#2875. Filtering Air

Science, level: Middle
Posted Tue Jun 3 08:48:46 PDT 2003 by Molly (gecko2399@aol.com).
Oswego, NY
Materials Required: Glue, string, twine,Petroleum Jelly,Clear, Empty soda bottle, Straw, Popsicle Stick, Black Pepper,
Activity Time: 45 minutes
Concepts Taught: Air before the Lungs

Anticipatory Set
Teacher will begin class by having them read along as she reads an excerpt from an article that discusses about "snots." Students will highlight parts of the reading that pertain to how the respiratory system prevents foreign invaders.

Procedure
Air Filters
1.Teacher will perform a demonstration of how filters work together to prevent foreign invaders.
a.Before class, the teacher created a filter using an empty container that was filled with twine, string, and petroleum jelly to signify the three main filters.
b.Three students will be asked to volunteer to describe the three sections of the filter to the class.
c.Teacher will explain each section and as for predictions on what will happen when the teacher blows black pepper flakes into the tube.
d.Teacher will perform experiment and show students the results.
2.Students will discuss the three main filters in the respiratory system( nose hairs, mucus, cilia).
3.Students will draw the three types of filters on a drawing of a head.
4.Teacher will relate information to sneezing and coughing.
Warm, Moist Air
1.Teacher will ask students write down characteristics of the air that is found in our mouth to our lungs.
2.Teacher will have students breath on hand and describe how it feels.
3.Teacher will have students breath on a mirror and describe what happens.
4.Class will discuss answers and explain where each characteristic comes from.

Filter Tube: Take a clear container, such as an empty bubble container. Cut the bottom off and save for later. With the remaining container, cut into three sections. Place twine in the first section using hot glue. This will signify the nose hairs. Take the petroleum jelly and place it into the second section. This will signify the mucus. Take the string and glue it onto the the last section. Make sure that you make the string and twine dense so that it catches the black pepper.
I had my students describe the different sections. After they had made their prediction, I place some Petroleum jelly at the bottom section that was previously cut off. This will catch any of the remaining black pepper.

The article I used from a fun book called "Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty" by Joy Masoff.(Workman Publishing, New York: 2000.)