Melting temperatures: do and review
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can investigate the melting temperatures of common materials and evaluate my investigation.
Key learning points
- The melting temperature is the temperature at which a material in its solid state changes to its liquid state.
- Thermometers can be used to measure temperature.
- Scientists take accurate measurements of temperature in units of degrees Celsius.
- The results of an investigation can often be recorded in a table, chart or graph.
- Results can be used to draw simple conclusions and suggest improvements.
Keywords
Melting temperature - The melting temperature of a material is the temperature at which it changes from solid state to liquid state.
Solid - A solid has a fixed shape and volume but some solids can change shape when a force is applied.
Liquid - A liquid can flow, has a fixed volume and takes the shape of the bottom of its container.
Degrees Celsius - Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (°C).
Conclusion - In a conclusion, scientists explain what the results show or mean.
Common misconception
Children may think that only common materials such as ice melt at room temperature or that when something melts, the liquid is a different substance to the original solid.
Children are shown a range of materials with different melting temperatures which range from below to above room temperature. They are taught to refer to materials in a way that highlights the fact that the material is still the same substance.
Teacher tip
Encourage children to recognise that the temperature at which each material melted may not be the lowest temperature at which it could melt and help them evaluate the investigations to work out how they could get a more accurate measurement.
Equipment
Water baths (cold, warm and hot), thermometers, foil or foil cases, a range of materials to test.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.There are three of matter.
Q2.What do you need to do to melt a material?
Q3.Which of these materials are liquid at room temperature?
Q4.What material is snow?
Q5.What is the unit of measure used for temperature?
Q6.Materials in which state of matter are often invisible?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do we measure using a thermometer?
Q2.The __________ temperature is the temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid.
Q3.Match the piece of equipment to what it does.
Q4.What unit, abbreviated as °C, is used to measure temperature?
Q5.Which part of an investigation might you record in a table, chart or graph?
Q6.Which part of an investigation would be used to draw a conclusion?
To help you plan your 4 science lesson on: Melting temperatures: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 science lesson on: Melting temperatures: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Introduction to states of matter and changing states unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.