Keeping the kiddos entertained during these days of summer can create pressure. But the fact is, we are all under pressure, 14.7 pounds per square inch, to be exact! Yes, air is all around us and air pressure is an important science concept to learn about!

Atmospheric pressure is an indicator of weather. When a low-pressure system moves in, it usually leads to cloudiness, wind, and precipitation. High-pressure systems usually lead to fair, calm weather.

Have you ever made a trip to the mountains? If your ears popped, it was because they were trying to balance the pressure between the outside and inside of your ear. Atmospheric pressure drops as altitude increases. The atmospheric pressure on Denali, Alaska, is about half that of Honolulu, Hawaii. Honolulu is a city at sea level. Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is the highest peak in North America. 

If you’ve flown on an airplane, the aircraft created artificial pressure in the cabin so you remain comfortable while flying high in the sky.

Now that you’ve paused to think about how important air pressure really is, read the Quirkles book Pressure Pete and then check out Pressure Pete’s Upside Down Water Bottle to learn more. Or try Pressure Pete's Vacuum and watch how the balloon is sucked into a wide-mouthed jar.

Finally, here's a reminder that you can read Pressure Pete, or any of the other Quirkles books, in Spanish if you subscribe to our  Spanish e-book library. Whether it’s Pressure Pete or Pedro Presión, there’s plenty to learn about air pressure!

The days are warm and long and we spend more time outside.  It also offers the opportunity to try some fun science activities at home or school that just lend themselves to the days of summer and the occasional mess that’s better outdoors! Watch our video as Rowan enjoys a root beer float and learns about the states of matter, too. Then with the leftover root beer, try Gilbert’s Gas to see if all the carbon dioxide gas escaped when making the float.

 The Quirkles offer many more fun summer science activities too. Here’s a few other ideas in other Quirkles books:

Andy Acid: Talk about acids and bases then demonstrate with the lovely hydrangea plant. How can you make the flowers pink or blue?

Jazzy Jet:  Make paper airplanes of different sizes and shapes and measure the distance they fly. What makes them aerodynamic?

Kitchen Chemistry Kal: Once something a little more ambitious than root beer floats? Make homemade ice cream! The easy recipe is in the book.

Mary Motion: Learn about centrifugal motion with Mary Motion’s Spinning Bucket.  Be careful, you might get wet! (More Quirkles Experiments)

Vinnie Volcano: Vinnie’s Exploding Soda Volcano uses dry ice (adult supervision required) and a two liter bottle of soda to make an oozing outdoor volcano.

But that’s not all. Try all 52 Quirkles experiments (or the 52 additional ones in More Quirkles Experiments).  Or check out our other fun science series The Fuddlebrook School Science Series and join Herman Tweed, Mrs. Wigglebum and the gang (www.fuddlebrook.com) for even more fun science ideas.  Yes, make this a science summer!

Feel like you’re under pressure? Well, you are—14.7 pounds per square inch to be exact. Air is all around us and air pressure is an important science concept!

How about some fun science activities that demonstrate states of matter? But the best part? After learning about solids, liquids, and gases, you can eat this tasty treat!