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Air Resistance KS2

Teach your KS2 class about air resistance with this ready-to-teach lesson. The included slideshow presentation starts by asking your Year 5 children to consider what they already know about air resistance. It then goes through an explanation of what air resistance is and explores some examples of air resistance in action. During their independent learning, there are two different practical air resistance experiments they can plan, carry out and evaluate.

This air resistance KS2 Science lesson includes:

  • a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities
  • a slideshow for the teaching input
  • a range of printable resources for independent learning activities

This lesson is part of our Forces in Action for Year 5.

Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack

£2.99

Scroll through the pictures for a preview of the lesson's resources:

Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - slideshow example 1
Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - slideshow example 2
Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - slideshow example 3
Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - slideshow example 4
Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - slideshow example 5
Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - worksheet example 1
Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - worksheet example 2
Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - worksheet example 3
Air Resistance KS2 Lesson Pack - lesson plan example

Air Resistance

What is air resistance?

Air resistance is a force that slows something down when it moves through the air. Air is made up of tiny particles that you can't see but that are all around us. When something moves, the air particles push against it. The faster something moves through the air, the stronger the air resistance will be.

What is an example of air resistance?

Imagine you are riding your bike really quickly down a hill. You can feel the wind blowing in your face much faster than if you aren't moving. That's air resistance; it's the air pushing against you as you move quickly through it. It's the same feeling as when you're riding on a rollercoaster and the wind blows in your face, or when you're walking down the road on a very windy day, making walking much more difficult.

Air resistance on a bicycle

Air resistance is the air you can feel when you're riding your bike really quickly!

What can air resistance be used for?

There are lots of ways in which humans can use air resistance:

Parachutes: Parachutes use air resistance to slow people down when jumping out of a plane. Parachutes use very large, light fabric to catch a lot of air. The air resistance then acts against the large surface slowing the descent of the person down so that they can land safely.

Wings: Wings use air resistance to help keep objects in the air. The wings of birds are designed to work with air resistance so that they can glide through the air. The wings of planes are designed in the same way.

Kites: Air resistance is what help keep kites in the air. Without air resistance, the kids would fall straight to the ground.

Air resistance allows kites to fly in the air

Air resistance is the force that keeps kites flying in the air.

When should children learn about air resistance?

Teaching children about the force of air resistance is a statutory requirement of the National Curriculum for KS2 children in Year 5 under the 'Forces' strand. It states that children should:

  • identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces