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Thermometers

Thermometers

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.


Essential Understanding

The student develops abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry in classroom and outdoor investigations.

Science Background

Heat and Temperature: The Physics Classroom (website) – Good explanation of temperature, and how it can be measured by using a thermometer.

Heat and Temperature
The Physics Classroom, www.physicsclassroom.com

Thermal Energy Physics: Thermalenergy.org (website) - Detailed information explaining the physical science of thermal energy and its relationship to heat, absolute zero, temperature scale and more.

Thermal Energy Physics
Thermalenergy.org

Signature Lesson

Using Heat from the Sun: BioEd Online (website) – Students investigate the power of sunlight to heat water.

Using Heat from the Sun
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Supporting Lessons

Temperature: Teacher Vision (PDF) - Download the printable activity sheet from this link to introduce students to relative temperatures in different conditions (e.g., room temperature, freezing, boiling).

Temperature
Teacher Vision, www.teachervision.fen.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Greenhouse S'Mores: BioEd Online (website) - Chocolate candies are placed under clear plastic cups to melt under the sun.  The directions do not call for thermemometers but they should be used to measure the temperature inside the cups.

Greenhouse S'Mores
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Assessment Ideas

Interactive Thermometer: Mathisfun.com (website) - Before introducing students to the website, have them predict how items on the interactive thermometer will rank, from coldest to hottest. Then have students check their predictions, either individually, or as a group.

Interactive Thermometer
Mathisfun.com

Literature Connections

Temperature: Heating Up and Cooling Down. Stille, Darlene (ISBN-13: 978-1404803459)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to describe the importance of safe practices.

(2.1C) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate how to use, conserve, and dispose of natural resources and materials such as conserving water and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metal.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

(2.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
The student is expected to communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
The student is expected to compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

Related Math TEKS

2.12D    The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.
2.13A    The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Temperature Game: NASA (website) - Learn about relative temperature (in Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin) by matching different locations and objects with their correct temperatures.

Temperature Game
NASA, www.nasa.gov

Temperature: BBC (video) - Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius and boils at 100 degrees. Blood is usually 37°C. Watch this one-minute video to learn some of the basics about temperature.

Temperature
BBC, www.bbc.co.uk

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