The Heat is On !!A Fourth Grade Lesson

Understanding How Thermal Energy is Transferred

Michigan 4th Grade Science Grade Level Content Expectations

• S.RS.04.11 Demonstrate scientific concepts through various illustrations, performances, models, exhibits, and activities.

• P.EN.E.1 Forms of Energy- Heat, electricity, light, and sound are forms of energy.

• P.EN.04.12 Identify heat and electricity as forms of energy. • P.EN.04.42 Describe heat as the energy produced when

substances burn, certain kinds of materials rub against each other, and when electricity flows through wire.

• P.EN.04.43 Describe how heat is produced through electricity, rubbing, and burning.

• P.CM.04.11 Explain how matter can change from one state (liquid, solid, gas) to another by heating and cooling.

Michigan Educational Technology StandardsGrades 3-5

TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS

By the end of Grade 5 each student will:1. use basic telecommunication tools (e.g., e-mail, WebQuests, IM, blogs, chat rooms, web conferencing) for collaborative projects with other students2. use a variety of media and formats to create and edit products (e.g., presentations, newsletters,

brochures, web pages) to communicate information and ideas to various audiences

Let’s Jump Start Your Thinking(What do we KNOW about heat?)

• When we are outside, we can feel the heat from the sun

• If we touch a hot pan with our bare hand we might get burned

• When we sit by a campfire we get warm even though we are not touching the fire

• Other ideas……..

Lesson Objectives(WHAT do we want to know about heat?)

• Students will understand that adding or removing heat from a substance can change its state of matter.

• Students will identify conduction as a physical property of matter.

• Students will recognize that thermal energy can be transferred from one object to another through conduction, convection, and radiation.

• Other things we want to learn about heat……

What is Heat?• The transfer of thermal energy from one

piece of matter to another (Frank, 2000).• It is transferred naturally from hot matter

to cold matter.– If you hold an icicle in your hand long enough it

will melt– When you walk in hot sand, your feet get warm

How is Heat Transferred?• Heat is transferred in three ways:–Conduction–Convection–Radiation

What is Conduction?• The transfer of thermal energy by particles

of matter bumping into each other (Frank, 2000).– Hot burner to metal pot– Hot sand to your feet– Hot cocoa to your cup– Warm hand to ice cubeOther ideas…..

Conduction Animation

Conductors and Insulators• Conductors – materials that easily conduct

thermal energy (Frank, 2000)– Metals– Copper Wire

• Insulators-materials that don’t conduct thermal energy well (Frank, 2000)– Glass– Wood

Conductors and Insulators Game

What is Convection?• Convection is the transfer of energy by

particles of a liquid or gas moving from one place to another (Frank, 2000).– Hot air is less dense and is forced up by cooler

air– As the hot air cools, its density increases and it

sinks– The process then repeats

Convection Animation

Examples of Convection• The air being heated from a fireplace• The air being heated from a furnace• Boiling water• The air being heated in a hot-air balloonOther ideas……

What is Radiation?• The bundles of energy that move through

matter and empty space are radiation (Frank, 2000).

• Bundles of energy that transfer heat are called infrared radiation (Frank, 2000).

Radiation Animation

Examples of Heat Transfer by Infrared Radiation

• The sun heating our skin• Warming your hands on the sides of a

campfire• Heating Food with a Microwave OvenOther ideas……

You’re the Expert Now(What did we LEARN about heat?)

• Heat is the transfer of thermal energy from one piece of matter to another (Frank, 2000).

• Thermal energy naturally moves from warm matter to cool matter (Frank, 2000).

• Conduction and convection need moving particles of matter in order to transfer energy (Frank, 2000).

• Infrared Radiation transfers thermal energy through matter and empty space

Quick Quiz

Conduction, Convection, and Infrared Radiation

Name three ways that thermal energy is

transferred.

Thermal energy is transferred in liquids and gases through which type

of heat transfer?

A pan on the stove gets hot through which type of

heat transfer?

Convection

Radiation

Question of the Week(Wiki Work)

You must go on the class Wiki and post a response to the weekly question.

ReferencesFrank, M.S., Jones, R.M., McLeod, J.C., Krockover, G.H., VanDeman, B.A., &

Valenta, C.J. (2000). Heat energy on the move. In Harcourt Science, Teacher’s Edition (pp. E40-E45). Orlando, FL:Harcourt School Publishers.

K-7 Scholar Work Group (n.d.). Michigan fourth grade science grade level content expectations V1.09. Retrieved from http://www.michigan.gov

/documents /mde/4-Science_COMPLETE_12-10-07_218319_7.pdf.

Michigan State Board of Education (June, 2005). Michigan educational technology standards grades 3-5. Retrieved from http://www.mich.gov/documents /METS_3-5_129585_7.pdf.