Thermal insulators: plan
I can plan to investigate the physical property of thermal insulation.
Thermal insulators: plan
I can plan to investigate the physical property of thermal insulation.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Different materials have different physical properties.
- A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through easily.
- Different materials can be suitable or unsuitable for thermal insulation depending on their properties.
- In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has names or labels, such as the names of plants.
- When we control variables, it means we keep them the same throughout an investigation.
Keywords
Material - A material is the substance that objects are made from such as wood, metal or plastic.
Physical properties - The physical properties of a material are the features that can be observed or measured.
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 names or labels, such as the names of plants.
Variables - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.
Common misconception
Children may think that thermal insulators only keep things warm.
Task A specifically addresses this misconception. Children will have opportunities to investigate which cup has the best thermal insulation properties for keeping drinks cold in lesson 5 of this unit.
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Thermal insulators: plan, 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: plan, 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
This is a planning lesson but it may help children to have access to a range of cups made from different materials, as well as thermometers and stopwatches. They will carry out tests in lesson 4.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
rough
smooth
soft
Exit quiz
6 Questions
hot drinks cool down slowly
hot drinks cool down quickly
