A series of videos demonstrating various simple, fun practicals and demonstrations that you can use to teach about gases

Each video shows how to carry out the demonstration and explains the science behind it. You don’t need any specialist equipment – all of the demonstrations use things you can buy in a supermarket.

Carbon from a candle demonstration video

Collect carbon soot from a candle to investigate changing materials with your primary students.

Fire extinguisher demonstration video

Put out a fire with a jug of carbon dioxide to demonstrate changing materials, irreversible reactions, and gases to primary students.

Leaky bottle demonstration video

Investigate gases and atmospheric pressure with the Leaky Bottle experiment.

Lava lamp demonstration video

Make a lava lamp to explore mixing liquids and more concepts in primary science.

Freaky hand demonstration video

Make a freaky inflatable hand to demonstrate irreversible reactions to primary students.

Anti gravity bottle demonstration video

Demonstrate the power of atmospheric pressure to make an anti-gravity bottle with primary students.

Sticky cups demonstration video

Demonstrate the expansion and contraction of gases and make a pair of cups stick together.

 

Additional information

From the Catalyst Primary Science series. Presenters: Sue Halliday & Lorelly Wilson.

For more information, you can watch our introduction to the video series. Or you can watch Alan Heaton introduce the background to series, and thank the presenters.

Primary science demonstrations