Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 45 minutes
Specific heat capacity and latent heat
States of matter
CCSS NGSS.HS-PS3-1CCSS NGSS.HS-PS3-4England: KS4 Combined Science: EnergyEngland: KS4 Combined Science: Particle model of matter
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Specific heat capacity and latent heat.
- 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: Melting and boiling points
Leads to: Specific latent heat (E = m L)
Materials: Ice, water and a kettle (teacher demo), Particle 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 (Melting and boiling points). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Ethanol melts at −114 °C and boils at 78 °C. What state is it in at −18 °C? (solid / liquid / gas) → liquidPrompt: Is the temperature below the melting point, between the two, or above the boiling point?
- Bromine melts at −7 °C and boils at 59 °C. Over how many degrees is it a liquid? → 66 °CPrompt: It is a liquid between its melting point and its boiling point.
- Which of these substances is a liquid at room temperature (20 °C)? nitrogen: melts −210 °C, boils −196 °C sulfur: melts 115 °C, boils 445 °C iron: melts 1538 °C, boils 2862 °C ethanol: melts −114 °C, boils 78 °C (ethanol / iron / sulfur / nitrogen) → ethanolPrompt: A liquid at 20 °C melts below 20 °C and boils above 20 °C.
Hook · 5 min
- Show an ice cube melting and a kettle steaming and ask what is the same and what is different.
- Share the objective: Specific heat capacity and latent heat. 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: How much energy is needed to heat 2 kg of water by 40 °C? The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg °C. Give your answer in J.
- Step 1: ΔE = 2 × 4200 × 40
- Step 2: = 336000
- Step 3: So the answer is: 336000 J
- Answer: 336000 J
- 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.
- How much energy is needed to heat 2 kg of water by 5 °C? The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg °C. Give your answer in J. → 42000 JPrompt: Use ΔE = m × c × Δθ.
- A 1 kg block of concrete absorbs 22000 J and its temperature rises by 25 °C. What is the specific heat capacity of concrete, in J/kg °C? → 880 J/kg°CPrompt: Rearrange ΔE = m × c × Δθ to find c.
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.
- A 1 kg block of copper absorbs 7800 J and its temperature rises by 20 °C. What is the specific heat capacity of copper, in J/kg °C? → 390 J/kg°CPrompt: Rearrange ΔE = m × c × Δθ to find c.
- How much energy is needed to heat 2 kg of water by 15 °C? The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg °C. Give your answer in J. → 126000 JPrompt: Use ΔE = m × c × Δθ.
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: Melting and boiling points.
- Use concrete materials: ice, water and a kettle (teacher demo).
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Specific latent heat (E = m L).
- 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-10.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder