Everyday uses of thermal insulators
I can identify and name thermal insulators in everyday life.
Everyday uses of thermal insulators
I can identify and name thermal insulators in everyday life.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Thermal insulators are used for different purposes in everyday life.
- Thermal insulators are used to stop us burning ourselves or surfaces when using hot objects in the kitchen.
- Materials that contain trapped pockets of air make good thermal insulators.
- Thermal insulators can be used to keep cold things cold.
- A comparative test can be used to investigate which cup is most suitable for keeping cold drinks cold.
Keywords
Thermal insulator - A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through it easily.
Material - A material is the substance that objects are made from such as wood, metal or plastic.
Thermal conductor - A thermal conductor is a material that allows heat to pass through it easily.
Suitable - Someone or something that is suitable for a particular purpose or occasion is right or acceptable for it.
Comparative test - In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has names or labels, such as the names of plants.
Common misconception
Thermal insulators only keep warm things warm.
One of the learning cycles, and Practice Task B, focuses on the use of thermal insulators to keep cold things cold.
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Everyday uses of thermal insulators, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Everyday uses of thermal insulators, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Properties, changes and separating materials unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Cold water, cups made of different materials, thermometers, stop watches.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
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
Exit quiz
6 Questions
to protect us from heat
to keep the contents warm
to keep the contents cold