Lesson Plan

Heat Loss from a Fur-Insulated Animal

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

How do animals adapt to weather changes? Provide your class with the ability to understand adaptations and body temperature as they participate in this hands on experiment, using fake fur and hot water. Pupils collect data and analyze the results to determine the effectiveness of fur in insulating animals against the cold.

 

 

7 Views 5 Downloads NGSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Divide the class into groups and have each one test another animal's adaptations, such as feathers, to gather experimental data 
  • Compare the experimental data of each group and facilitate a discussion to determine which type of insulation conserves heat the best
Classroom Considerations
  • Ensure water is not boiling and supervise students to avoid potential burns
Pros
  • Hands-on application will encourage further student participation and appeal to multiple learning styles
  • Cleanup is minimal
Cons
  • None