Unit Plan
Utah State Office of Education

Utah Science: Properties and Behaviors of Heat, Light and Sound

For Students 3rd - 8th
How can scientists lump heat, light and sound together when investigating properties and behaviors? This learning module will address that question through a series of activities.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: What Is Heat?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students learn about the definition of heat as a form of energy and how it exists in everyday life. They also learn about the three types of heat transfer as well as the connection between heat and insulation.
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Through nine lessons, students are introduced to a range of energy types--electrical, light, sound and thermal-as well as the renewable energy sources of wind, hydro (water) and solar power. Subjects range from understanding that the...
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Energy, Light and Sound: Heat

For Students 3rd - 7th
A video and a short quiz on heat, covering its difference from temperature, thermal energy, and the means by which heat is transferred.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Heat Flow to Hotter Region

For Students 9th - 10th
Heat flow from a hot region to a cold region is described and explained. Applications of this phenomenon (specifically heat pumps and refrigerators) are discussed. Excellent graphics.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Heat Transfer: No Magic About It

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Heat transfer is an important concept that is a part of everyday life yet often misunderstood by students. In this lesson, students learn the scientific concepts of temperature, heat, and the transfer of heat through conduction,...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Conduction, Convection, and Radiation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
With the help of simple, teacher-led demonstration activities, students learn the basic concepts of heat transfer by means of conduction, convection, and radiation. Students then apply these concepts as they work in teams to solve two...
Handout
Other

Warmair.com: Attic Insulation Calculator

For Students 9th - 10th
An online JavaScript application which allows visitors to investigate the relative amount of heat being lost from their homes due to insufficient insulation. The current R-value and a hypothetical R-value can be entered and the energy...
Lesson Plan
OpenSciEd

Open Sci Ed: 6.2 Thermal Energy

For Teachers 6th
This Thermal Energy unit has students investigating two ways to transfer energy into a drink: (1) the absorption of light and (2) thermal energy from the warmer air around the drink. They are then challenged to design their own drink...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Heat Conduction

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Investigates what conduction is, how it works, and gives examples of conduction.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: The Three Bears Heat Investigation It's Just Right

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity uses the story of the three bears as a way to investigate conduction, convection, radiation, and insulation properties. It also could be used to describe the laws of thermodynamics and conservation of energy.
Activity
Colorado State University

Csu: Heat Transfer Mechanisms

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent page from the Colorado State University with a heavy mathematical emphasis. Each form of heat transfer--conduction, convection, and radiation--is defined, compared, and contrasted. Mathematical equations governing the rates...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Zero Energy Housing

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate passive solar building design with a focus solely on heating. They learn how insulation, window placement, thermal mass, surface colors, and site orientation play important roles in passive solar heating. They use...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy Efficiency

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students measure energy outputs and inputs to determine the efficiency of conversions and simple systems. One associated activitiy includes Lego motors and accomplishing work. The other investigates energy for heating water. Students...
Professional Doc
OpenSciEd

Open Sci Ed: 6.2 Thermal Energy Teacher Professional Development Overview

For Teachers 6th
This four-day professional development session introduces teachers to the OpenSciEd materials generally in addition to the 6.2 Thermal Energy unit.
Activity
Colorado State University

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
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Heat Conduction

For Students 9th - 10th
Using understandable words and exceptional graphics, this page describes the transfer of energy by means of conduction. Contains several links to related topics.
Lesson Plan
Better Planet Productions

Earth Care: Where's the Heat? [Pdf]

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students will work alongside the school caretaker to determine ways in which their school loses heat, and learn about strategies that can reduce or prevent this.
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
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Atmospheric Processes Conduction

For Students 3rd - 8th
This simple demonstration helps students understand the concept of conduction. Site includes background information, images, and lesson plans outlining the demonstration of conduction.
Interactive
BBC

Bbc Schools: Ks2 Bitesize: Science: Materials: Keeping Warm

For Students 3rd - 8th
Easy-to-understand overviews, with illustrations, a game, and quiz questions, about thermal conductors and insulators.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Thermal Conductivity

For Students 9th - 10th
Lists thermal conductivity values for a variety of topics. The link "Heat conduction discussion" on this page displays an equation for calculating the rate of thermal conduction using these conductivity values.
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.