Use an exciting role play activity to teach young chemists about the importance of heat transfer in maintaining homeostasis. They assume the role of a dog sled owner who has been abandoned and must fend for themselves with only a few supplies in harsh wintry conditions. Pupils then perform tests and collect data to better understand how heat transfer affects the environment and every living organism.

Concepts

thermal energy, conduction, convection, temperature, radiation

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Provide your class with a scenario pertaining to extreme temperature (either heat or cold) and have them discuss the best ways to adapt; ensure they use predetermined criteria in the discussion

Classroom Considerations

• Ensure the water temperature is not too hot to avoid burns
• Assist with lamp adjustment to avoid burning skin due to heat emitted from the bulbs
• Instruct individuals to avoid looking directly into the light, as it could result in eye injury

 

Pros

• Offers a lesson extender to enhance the wind chill activity 
• Provides an assessment and answer key, in addition to a teacher's reference, for a complete lesson plan to cover the topic of heat transfer
• May be adapted in multiple ways to provide differentiated instruction if needed

Cons

• None