A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through it easily.

A material is the substance that objects are made from such as wood, metal or plastic.

A thermal conductor is a material that allows heat to pass through it easily.

Someone or something that is suitable for a particular purpose or occasion is right or acceptable for it.

In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has names or labels, such as the names of plants.

Everyday uses of thermal insulators

Science

In this Properties, changes and separating materials unit, pupils learn to decide how mixtures might be separated, including through filtering, sieving and evaporating. In the Materials challenge unit, they will build on this knowledge to apply their understanding of separating materials to a wider range of everyday situations

In the Everyday materials unit, pupils learnt to compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of their simple physical properties. In this Properties, changes and separating materials, pupils will build on this knowledge to compare an group together everyday materials on the basis of a wider variety of properties

Properties, changes and separating materials

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Different __________ can be used as thermal insulators.

True or false? Thermal insulators are used for different purposes in everyday life.

Which of these materials would be most suitable for making oven gloves to stop hot trays burning our hands when taking food out of an oven?

Materials that contain trapped pockets of air make __________ thermal insulators.

Match the object to the function of the thermal insulator.

Which type of investigation should we use to find out which cool box is most suitable for keeping a cold drink cold?

Which of these are properties of materials? 

does not allow electricity to pass easily through it

does not allow heat to pass easily through it

does not allow vibrations to pass easily through it

Match the physical property to the description.  

What do we call the things you can control, measure or change in an investigation?

The design on the lid of the packed lunch box.

Lucas adds warm pasta to three different packed lunch boxes. Which of these will help Lucas to decide which box is the best thermal insulator?

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

Starter Quiz