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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Keep it hot or keep it cold: thermal insulators

Energy

CCSS NGSS.4-PS3-2CCSS NGSS.SEP 3England: KS2 Y5 Properties and changes of materials

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Keep it hot or keep it cold: thermal insulators.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Energy moves by sound, light, heat and electric current

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Wind-up toys or a pendulum, Energy transfer diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Energy moves by sound, light, heat and electric current). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. How is energy moving here: a radiator warming a room? (light / sound / heat / electric current) → heatPrompt: Is it seen, heard, felt as warmth, or carried in wires?
  2. A solar-powered garden light glows at night. How did the energy get there? (Sunlight → solar panel → electric current → battery → light / It makes energy from darkness. / The Moon charged it. / Sound from the garden powers it.) → Sunlight → solar panel → electric current → battery → lightPrompt: Where is the energy stored during the day?
  3. True or false? Energy can be carried from place to place by sound. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Light, sound, heat and electric current all carry energy.

Hook · 3 min

  • Wind up a toy or stretch an elastic band and ask where the energy goes.
  • Share the objective: Keep it hot or keep it cold: thermal insulators. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is this a thermal conductor or a thermal insulator: steel?
  • Step 1: Metals let heat pass through quickly.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: thermal conductor (lets heat through easily)
  • Answer: thermal conductor (lets heat through easily)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this a thermal conductor or a thermal insulator: cork? (thermal conductor (lets heat through easily) / thermal insulator (slows heat down)) → thermal insulator (slows heat down)Prompt: Is it a metal?
  2. Why does insulating a house's loft (attic) help the planet? (It makes the house colder. / Less heat escapes, so less fuel is burned for heating. / Insulation makes electricity. / It stops rain.) → Less heat escapes, so less fuel is burned for heating.Prompt: Where does heat go if the roof lets it out?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. A cool box keeps drinks cold on a hot day. What is it lined with? (thin copper sheets / nothing, just air holes / black paint / a thermal insulator like plastic foam) → a thermal insulator like plastic foamPrompt: The same material keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.
  2. Is this a thermal conductor or a thermal insulator: cork? (thermal conductor (lets heat through easily) / thermal insulator (slows heat down)) → thermal insulator (slows heat down)Prompt: Is it a metal?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Energy moves by sound, light, heat and electric current.
  • Use concrete materials: wind-up toys or a pendulum.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Keep it hot or keep it cold: thermal insulators

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    The water started at 70 °C. How many degrees did the cup with no wrap cool down in 20 minutes?

    Temperature after 20 minutes (°C)01020304050607043no wrap51paper54cotton63wool

    Answer°C

  2. Question 2

    A cool box keeps drinks cold on a hot day. What is it lined with?

    • A. black paint
    • B. thin copper sheets
    • C. nothing, just air holes
    • D. a thermal insulator like plastic foam

  3. Question 3

    Is this a thermal conductor or a thermal insulator: copper?

    • A. thermal conductor (lets heat through easily)
    • B. thermal insulator (slows heat down)

  4. Question 4

    Why do polar bears and penguins stay warm in freezing weather?

    • A. They make cold air warmer.
    • B. Thick fur, feathers and fat are good thermal insulators.
    • C. They are made of metal.
    • D. Their bodies never lose any heat.

  5. Question 5

    Is this a thermal conductor or a thermal insulator: wood?

    • A. thermal conductor (lets heat through easily)
    • B. thermal insulator (slows heat down)

  6. Question 6

    The water started at 70 °C. How many degrees did the cup with paper cool down in 20 minutes?

    Temperature after 20 minutes (°C)01020304050607043no wrap51paper55cotton62wool

    Answer°C

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Answer key: Keep it hot or keep it cold: thermal insulators

  1. 1. 27 °C

  2. 2. D. a thermal insulator like plastic foam

  3. 3. A. thermal conductor (lets heat through easily)

  4. 4. B. Thick fur, feathers and fat are good thermal insulators.

  5. 5. B. thermal insulator (slows heat down)

  6. 6. 19 °C