Elementary grade students investigate heat transfer in this activity to design and build a solar oven, then test its effectiveness using a temperature sensor. It blends the hands-on activity with digital graphing tools that allow kids to easily plot and share their data. Included in the package are illustrated procedures and extension activities. Note Requirements: This lesson requires a "VernierGo" temperature sensing device, available for ~ $40. This item is part of the Concord Consortium, a nonprofit research and development organization dedicated to transforming education through technology. The Consortium develops digital learning innovations for science, mathematics, and engineering.

Great to use as an introduction to kinetic and potential energy transformations. This simulation shows how kinetic, potential, and thermal energy transformations occur as a person skates on a ramp. It graphs the relative values so that students can see the change in energy with the change in the position of the person.

The student will be able to plan, conduct and analyze an investigation of thermal energy transfer.The student will be able to explain the three processes of heat transfer.The student will use science and engineering practices to investigate and clarify concepts of heat and thermal energy.This module was developed by Patricia Kramolisch as part of a Virginia Commonwealth Univeristy STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

Discover how electricity can be converted into other forms of energy such as light and heat. Connect resistors and holiday light bulbs to simple circuits and monitor the temperature over time. Investigate the differences in temperature between the circuit with the resistor and the circuit using the bulb.

In this activity the temperature of a reaction is monitored for different concentrations of reactants.

A realistic mass and spring laboratory. Hang masses from springs and adjust the spring stiffness and damping. You can even slow time. Transport the lab to different planets. A chart shows the kinetic, potential, and thermal energy for each spring.

How do microwaves heat up your coffee? Adjust the frequency and amplitude of microwaves. Watch water molecules rotating and bouncing around. View the microwave field as a wave, a single line of vectors, or the entire field.

Watch a reaction proceed over time. How does total energy affect a reaction rate? Vary temperature, barrier height, and potential energies. Record concentrations and time in order to extract rate coefficients. Do temperature dependent studies to extract Arrhenius parameters. This simulation is best used with teacher guidance because it presents an analogy of chemical reactions.

I created this google document to use as a weekly homework assignment for my students. It covers thermal energy concepts such as convection, conduction, radiation, phase changes, and temperature conversions. It could be assigned in google classroom or printed out and given as a hard copy. It could also be adapted to be used as classwork, a quiz, enrichment, reinforcement, extra credit or a warm-up.

Please edit to fit your student needs and teaching style.

This lesson has students explore what land use changes are happening and how changes in surface color affects temperatures in cities.