Unit 8I Heating and cooling

Lesson 3.

Conductors and insulators

Aim: What materials are good conductors and what materials are good insulators?

10 min Starter: Recap on last lesson – where will the heat go problem and sorting materials into conductors and insulators – recap from key stage 2.
Some materials let heat pass through them easily. They are called Thermal conductors. Metals are really good Thermal conductors, they usually feel cold because heat passes through them quickly.
Some materials are Thermal insulators (plastic, cork, rubber, air, wood etc). They are good at keeping heat out as well as in.

Grading

Level 3: Can sort out conductors and insulators and say where we use them.

35 min Main Activity: Demo practical and write up –
Lesson A. A brief demonstration showing that some materials (metals) are better conductors than others. Hot wax and drawing pin experiment. Students write up experiment and answer some questions on conductors and insulators.
Lesson B. Students conduct the heat conduction experiment themselves.

Lesson C. Mummy's tomb experiment.

A virtual version of today's experiment can be found here...

http://learningzone.coruseducation.com/VAC/heat/index.htm

Grading
Question 1 Level 3
Question 2 Level 4
Question 3 Level 5
Question 4 Level 5
Question 5 Level 6

10 min Plenary and grading for the lesson: A relevant SATs question based on today’s lesson.