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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: How Hot Is It?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about the nature of thermal energy, temperature and how materials store thermal energy. They discuss the difference between conduction, convection and radiation of thermal energy, and complete activities in which they...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Heat Transfer

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore heat transfer and energy efficiency using the context of energy efficient houses. They gain a solid understanding of the three types of heat transfer: radiation, convection and conduction, which are explained in detail...
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: What Is Heat?

For Teachers 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about heat and how it is transferred from one object to another. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Other

Steve Spangler Science: Denver's Brown Cloud

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn how fluids move through our atmosphere and water. This experiment explains atmospheric convection currents (thunderstorms), the Gulf Stream, and temperature inversion. A video is included.
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Heat Convection

For Students 9th - 10th
Using understandable words and exceptional graphics, this page describes the transfer of energy by means of the convection process. Contains several links to related topics.
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Radiation Cooling of Body

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the means by which the body regulates its temperature. The role of radiation in this process is explained. An equation for calculating the rate at which energy is transferred by radiation is presented. Also, an interactive...
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Heat Radiation

For Students 9th - 10th
The process of energy transfer by radiation is discussed. An equation for calculating the rate of radiative energy transfer is provided. Variables in the equation are explained. An interactive form allows for problem-solving practice...
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Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: About Temperature

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University Corporation of Atmospheric Research provides a lengthy page covering numerous topics including the difference between heat and temperature, the use of different temperature scales, thermal expansion, how a...
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Handout
University of Sydney (Australia)

University of Sydney: Structure and Properties of Materials/thermal Physics

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhaustive set of "lecture notes" on various topics in thermal physics (including thermal expansion). Explanations are well done and more interesting than most. Includes both a mathematical and conceptual treatment of topics. Humor,...
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Handout
Oklahoma Mesonet

Oklahoma Climatological Survey: Heat Transfer

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion from the Oklahoma Climatological Survey of the thermal factors effecting the movement of air masses in the atmosphere. Numerous topics such as methods of heat transfer, latent heat, phase changes (including sublimation and...
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Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Plate Tectonics: The Mechanism

For Students 9th - 10th
A basic description of the driving force behind plate movement. Describes major features of the ocean floor including mid-oceanic ridges.
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Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Pie Pan Convection

For Students 9th - 10th
In this experiment, students observe what happens when a pan of soapy, colored water is heated. They will see that convection currents cause the fluid to rise and sink in a localized convection cell.
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Interactive
Wisc-Online

Wisc Online: Heat and Heat Transfer Part 2

For Students 9th - 10th
After completing Heat Transfer 1, review heat and heat transfer by solving these seven terms.
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eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Thermal Physics: Methods of Heat Transfer

For Students 9th - 10th
With illustrated examples, students better understand the three methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation.
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eBook
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Mantle Convection and Plate Tectonics

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the fundamental planetary process that has profoundly influenced the character and evolution of Earth, mantle convection.
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Activity
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Atmospheric Processes: Convection

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a pair of activities to demonstrate convection currents in air and water. Encourages students to view air as a fluid.
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Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Examples of Convection

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives lots of examples of convection and instructions for a simple experiment that looks at convection currents in a fluid.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Convection

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Definition of convection, how it occurs, and examples of convection.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth's Mantle

For Students 9th - 10th
The composition and behavior of the Earth's mantle. [Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.]
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science: Physical Science: Transfer of Thermal Energy

For Students 4th - 5th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes the conduction of thermal energy, how convection transfers thermal energy, and provides an example of the radiation of thermal energy.
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Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Make a Thunderstorm

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners learn about convection and how air moves through a simulation.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Popping Hot

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
For this lesson students will discover the different forms of heat transfer such as conduction, convection, and radiation and that these forms can be demonstrated by popping popcorn. Students will learn the health benefits of popcorn,...
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Article
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: A Global Look at Moving Air: Atmospheric Circulation

For Students 3rd - 8th
Even with disruptions like weather fronts and storms, there is a consistent pattern to how air moves around our planet's atmosphere. This pattern, called atmospheric circulation, is caused because the Sun heats the Earth more at the...
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Investigating Convection

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will plan and conduct an experiment that investigates convection currents.