 Resources for the Comprehensive Curriculum Grade 4 Science
Unit 2: Light, Heat, and Sound Activity 7: Conduction and Conductors (GLEs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 33)
CC: Guide the class to define conductors and insulators. Based on their experiences, have student work in discussion groups to predict items that they think may be conductors or insulators of heat.Kidspiration Template - "Heat Transfer"
CC: Using their lists, the teacher will provide a number of objects that the students can test as good insulators and conductors. The students will need a supply of non-mercury thermometers and stopwatches for the next activity. Ask students to devise the question that they want to investigate, plus determine both controls and variables for their experiment.
Ki dspiration Template - "Conductor or Insulator Experiment"
CC: The students could devise a test to determine how body fat affects the ability to insulate or conduct heat by measuring the air temperature within the bags before and after insertion into the ice water. (Body fat or blubber in marine animals provides insulation against the cold by keeping in the body's heat and keeping out the cold.) They would measure temperature of the water and the air in the bags at various intervals, record the data in a table, and graph the results. Then, they could write their conclusions as to the need for body fat in land animals and marine animals.
MS Excel Template - "Temperature Change"
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