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...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Popping Hot

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this instructional activity 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...
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Temperature Regulation of the Human Body

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the methods the human body uses to regulate body temperature. Includes links to the four external heat transfer mechanisms (radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation of perspiration).
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Hot Cans and Cold Cans

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students apply the concepts of conduction, convection, and radiation as they work in teams to solve two problems. One problem requires that they maintain the warm temperature of one soda can filled with water at approximately body...
Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Charge Transfer Processes

For Students 9th - 10th
In this 4-question quiz, predict how charge gets transferred by conduction between two objects.
eBook
Other

Characteristics of Energy and Matter

For Students 9th - 10th
A lengthy page from the Fundamentals of Physical Geography site. Energy is distinguished from matter, and the different forms of energy are identified and discussed. Four types of heat transfer (convection, advection, conduction,...
Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Introduction to the Atmosphere

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A detailed overview of the Earth's atmosphere, with explanations about atmospheric properties, the structure of the atmosphere, its four layers, atmospheric processes, energy heat transfer, conduction and convection, and radiation. All...
Interactive
Other

Mansfield Connecticut: Convection, Conduction, and Radiation

For Students 6th - 8th
Learn about Convection, Conduction and Radiation then play a game to assess what you learned.
Handout
California Institute of Technology

Nasa: Cool Cosmos: How Does Heat Travel?

For Students 6th - 8th
An explanation, with infrared images, of how heat is transferred from one object to another.
Handout
University of Sydney (Australia)

Thermal Physics Module/heat Transfer 1 [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The first of two pages discussing the different forms of thermal energy transfer. Equations expressing the rate of energy transfer by each of the methods are provided and discussed.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Cooking With the Sun

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about using renewable energy from the Sun for heating and cooking as they build and compare the performance of four solar cooker designs. They explore the concepts of insulation, reflection, absorption, conduction and...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Solar Water Heater

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Student teams design and build solar water heating devices that mimic those used in residences to capture energy in the form of solar radiation and convert it to thermal energy. This thermal energy is next transferred to water (to be...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Thermodynamics

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive unit on thermodynamics, you'll learn why heat flows the way it does and how that flow of thermal energy can be put to good use in your daily life.
Activity
Other

Applied Thermodynamics: Heat Transfer

For Students 9th - 10th
Heat transfer, rates of heat exchange,conduction, radiation and convection are defined and discussed at this site from Applied Thermodynamics. Well illustrated.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Keep It Hot!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Student teams design insulated beverage bottles in this challenge, and test them to determine which materials work best at insulating hot water to keep it warm for as long as possible.
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,...
Website
MadSci Network

The Mad Scientist Network: Physics

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the question and answer section of this useful site. The page responds to the user question: "Explain convection to me in terms I can understand." An excellent discussion of the method of convection.
Graphic
Curated OER

Colorado State Univ.: Heat Transfer Resistance Modeling

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Colorado State University discusses the tranfer of heat by conduction and convection. Discussion centers around the application of these two heat transfer mechanisms to engines. The variables that effect the resistance...
Handout
Other

Mister teacher.com: Thermal Energy

For Students 3rd - 5th
An explanation, supported by pictures and animation, of how thermal energy transfers between objects.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: What's the Fastest Way to Cool a Soda?

For Students 9th - 10th
When you are craving an ice cold drink of soda, the last thing you want is to be stuck with a bunch of soda cans at room temperature. This fun science experiment sends you on a discovery to find the fastest way to cool soda with...
Graphic
Curated OER

Fund. Of Phys. Geography/energy, Temperature, and Heat

For Students 9th - 10th
A page describing (in part) the distinction between energy, temperature and heat. Includes graphic illustrating the quantity of energy needed to transform water between its various states. Methods of thermal energy transfer (convection,...
Activity
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Atmospheric Processes Radiation

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides background information, images, and an activity to help students understand the concept of radiation. Includes both the student pages and a teachers guide with lesson plan.
Handout
University of Sydney (Australia)

Equations for Thermodynamics

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhaustive list of equations and formulas which are commonly used in thermal physics (including equations for triple point). Equations are organized according to category. Meaning of the symbols is clearly stated.
Professional Doc
Other

L in C Online: Three Little Pigs

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An energy transfer project for junior high school students is presented and described. Takes the form of a teacher lesson plan. Students may be able to extract some ideas for a project or experiment.