Subjects
Mathematics
--Measurement
Health
--Safety
Science
--Physical Science
Grade
K-2
3-5
6-8
Brief Description
Students conduct an experiment to determine which material is the best insulator.
Objectives
Students will
Keywords
temperature, cold, thermometer, wind chill, insulation
Lesson Plan
What kinds of clothing best protect people from the cold? Try this experiment to find out: Find four thermometers. They should all be the same kind and each should record the same temperature at the start of the experiment.
Wrap three of the thermometers in a swatch of material. Each swatch should be a different material. For example, you might wrap one thermometer in cotton, one in wool, and one in polyester. Do not wrap the fourth thermometer. Place each thermometer in a paper cup and then place all four cups in a cooler partially filled with ice. Wait ten minutes, and then remove the cups from the cooler. What is the temperature on each thermometer? Record the results.
If desired, repeat the experiment with swatches of different material (for example, fur, nylon, down, felt, denim, corduroy). Use the information to create a graph showing which materials are the best insulators.
Extension Activity: Encourage students to practice reading a simple wind chill table using the Teaching Master provided.
Assessment
Assess students based on their participation in the activity and their answers to the questions on the wind-chill teaching master.
Teaching Master Answer Key: 1). t; 2). f; 3). t; 4). t; 5). f; 6). 15 degrees; 7). -9 degrees; 8). 40 mph; 9). 25 degrees.
Think About It! The 10 degree day with a 10 mph wind is colder (-4 degrees) than a 20 degree day with 20 mph winds (+4 degrees).
Lesson Plan Source
EducationWorld.com
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
MATHEMATICS: Number and Operations
GRADES Pre-K - 2
NM-NUM.PK-2.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems
NM-NUM.PK-2.2 Understand Meanings of Operations and How They Relate to One Another
GRADES 3 - 5
NM-NUM.3-5.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems
NM-NUM.3-5.2 Understand Meanings of Operations and How They Relate to One Another
GRADES 6 - 8
NM-NUM.6-8.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems
NM-NUM.6-8.2 Understand Meanings of Operations and How They Relate to One Another
MATHEMATICS: Measurement
GRADES Pre-K - 2
NM-MEA.PK-2.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.PK-2.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
GRADES 3 - 5
NM-MEA.3-5.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.3-5.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
GRADES 6 - 8
NM-MEA.6-8.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
NM-MEA.6-8.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
MATHEMATICS: Data Analysis and Probability
GRADES Pre-K - 2
NM-DATA.PK-2.1 Formulate Questions That Can Be Addressed With Data and Collect, Organize, and Display Relevant Data to Answer
NM-DATA.PK-2.2 Select and Use Appropriate Statistical Methods to Analyze Data
GRADES 3 - 5
NM-DATA.3-5.1 Formulate Questions That Can Be Addressed With Data and Collect, Organize, and Display Relevant Data to Answer
NM-DATA.3-5.2 Select and Use Appropriate Statistical Methods to Analyze Data
GRADES 6 - 8
NM-DATA.6-8.1 Formulate Questions That Can Be Addressed With Data and Collect, Organize, and Display Relevant Data to Answer
NM-DATA.6-8.2 Select and Use Appropriate Statistical Methods to Analyze Data
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH: Health
GRADES K - 4
NPH-H.K-4.1 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
NPH-H.K-4.2 Health Information, Products and Services
NPH-H.K-4.3 Reducing Health Risks
NPH-H.K-4.4 Health Influences
NPH-H.K-4.6 Setting Goals for Good Health
GRADES 5 - 8
NPH-H.5-8.1 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
NPH-H.5-8.2 Health Information, Products and Services
NPH-H.5-8.3 Reducing Health Risks
NPH-H.5-8.4 Health Influences
NPH-H.5-8.6 Setting Goals for Good Health
SCIENCE
GRADES K - 4
NS.K-4.1 Science as Inquiry
NS.K-4.2 Physical Science
GRADES 5 - 8
NS.5-8.1 Science as Inquiry
NS.5-8.2 Physical Science
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08/30/2010