Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Temperature: 6.D.3___________
Temperature and Heat Transfer
___________
Grade Level
6
Sessions
Seasonality
Instructional Mode(s)
Team Size
WPS Benchmarks
1 – Approximately 1.5 hours (10 minutes for cleanup)
N/A
Whole class demonstration and small group activity
N/A
06.SC.ES.05
06.SC.ES.06
6-8.ES.3
Conduction, Convection, Diffusion, Energy, Heat, Radiation, Temperature
MA Frameworks
Key Words
Summary
The students will be reminded of what temperature and heat are through lecture and a
demonstration of how the air changes when the temperature changes. The
demonstrations will show air expanding when it is heated up and air compressing when
it is cooled down (balloon on a soda bottle). The students will be asked if this could be
used to measure temperature. If not, what are other ways we measure temperature?
The students will also learn about the three forms of heat transfer through
demonstration.
Learning Objectives
2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Grade 6
06.SC.ES.05 Differentiate among radiation, conduction, and convection, the three
mechanisms by which heat is transferred through the earth’s system.
06.SC.ES.06 Investigate the movement of a drop of food coloring placed in water, with
and without a heat source, and in different positions relative to a heat source.
Additional Learning Objectives
1. 6-8.ES.3 Differentiate among radiation, conduction, and convection, the three
mechanisms by which heat is transferred through the earth’s system.
2. The students will be able to understand how to brainstorm.
3. The students will understand how to develop possible solutions.
4. The students will understand how to construct a prototype.
1
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
5. The students will understand how to communicate the solution.
Required Background Knowledge
1. The Students have a basic understanding of the concept of heat.
2. Students should review the behavior of molecules when there is a change in
temperature.
Essential Questions
At the end of this lesson students should be able to address each of the following.
1. What is temperature?
2. Name the three forms of heat transfer.
3. Give one example of each of the following: conduction, convection and radiation.
Introduction / Motivation
Students will be asked to define temperature.
Once an adequate definition (see
vocabulary section of lesson plan) has been agreed upon, methods of measuring
temperature will be discussed and demonstrated.
Procedure
1. Distribute “Heat Transfer Introduction” handout. Instruct students to fill in number
1 on their handout after the Introduction.
2. Balloon demonstration – Take a clean, empty, dry soda bottle.
Place a deflated balloon over the mouth of the soda bottle. Hold
the soda bottle over the heat source (careful not to melt the
plastic). The balloon should inflate. Direct the students to fill in
questions 2 and 3 on their handout.
Addison-Wesley Destinations in Science,
Grade 6, p. C-6
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Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
3. Lecture on measurement of heat (see example in the “Additional Information for
Educators” attachment to this lesson plan).
There are different methods of
measuring temperature based on heating materials and measuring pressure.
The types of thermometers we are most familiar with are digital thermometers
and bulb thermometers. The liquid in the bulb thermometer expands as the
temperature of the liquid goes up.
The digital thermometer reads the
temperature based on the difference in resistance from temperature changes.
Show examples of the temperature measuring devices.
4. Move into types of heat transfer by asking the students to think about how a
thermometer works.
5. Lecture on the three different forms of heat transfer and demonstrate each:
Conduction: Heat is transferred by direct contact. The metal rod with wax on it
will be put in contact with the heat source. As the metal rod heats up the wax will
begin to melt.
NASA – Genesis, Search for Origins,
Three Methods of Heat Transfer, p. 2
http://www.genesismission.org/educate/scimodule/heat/develop 1TG.pdf
Convection: Heat is transferred by the motion of fluid or within a fluid (Note: air is
a fluid). Compare the rate of the food coloring spreading in different temperature
water. This demonstration can be done by each student or by small groups.
a.) Each student or group should be given a container of cool or
room temperature water – square Tupperware or Gladware works
fine.
b.) The students should then be given food coloring or rubbing
alcohol with food coloring in either a cup or an eye dropper.
c.) Hot water should be poured into the heat resistant cup.
d.) Immediately after the students receive the hot water the container
of cold water should be placed on top of the hot water.
e.) The food coloring should then be added to the cold water. Pour a
small amount very slowly or add one drop at a time from the
eyedropper.
3
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
6. Radiation: Heat is transferred through rays, waves or particles like sunlight. This
can be demonstrated with an experiment similar to the Herschel experiment
(setup seen below). This set-up shows three different thermometers sitting in
direct sunlight with either black paint or black tape over the bulbs. The black
tape or paint is added to help the thermometers better absorb the light. The
experiment shown below demonstrates splitting the light rays into the spectrum
of colors with a prism. This step is not necessary for this demonstration, but
could be an extension to this lesson. The temperature of a single thermometer
will rise due to the heat from the sun.
NASA – Cool Cosmos
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/
4
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
7. Have students complete the “Heat Transfer Introduction” handout either in class
or at home. If there is extra time after the lesson, the “Heat Transfer Word
Puzzle” can be distributed.
8. Have the students complete the “Methods of Heat Transfer” handout as an
assessment of the students.
Materials List
Materials per class
Amount
Location
Poster board or chalkboard
One
Supermarket or Office Supply Store
Markers or Chalk
One
Supermarket or Office Supply Store
Dry Soda Bottle
One
School Recyclables if possible or Supermarket
Balloon
One
Department Store or Supermarket
Heat Source
One
Could simply use hot water in a cup, if available a
warming plate underneath the cup works well.
Thermometer (Digital or
One (ea. If possible)
Borrow from school nurse, bring from home, or
Bulb)
purchase at Supermarket/Department Store to
simply pass around classroom.
Food coloring
1
Materials per student
Supermarket
Amount
Eye Dropper (IF
5-6 (depending on
AVAILABLE INSTEAD OF
how many groups)
Location
Department Store or Pharmacy
SM. PLASTIC CUPS)
Small plastic cups
1 package
Supermarket
Square Tupperware-like
10
Supermarket
container
Vocabulary with Definitions
1. Convection –the transfer of heat by the motion of or within a fluid.
2. Conduction – the transfer of heat or electric current from one substance to
another by direct contact.
3. Diffusion - the act of spreading out; the intermingling of molecules in gases and
liquids as a result of random thermal agitation. (source:
www.hyperdictionary.com)
5
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
4. Energy - The capacity for work or vigorous activity; vigor; power. A source of
usable heat or power. (www.dictionary.com)
5. Heat - a form of energy associated with the motion of atoms or molecules and
capable of being transmitted through solid and fluid media by conduction,
through fluid media by convection, and through empty space by radiation.
(source: www.dictionary.com)
6. Radiation - energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or
particles. (source: www.hyperdictionary.com)
7. Temperature - a physical quantity characterizing the mean random motion of
molecules in a physical body. In other words, it is a measure of the degree of
hotness or coldness of a substance. (source – National Snow and Ice Data
Center http://nsidc.org/ )
Assessment / Evaluation of Students
The instructor may assess the students in any/all of the following manners:
1. Handout for this lesson
2. Class discussion of lesson
Lesson Extensions
1. Have the students design and build their own thermometer.
2. Have the students redesign their paper spiral to make it move faster.
Attachments
1. Heat Transfer Introduction Handout
2. Heat Transfer Word Puzzle
3. Methods of Heat Transfer Handout
Troubleshooting Tips
None
Safety Issues
Heat sources are a potential fire hazard.
6
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Additional Resources
None
Key Words
Conduction, Convection, Diffusion, Energy, Heat, Radiation, Temperature
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Name: _____________________________
Date: ______________________
Heat Transfer Introduction Handout
1.) Temperature is _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Heat Activities
2.) What the air in the soda bottle was heated, did the balloon inflate? ________________
3.) Why did this happen? _____________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Forms of Heat Transfer
4.) List the forms of heat transfer:
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
5.) List your observations for the food coloring experiment: _______________________
______________________________________________________________________
Why did this happen? ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________
Date: ______________________
Methods of Heat Transfer
Identify the method of heat transfer associated with the following (there can be more than one for
each):
1.) Oven
________________________________________________
2.) Wood Stove
________________________________________________
3.) Radiator
________________________________________________
4.) Sun
________________________________________________
5.) Electric Blanket
________________________________________________
6.) Candle
________________________________________________
7.) Electric Stove
________________________________________________
8.) Hot Water Heater
________________________________________________
9.) Person
________________________________________________
10.) Light Bulb
________________________________________________
11.) Welding Torch
________________________________________________
12.) Heating Pad
________________________________________________
13.) Engine
________________________________________________
14.) Sidewalk
(on a sunny day)
________________________________________________
15.) Please explain your answer for number 5 (electric blanket).
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
16.) Please explain your answer for number 14 (sidewalk on a sunny day).
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________
Date: ______________________
Heat Transfer
Across
3. The transfer of heat between objects that are touching, or from one part of an object to another part
4. Diffusion occurs most quickly in this kind of water
6. The transfer of energy that can travel through empty space, fluids or air
7. The transfer of heat that happens when the particles of a gas or liquid flow within the material itself
8. A measure of how hot or cold something is
Down
1. Air does this when it is heated
2. The ability to do work
4. Energy that moves from one substance to another because of a temperature difference
5. Particles of matter that moves when energy is added (when it is heated up)
Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoverySchool.com