I think that the materials used in this week's experiment discouraged the conduction of heat. According to Tillery, Enger, and Ross (2008) conduction is the transfer of heat from one material to the other. The materials used in this experiment that were the best insulator were those materials that prevented this heat from escaping or being conducted.
If I were to repeat this experiment I would test glass and rubber. I believe the rubber would be the best insulator. I am basing this belief on the knowledge that when I put my hot coffee into one of those plastic coffee cups with the rubber wrapped around it, I feel less heat though the rubber than I do through the plastic.
Because I don't teach heat transfer with my 4th graders I would have to do more investigations and research on this topic before I approached it with my students. I say this because my knowledge of this topic is limited and I want to make sure that I develop my knowleded base before trying to explain it to my students.
This experiment was definitely a test to see which materials were a better insulator. I taught heat transfer for the first time this school year and was thinking of ways to use this in the classroom. I think that having the students to bring in materials to test would be a great way to make the students feel ownership of the project.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea Kelly, it would be a great extension for this lesson.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I hadn't thought of rubber as an insulator and I can understand your reasoning. You'd have to be careful with glass unless you were using tempered glass. I know if I put my coffee in one of my thicker water glasses, I can definitely feel the heat a lot more than if I put it in my thermos mug or a ceramic coffee mug.
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteLike you, I don't have to teach this topic with my students. Therefore, I needed a decent amount of time to refresh on my skills.
I did find an interesting activity with a candle, balloon, and water to help the students understand conduction. Take a look at the video when you get a chance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeDZQ9-gsjY
Looks like it can easily be replicated as a demonstration. Don't quite trust my students will candles yet. :)
Hello Everyone,
ReplyDeleteWow, very few of us teach this topic! It is not in my standards either. I wonder how it can be related to life science? Any ideas?
Jen