New
New
Year 5

Thermal insulators: do and review

I can carry out a comparative test and explain which cup is most suitable for keeping warm water warm.

New
New
Year 5

Thermal insulators: do and review

I can carry out a comparative test and explain which cup is most suitable for keeping warm water warm.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Scientists carry out different types of enquiries to answer questions.
  2. Scientists take accurate measurements using a range of scientific equipment.
  3. The findings from an investigation can be summarised into a conclusion.

Keywords

  • Thermal insulator - A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through it easily.

  • Comparative test - In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has name or labels, such as the names of plants.

  • Results - The result of a test or enquiry is what happened or what was found out.

  • Conclusion - In a conclusion, scientists explain what the results show or mean.

Common misconception

When interpreting results, pupils may think that the greatest loss of heat has occurred in the cup which has the lowest temperature at the end.

Pupils will be taught they need to consider the change in temperature rather than just using the lowest end temperature to find which cup has led to the greatest heat loss.

During the investigation, pupils may need guidance on how to carry out measurements using a thermometer. Pupils will investigate keeping cold water cold in lesson 5 of this unit.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pupils' plans created in the previous lesson, thermometers, cups made from a range of materials, warm water, measuring jug, timers, rulers.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
This base layer vest is an example of a insulator.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: thermal
Q2.
What is a thermal insulator?
An image in a quiz
A material that allows electricity to pass through easily.
A material that does not allow electricity to pass through easily.
A material that allows heat to pass through easily.
Correct answer: A material that does not allow heat to pass through easily.
Q3.
Which of these is not a physical property of a material?
transparency
Correct answer: cost
thermal insulation
absorbency
Q4.
In which part of an investigation would you explain what you think is going to happen?
conclusion
Correct answer: prediction
results
method
Q5.
What does the conclusion of an investigation tell us?
what you did in the order you did it
Correct answer: what the results show or mean
what equipment you will need
Q6.
Match the type of investigation to the activity.
Correct Answer:comparative test investigation,Testing the effect that changing one variable has on another variable.

Testing the effect that changing one variable has on another variable.

Correct Answer:classification,Items are sorted into groups based on similarities and differences.

Items are sorted into groups based on similarities and differences.

Correct Answer:research,Using secondary sources to learn more about a topic.

Using secondary sources to learn more about a topic.

Q1 Sub Zero Technology Ltd/Wikimedia Commons Images

6 Questions

Q1.
A thermal insulator does not allow __________ to pass through easily.
light
Correct answer: heat
sound
magnetism
Q2.
Which of these jobs involves carrying out different types of enquiries to answer questions?
athlete
electrician
delivery driver
Correct answer: scientist
Q3.
In which part of an investigation would you summarise and explain your findings?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: conclusion
results
method
introduction
Q4.
Match the equipment to what it can be used to measure accurately.
Correct Answer:stopwatch,time

time

Correct Answer:measuring jug,volume

volume

Correct Answer:tape measure,distance

distance

Correct Answer:thermometer,temperature

temperature

Q5.
Read the measurements on these thermometers accurately. Which thermometer shows a temperature of 44°C?
image 1
image 2
Correct answer: image 3
Q6.
Which of these statements show the conclusion from an investigation?
An image in a quiz
I think the plastic cup will be the most suitable for keeping warm water warm.
Correct answer: The plastic cup was the most suitable for keeping warm water warm.
We used different cups, warm water and a thermometer in our investigation.
At the end of ten minutes, the water in the plastic cup was 46°C.

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