Thermal insulators: plan
I can plan to investigate the physical property of thermal insulation.
Thermal insulators: plan
I can plan to investigate the physical property of thermal insulation.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Different materials have different physical properties.
- A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through easily.
- Different materials can be suitable or unsuitable for thermal insulation depending on their properties.
- In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has names or labels, such as the names of plants.
- When we control variables, it means we keep them the same throughout an investigation.
Keywords
Material - A material is the substance that objects are made from such as wood, metal or plastic.
Physical properties - The physical properties of a material are the features that can be observed or measured.
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 names or labels, such as the names of plants.
Variables - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.
Common misconception
Children may think that thermal insulators only keep things warm.
Task A specifically addresses this misconception. Children will have opportunities to investigate which cup has the best thermal insulation properties for keeping drinks cold in lesson 5 of this unit.
Equipment
This is a planning lesson but it may help children to have access to a range of cups made from different materials, as well as thermometers and stopwatches. They will carry out tests in lesson 4.
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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Starter quiz
6 Questions
rough
smooth
soft
Exit quiz
6 Questions
hot drinks cool down slowly
hot drinks cool down quickly
