Lesson 1: Exploring pneumatics
Investigating and exploring different pneumatic systems.
Learning objective
To explore how pneumatic systems create movement within mechanisms.
Success criteria
I can define a mechanism as a system of parts working together to create movement.
I can recall that a pneumatic system can be used as part of a mechanism.
I can identify pneumatic systems in a range of everyday objects.
I can describe how a pneumatic system forces air over a distance to create movement.
Before the lesson
Watch
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Watch
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Lesson plan
Before starting this unit, ensure that the children can recall:
Mechanisms are a collection of moving parts that work together to cause movement.
Before starting this unit, ensure that the children can recall:
Mechanisms are a collection of moving parts that work together to cause movement.
Optional: provide each child with a copy of the Knowledge catcher (see link: Assessment—D&T Y3: Mechanical systems: Pneumatic toys) and ask them to complete it to the best of their ability. Explain that at the end of the unit, they will revisit it, adding more information in a different colour.
Organise the children into groups of four and hand out a tray of equipment for the Attention grabber challenges (see Have ready). Ask them to complete the following challenges without using their mouths.
Book challenge
Ask the children if lifting the book using the equipment but without touching it is possible. Offer the children the chance to choose a piece of equipment to put under the book to help with the challenge and guide them to choose either the balloon or the sandwich bag.
Allow them time to attempt to lift the book and take feedback. Demonstrate to the class what happens when the bag or balloon is inflated and deflated (see Teacher video: Exploring pneumatics).
Teabox challenge
Ask the children to think of a way of using the equipment to lift the lid of the box. Allow them time to use the equipment and take inspiration from the inflated balloon in the previous challenge. Referring to the Teacher video: Exploring Pneumatics,demonstrate a simple pneumatic system. Add further challenge by asking the children to raise and lower the lid of the box in a controlled way, allowing air to pass in and out of the balloon. Ensure that children are not doing this with air from their mouths.
Explain to the class that these are examples of pneumaticsystems - they push air over a distance to create movement as a type of mechanism.
Ask the children:
Optional: provide each child with a copy of the Knowledge catcher (see link: Assessment—D&T Y3: Mechanical systems: Pneumatic toys) and ask them to complete it to the best of their ability. Explain that at the end of the unit, they will revisit it, adding more information in a different colour.
Organise the children into groups of four and hand out a tray of equipment for the Attention grabber challenges (see Have ready). Ask them to complete the following challenges without using their mouths.
Book challenge
Ask the children if lifting the book using the equipment but without touching it is possible. Offer the children the chance to choose a piece of equipment to put under the book to help with the challenge and guide them to choose either the balloon or the sandwich bag.
Allow them time to attempt to lift the book and take feedback. Demonstrate to the class what happens when the bag or balloon is inflated and deflated (see Teacher video: Exploring pneumatics).
Teabox challenge
Ask the children to think of a way of using the equipment to lift the lid of the box. Allow them time to use the equipment and take inspiration from the inflated balloon in the previous challenge. Referring to the Teacher video: Exploring Pneumatics,demonstrate a simple pneumatic system. Add further challenge by asking the children to raise and lower the lid of the box in a controlled way, allowing air to pass in and out of the balloon. Ensure that children are not doing this with air from their mouths.
Explain to the class that these are examples of pneumaticsystems - they push air over a distance to create movement as a type of mechanism.
Ask the children:
- How was air used to cause movement in the mechanisms just used? (The first used air to fill a balloon to push the book upwards; the second used air to fill a balloon to push on the lid; by removing the air, the balloon deflated and was no longer pushing on the lid so it came back down again.)
Hand out the Activity: Exploring pneumatics (one set pre-cut per group of four), which shows various ways pneumatics have been used throughout history. Ask the children to discuss how air has been used to create movement.
Ask the children to summarise on paper or in books one example of pneumatics they have observed or tried in the lesson and explain how air has caused movement. Purposely be vague about summarising this information so the children can choose whether to use writing, diagrams or both.
Take feedback and ask the children to share their examples and explanations. Note: save this summary and explanation for the next lesson.
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In this unit
Assessment – D&T Y3 : Mechanical systems: Pneumatic toys
- Current lesson
Lesson 1: Exploring pneumatics
Lesson 2: Drawing diagrams
Lesson 3: Designing a pneumatic toy
Lesson 4: Making a pneumatic toy
Lesson 5: Finishing the toy
