AirAroundUs

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

‘Individually we are a drop. Together we are an ocean.’

-Ryunosuke Satoro

Training and Ideation
Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Director Education, M.S.M.S.II
Museum Trust
Coordination
Ms. Aditi Misra, Director Principal, DPS Gurgaon
Ms. Sapna Dhawan, Dean, Student Welfare,
DPS Gurgaon
Subject Expert
Ms Shalini Arora, Headmistress (Middle School),
DPS Gurgaon
Ms Shilpy, TGT Science
Ms Namrata Negi, TGT Science
IT Support
Ms. Priyanka Kochgaway, TGT Computer Science
Art and Graphics
Ms. Madhumita Nandi, HOD Art
Ms. Bhavna Srivastava, Deputy HOD Art
Ms. Meenu Sharma, TGT Art
Language Support
Ms. P Prema, TGT English
Ms. Geeta Mehta, Deputy HOD English

To access the graphic book and
additional interactive digital
content, download the DIKSHA app
from Google Play Store on your
Android smart phone or tablet and
scan the QR code using DIKSHA
app.

CONTENTS

S. NO CONTENT PAGE NUMBER
1 PREFACE 1
2 LEARNING OUTCOMES 2
3 STORY BOARD 3
4 CHARACTERS 4
5 BACKDROPS 5-8
6 INTRODUCTION TO AIR 9-13
7 WIND 14-16
8 DO IT YOURSELF – PIN WHEEL ACTIVITY 17
9 WINDSOCK 18-20
10 AIR IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE 21-24
11 WORD SCRAMBLE 25
12 ATMOSPHERE 29
13 COMPONENTS OF AIR 30-32
14 DUST PARTICLES 33-35
15 OXYGEN IS ESSENTIAL FOR BURNING 36
16 AIR HAS OXYGEN 37-41
17 TRIVIA TIME, LET’S HAVE FUN 42
18 HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DUST PARTICLES 43-44
19 MATCH UP 45
20 PRESENCE OF AIR IN WATER AND SOIL 46-47
21 REPLACEMENT OF OXYGEN IN ATMOSPHERE 48-49
22 USES OF AIR 50-53
23 WORD SEARCH 54
24 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 59
25 SOLUTIONS 60-64
26 GLOSSARY 65
27 BIBLIOGRAPHY 66
28 DIRECTOR PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE 67

DISCLAIMER

This is a work of fiction by Delhi Public School,
Sector 45, Gurgaon. The novel is designed to
motivate young learners, ignite interest and
provide a better understanding of the concept.
It is meant to supplement, not replace the
information in the textbook. The characters in
this graphic novel are fictitious and any
resemblance to names, characters or incidents
is coincidental.

PREFACE

Science generates solutions for everyday life and helps us to answer the
great mysteries of the universe. Science increases our fundamental
knowledge, creates new technology and gives us a better world view. In
other words, Science is one of the most important channels of
knowledge. This graphic novel is an attempt to explore and visualise the
learning ingrained in everyday science.

The graphic novel named ‘Air Around Us’ is an effort to recall the
importance of air in everyone’s life, to enumerate the various
components of air and the function of each component. The story is an
optimum mix of practical and theoretical learning.

This novel, with all its colourful illustrations, interesting puzzles, thought
provoking riddles, aims to ignite curiosity and inquisitiveness among the
students by empowering them to comprehend the core concepts of the
subject and develop a liking for the subject, Science.

We, at DPS Sector 45, Gurgaon, hope that this humble effort on our part
will go a long way in providing opportunities to students to express their
ideas, share their opinions in lively classroom discussions. The process
will make both teaching and learning Science an enjoyable and enriching
experience.

1

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• To understand that air is present
everywhere and is important for life on
Earth.
• To observe that air occupies space and is
made up of various components.
• To find out how oxygen becomes available
to plants and animals living in water and soil.
• To know that plants produce oxygen and
animals cannot live without plants.
• To simulate and stimulate analytical
thinking skills.
• To develop the power of visualisation, a
skill of great relevance in the 21st century.

2

STORYBOARD

Jai and his parents discuss about
the presence of air around us.

In school, Ms Madhu Sharma
explains the existence of air to
the students.

Jai visits his grandparents and
learns about the various
components of air.
Later in school, Jai excitedly
shares his knowledge about air
with his friends. Ms. Madhu
Sharma demonstrates the
presence of oxygen in water and
soil.
Vanshika and Aryan are curious to
know about air and have a talk
about it with their respective
parents. The students are
fascinated by the concept of air.

3

CHARACTERS

Jai-11 years Aryan-Jai’s classmate - 11 years
Mr. Dikshit- Jai’s Father – 38 years Aryan’s Mother-34 years
Mrs. Dikshit- Jai’s Mother-35 years
Jatin – Jai’s uncle (mama)-30 years Vanshika-Jai’s classmate -11 years

Vanshika’s Father-39 years

Jai’s Grandfather-66 years

Jai’s Grandmother-60 years Ms. Madhu Sharma (Science Teacher)-36 years

4

THE BACKDROPS

Dikshit Family’s House

Terrace

Living Room Dining Room
5

Classroom
Airport

Science Laboratory

6

Jai’s Grandparents’ House

Living Room – Jai’s Grandparents’ House

Dining Room– Jai’s Grandparents’ House
7

Living Room – Vanshika’s House

Terrace - Aryan’s House
8

INTRODUCTION TO AIR

Mr. Dikshit and his son Jai are spending time together on a pleasant evening.

Papa, I have Okay Jai, let me
finished reading finish my tea and
a graphic novel. then we will go.

The weather is so pleasant
outside, let’s go to the
terrace and enjoy this
weather.

9

Wow! Papa, the air But Papa, I
is so cool. am not able

to see it.

Jai, nobody can see air.
We can only feel it.

Papa, how and where
can we feel the
presence of air?

10

Mr. Dikshit takes Jai towards the side of the terrace from where a tree is visible.

Jai, see the leaves of the
trees are rustling. This is
because of moving air.
Papa, the clothes on the
clothes stand are swaying.
Is this also due to air?
Yes Jai. It is
indeed due to
movement of
air.

11

Papa now I remember whenever I turn
on the fan, the pages of my open book
begin to flutter because of moving air.

Papa when is Just then Mrs. Dikshit walks in.
mummy going to be
Oh! Both of you are here. I
back from office? had a tough day at work.

She must be
here any
moment.

12

Mother brings a kite and a kite string holder.

I knew that both of you would be
enjoying the pleasant weather. Look
Jai, I have got a kite for you.

Wow You can Come Jai, I
mummy, such make it fly! will show you
a lovely kite! how it flies.

But I don’t know
how to fly a kite.

13

WIND

Father attaches a string to the kite and
takes it to one side of the terrace.

Jai it’s ready.
Come hold the
string holder.

Papa, see the
kite is soaring

high!

Yes, it is
because of the

moving air.

This moving air is
called wind.

14

Father hands over the string of the flying kite
to Jai’s mother.

Jai, you fly the kite while I bring
some snacks for all of us.

Jai come along with your Jai, do you remember
mother. We will make a that we had bought a
firki after having some pinwheel for you during
snacks. the Children’s Day fair
organised in our society
Papa what is firki? last year?

15

Father folds the sides of the paper to make a
firki with pin and stick.

Yes papa, I do Jai, it is also I will show Take this firki Jai,
remember it. called firki. you. move it a little back
and forth and see
how it rotates.

Papa so how are we
going to make a
firki?

Father makes four
cuts on the paper
with a pair of
scissors.

Mummy, see the firki is Jai, as the air Mother picks up the tray, father keeps the
rotating. But why does kite, the string holder and the firki in the
it move? passes through storeroom.
the firki, it
pushes the
blades of the
firki. This

makes it
rotate.

How wonderful the invisible It is getting dark. Let us go
air is! back downstairs.

16

DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) – PIN WHEEL ACTIVITY

STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED:
• Take a newspaper and cut a square piece out of it.
• Using a ruler and a pencil, mark the centre of the

square paper and draw diagonals.
• Use the scissors to cut the diagonal lines that you

just marked on your paper.
• Fold every other point into the centre dot and put

a pushpin through the paper.
• Attach to straw.

17

WINDSOCK

Papa, what is Jai, that is a
that red and wind sock.
white flag like
object?

In the living room, Jai sitting on the couch, Papa, why is it
recalls the time when at the airport he had placed near the
runway?
seen a windsock.

Papa, what does
it do?

Jai, it moves along
with the wind. Hence
it tells the direction of
the wind.

18

Jai, this is done to help
the pilots to plan their
take-off and landing.

No Papa. Please tell
me about it.

Jai, have you
heard about
weather cock?

A weather cock is an instrument
used to show the direction in which
air is moving at that place.

It is usually fitted at the highest
point of a building.

19

Air is present Jai, come let’s have
everywhere. Be it dinner.
the ground or the
top of a building.

Yes mummy.

Jai suddenly stops day dreaming when he hears his mother’s voice.
The Dikshit family enjoys dinner together.

Jai, after dinner you Sure mummy. My teacher also says
should sleep early so that early to bed and early to rise
that you can get up and makes us healthy, wealthy and
be ready on time for wise.
school tomorrow
morning.

20

AIR IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE

Jai and his classmates are sitting in the classroom and just then their Science teacher

Ms. Madhu Sharma enters.

Good morning Good morning my
Ma’am! dear children!

Good morning
Ma’am!

Wow Ma’am! Just yesterday I enjoyed
learning about air in swaying clothes,
rustling leaves, flying kite and rotating firki.

I hope all of you
are excited about
today’s class.

Today we are going
to study about air.

Jai, that sounds very Do you all want
interesting!
to see another
example where
the presence of
air can be
observed?

21

Yes ma’am! That will be so Madhu ma’am takes a tub, fills it with water
exciting. from the tap. She picks up an empty bottle

All of them go to the Science Lab. and keeps it near the tub.

Jai, come take
this empty
bottle and fill
it with water
from the tub
by turning it
upside down.

Jai pushes the empty plastic bottle into the filled Ma’am may I also try?
tub upside down.

Ma’am water is not
entering the bottle.

Sure Vanshika.

Vanshika pushes the empty plastic bottle into the Ma’am why When the
filled tub by slightly tilting it. did the bottle was
water enter tilted slightly,
Maam see the water is the bottle did you observe
now entering the anything?
bottle. after tilting
it?

Excellent Vanshika!

22

Yes ma’am, I saw Ma’am, I also Jai, can you guess
bubbles coming out of heard a bubbly what was in the
the bottle. sound. bottle?

Ma’am it was air! Yes Jai, you are So ma’am the water could not enter
absolutely right. the bottle when it was pushed in an
inverted position as there was no
space for air to escape.

It was filled completely Yes Aryan, you are
with air even when it was right.
turned upside down.
Ma’am, I inferred that air
When Vanshika tilted the bottle, the air occupies space and is present
came out in the form of bubbles and everywhere around us.
water filled up the space that was
earlier occupied by air.

Yes Jai. So Vanshika, tell us
what did you infer from this
activity?

23

Very good children!

Thank you ma’am! It
was a very interesting
class.

Another feature Now let’s get
of air is that it is back to the
transparent, we class.
can see through
it. Air doesn’t
have any colour.

Children you have a long Sure ma’am.

weekend ahead. During
this time, you select a
topic for your science
project and start with your
research.

Students go back home after school.

24

WORD SCRAMBLE

Unscramble these words.

1. RAI ___

2. LSNURITG ________

3. LUTEFTR _______

4. DWIN ____

5. IFRKI _____

6. WEETHAR _______

7. ECSAP _____

25

Even I wish to meet
my parents during
this long weekend.

Papa, I have my holidays,
so can we go to Nani’s
house?

Jai, it’s a good idea. It will be great Papa, I hope mama would have
fun to visit your Nani’s house in come back from his trekking trip. I
Dehradun. am so eager to know about his
trekking experience.

Sure Jai, we will Yipee! I’m so happy.
leave tomorrow
morning for
Dehradun.

26

I have kept the luggage in
the boot of the car and
locked the house. Let’s go
now.

Dikshit family reaches Dehradun after a drive of I am so happy to see
almost 5 hours. you mama. When did
you return from your
Hello trekking trip?
Mama!

Hello Hi Jatin! I returned
everyone! Same here. last night,
Good to Jai.
see you all.
God bless
God bless you all!
you all!

Namaste Papa
Mummy!

27

How are your
studies going
on Jai?

Fine Nanu.

Come on Thank you Nani. Mama, please show
everyone, let’s This is so me the pictures of
have some refreshing and your trekking trip.
snacks. Jai, I healthy too!

have got milk
for you. Take it
dear.

Mr. Jatin brings his pen drive, attaches it

to the TV and starts showing his pictures.

Sure Jai, I had saved the
pictures in a pen drive. I will
just get it.

28

Wow! Amazing. mama which ATMOSPHERE Oxygen
place is this? cylinders! What
These cylinders are for?
oxygen cylinders.

Jai ,these are
Himalayan
mountains.

Mama, why are the
mountaineers carrying
cylinders on their back?

To breathe properly as there
is deficiency of oxygen at
higher altitudes.

Oh! I see. But mama, why is
there deficiency of oxygen at
higher altitudes?

Jai, our earth is surrounded by a thin As we move higher up in the
layer of air. This layer extends upto atmosphere, the air gets thinner. So,
many kilometres above the surface of there is less oxygen available to
earth and is called atmosphere. breathe at higher altitudes.

I understood
mama. Thank
you.

29

COMPONENTS OF AIR

Mr. Jatin and Jai are enjoying their morning walk.

Jai, look at the
water droplets on
the windshields of
the cars.

Yes mama, I can see, but where
have these water droplets come
from?

Jai, these droplets are Is water vapour Yes, air is a mixture
formed due to water also present in air? of many gases like
vapour which has nitrogen, oxygen,
condensed. carbon dioxide,
water vapour, dust
and smoke.

When the water vapour present in the air Since the temperature is lower at
comes in contact with a cold surface, it night as compared to the day, so the
changes into water. This process is called windshield was cooler at night which
condensation. led to condensation of water vapour.

30

Jai, condensation
is also a part of
water cycle.

Mama, what is
water cycle?

Condensation also occurs Thank you mama. I
on the window panes. That have learnt so much
is why they appear hazy, if from you.
not wiped off regularly.

Jai water evaporates from water
bodies, gets condensed to form
the clouds and comes back on
earth in various forms like rain
and snow. This entire journey of
water is called as water cycle.

Water Cycle

31

I had planned that whenever Yes
we all are together , I would sure.
take you to our farmhouse.
Are you all willing
to go?

Nanu, how much It will take just Yippee! Let’s
time will it take to 35 minutes to all go then.
reach there? reach there.
Let’s start

around noon.

Take your seats
everyone. Jatin
you drive the
car.

The whole family sits in the car and leaves for the farmhouse.

32

DUST PARTICLES

You all wait for a while here, let me
unlock the door and turn on the
light as it will be dark inside.

Nani, can I Yes Jai!
accompany you?

When Grandmother and Jai went into the house
there was complete darkness. They could see
sunlight entering through a slit.

What are
these
particles?

Nani, see some tiny shining These are dust particles
particles are moving in the beam present in the air. .
of sunlight.

I see. Mama also told Yes, but the presence of dust
me about it. particles in air varies from time to
time and place to place.

Sometimes, you would

have observed similar
beam of sunlight filtering
through the trees
wherein the dust
particles appear to

dance around merrily.

33

Grandmother turns on the light and everyone enters inside.

This place is Jai come, I will show
so peaceful. you the kitchen
garden. You will love
it.

Mummy, I really liked the
greenery all around the
farmhouse.

Suddenly there is smoke and Jai Looks like
starts coughing. something is
burning outside
Where is all the farmhouse. Let
this smoke me go and check.
coming from
mummy?

34

Jai, you go inside, this Smoke contains a
smoke is very harmful. few gases and fine
dust particles.

Mummy, what does Smoke comes out of factories as
the smoke contain? well, so factories have long
chimneys to release smoke and
Mummy , what about the gases.
birds flying in the sky, does
the smoke harm them? Yes. It is harmful
for the birds too.

At the main gate of the farmhouse, few Oh! these people are polluting the air. I
people are burning dried leaves. am going to guide them not to do so.

35

OXYGEN IS ESSENTIAL FOR BURNING

Grandfather and Mrs Dikshit come Guide them to
inside. make compost
out of dried
I advised leaves which
those people can be used to
not to burn increase soil
dry leaves and fertility.
discarded
remains of the
crop as they
pollute the
environment.

Nani, what is Jai, there are
compost?
certain steps
The rotting and to be followed
conversion of while making
bio-degradable compost. Let
materials into your nanu
manure is called
composting. explain it to
you.

Nani, how
can compost
be prepared?

We take bio-degradable If it is black in colour and no
foul smell is observed then it
materials like garbage from means that the rotting of
the kitchen which includes garbage is complete. This is
fruit and vegetable peels, egg how the compost is
shells, waste food, tea leaves prepared.
etc.

Make a heap and bury it in a pit and cover it with
soil. Then after few weeks remove the soil and
observe the changes in the garbage.

36

AIR HAS OXYGEN

Wow! Nanu, I
had never
imagined that
kitchen waste
could also be
useful.

Mummy, now I have seen that air contains water Mrs. Dikshit brings two candles,
vapour, dust and smoke. Can we also observe the a matchbox and a tumbler. She
presence of oxygen? keeps the two candles on the
table and lights them.

Yes, let me explain it to you with the help
of an activity.

Jai, see I have covered
one candle with an
inverted glass tumbler.
You observe it for
some time and tell me
what happens to the
candle.

37

Mummy look, the Can you guess
flame of the candle why it got
which was covered extinguished?
by the inverted glass
tumbler got No,
extinguished. Mummy.

The oxygen gas And mummy, the
which we inhale also candle which is still
helps in the burning burning has a
of substances. This continuous supply
process of burning of oxygen. Right?
of substances is
called combustion.

Very good That is why during any incident of
Jai! You fire, one is advised to wrap a
got it woollen blanket over the burning
right. object. As this cuts off the supply of
oxygen, the fire gets extinguished.

A limited supply of oxygen
was trapped under the
inverted glass tumbler
and the moment that
oxygen was used up, the
candle flame got
extinguished.

38

Jai, do you know that one of the
components of air is still present in
the tumbler even after the candle
blew out?

Oh! Which
component is it?

It’s nitrogen. It is a major part of Mummy, which other component of
the air and does not support air is present inside the glass tumbler
combustion. apart from oxygen and nitrogen?

So, even if nitrogen was present Jai it is carbon dioxide. This
inside the tumbler, it did not gas is also released by
help the candle in burning. plants and animals
during the process of
Mummy, please tell me respiration.
about respiration.

Sure Jai. In respiration, the living
organisms breathe in oxygen. It is
used by the cells of the body to break
down the food and release energy.
During this process, carbon dioxide is
released.

39

Plants and animals consume
oxygen for respiration and produce
carbon dioxide.

If some material is If plant and animal matter like wood or
burnt in a closed cow dung is burnt then oxygen is
room, then excess consumed and carbon dioxide is
of carbon dioxide released.
gets accumulated
and causes
suffocation for the
people inside the
room.

Therefore, chimneys are
installed in the kitchen to
avoid the accumulation
of smoke while cooking.

It is getting dark. Let us Yes, you are
have dinner and start right. Let us
our journey back to quickly cook food
home. for dinner.

40

The whole family enjoys dinner together..
It’s favourite time of the day for
me when we all are together.

All of them get in the car and leave for the Grandparents’ house.

41

TRIVIA TIME

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1) Which of the following statements is incorrect?
a) All living things require air to breathe.
b) We can feel air but we cannot see it.
c) Moving air makes it possible to fly a kite.
d) Air is present everywhere but not in soil.
2) Wind does not help in the movement of which of
the following?
a) Firki
b) Weather cock
c) Ceiling fan
d) Sailing yacht

MATCH THE FOLLOWING

42

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DUST PARTICLES

Next day the Dikshit family is ready to leave for their home.

It is 10 am now, I think you All of us really
will reach Delhi around 3 pm. enjoyed here. Bye-
Have a safe journey! Bye everyone!

Jai observes roads with traffic and a policeman Jai ,the policeman is
wearing a mask. standing at a
crowded traffic
Look at the traffic crossing amidst
policeman papa. Why is harmful particles like
he wearing a mask? dust and smoke. The
mask prevents the
entry of harmful
particles into his
respiratory system.

But Papa the dust particles can enter Jai, fine hair which act as filters and
through our nostrils also, even when mucus are present inside the nose to
we are not in a crowded place. prevent dust particles from getting into
our respiratory system.

43

Do you understand now why we used to
stop you from breathing through your
mouth?

Mask gives the policeman an extra
protection along with the mucus and
hair in his nostrils, in a crowded place.

Yes Jai. If you do that, harmful
dust particles may enter your
body and cause injury to the
lungs.

Mummy, Papa let Thank you so
me help you with much Jai.
the bags.

44

MATCH UP: IDENTIFY ME AND MATCH THE PICTURE

TEXT IMAGE

a) I TELL THE DIRECTION i)

OF WIND.

b) I AM PRODUCED BY ii)
THE BURNING OF FUEL
AND DRY LEAVES.

cTE)XTI AM FORMED WHEN iIMiiA)GE
SWWMEOAATKHTE EER RCOCVKAPOUR

WATER DROPLETS ON A COOL

CONDENSESDUST PARTICLES
OSXUYGRENFCAYLCINED.ER

d) MY ENTRY INTO THE iv)

LUNGS IS PREVENTED BY

THE FINE HAIR AND

MUCUS PRESENT INSIDE

THE NOSE.
e) I AM AN IMPORTANT v)
PART OF THE KIT CARRIED

BY MOUNTAINEERS.

45