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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 battery powering a torch bulb? (light / sound / heat / electric current) → electric currentPrompt: Is it seen, heard, felt as warmth, or carried in wires?
  2. An electric car is plugged in overnight. What is being transferred into its battery? (light from the street lamps / sound from the cable / petrol (gasoline) / energy, by an electric current) → energy, by an electric currentPrompt: What travels along the charging cable?
  3. True or false? Heat moves from cold things to hot things. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Light, sound, heat and electric current all carry energy.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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: iron? (thermal conductor (lets heat through easily) / thermal insulator (slows heat down)) → thermal conductor (lets heat through easily)Prompt: Is it a metal?
  2. Why do polar bears and penguins stay warm in freezing weather? (Thick fur, feathers and fat are good thermal insulators. / They are made of metal. / Their bodies never lose any heat. / They make cold air warmer.) → Thick fur, feathers and fat are good thermal insulators.Prompt: What do fur and feathers trap?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is this a thermal conductor or a thermal insulator: iron? (thermal conductor (lets heat through easily) / thermal insulator (slows heat down)) → thermal conductor (lets heat through easily)Prompt: Is it a metal?
  2. Why are saucepans made of metal but have plastic or wooden handles? (Metal conducts heat to the food; the handle insulates your hand. / Wood is a good thermal conductor. / Plastic makes the pan heat faster. / Metal handles are too light.) → Metal conducts heat to the food; the handle insulates your hand.Prompt: Which part should get hot, and which should not?

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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Why are saucepans made of metal but have plastic or wooden handles?

    • A. Plastic makes the pan heat faster.
    • B. Metal handles are too light.
    • C. Wood is a good thermal conductor.
    • D. Metal conducts heat to the food; the handle insulates your hand.

  2. Question 2

    Is this a thermal conductor or a thermal insulator: plastic foam (polystyrene)?

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

  3. Question 3

    Four cups of water at 70 °C were wrapped in different materials. The chart shows each temperature after 20 minutes. Which wrap was the best thermal insulator?

    Temperature after 20 minutes (°C)01020304050607041no wrap50paper56cotton62wool
    • A. no wrap
    • B. paper
    • C. cotton
    • D. wool

  4. Question 4

    Why does insulating a house's loft (attic) help the planet?

    • A. Less heat escapes, so less fuel is burned for heating.
    • B. Insulation makes electricity.
    • C. It stops rain.
    • D. It makes the house colder.

  5. Question 5

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

    • 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 cotton cool down in 20 minutes?

    Temperature after 20 minutes (°C)01020304050607041no wrap51paper56cotton63wool

    Answer°C

  7. Question 7

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

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

  8. Question 8

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

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

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

  1. 1. D. Metal conducts heat to the food; the handle insulates your hand.

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

  3. 3. D. wool

  4. 4. A. Less heat escapes, so less fuel is burned for heating.

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

  6. 6. 14 °C

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

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