Thermal insulators: do and review
I can carry out a comparative test and explain which cup is most suitable for keeping warm water warm.
Thermal insulators: do and review
I can carry out a comparative test and explain which cup is most suitable for keeping warm water warm.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Scientists carry out different types of enquiries to answer questions.
- Scientists take accurate measurements using a range of scientific equipment.
- The findings from an investigation can be summarised into a conclusion.
Keywords
Thermal insulator - A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through it easily.
Comparative test - In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has name or labels, such as the names of plants.
Results - The result of a test or enquiry is what happened or what was found out.
Conclusion - In a conclusion, scientists explain what the results show or mean.
Common misconception
When interpreting results, pupils may think that the greatest loss of heat has occurred in the cup which has the lowest temperature at the end.
Pupils will be taught they need to consider the change in temperature rather than just using the lowest end temperature to find which cup has led to the greatest heat loss.
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Thermal insulators: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Thermal insulators: do and review, 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
Pupils' plans created in the previous lesson, thermometers, cups made from a range of materials, warm water, measuring jug, timers, rulers.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Testing the effect that changing one variable has on another variable.
Items are sorted into groups based on similarities and differences.
Using secondary sources to learn more about a topic.
Exit quiz
6 Questions
time
volume
distance
temperature
