beaker.)
o What can you conclude about the presence of water
vapour in the air? (Air contains water vapour)

 Use cobalt chloride paper to test for the presence of water on

the external surface of the beaker.
  Alternatively, use cobalt chloride paper to test for the presence
of water vapour in the air.
Suggested instructional strategies / activities Resources and comments
Learning
outcomes
Learning
Suggested instructional strategies / activities Resources and comments
outcomes
 Suggested instructional strategies / activities Resources and comments
Learning
outcomes