7th Grade Heat And Temperature Lesson Plan

Topic: understanding the concepts of heat and temperature

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to define heat and temperature, and will be able to relate their measurement to the concept of energy.

Materials

• Thermometers (digital or analog)
• Water bottles
• Ice cubes
• Rags or towels
• Hand warmers
• Ice packs
• Small cups or jars
• Water
• Food items with varying temperatures (e.g. hot coffee, lukewarm water, ice cream)

Warm-up

• Begin the lesson by asking students to think about the different ways they have experienced different temperatures in their daily lives. Have them share their experiences with the class.
• Next, have students brainstorm a list of items or substances that they associate with different temperatures (e.g. hot coffee, cold ice cream, warm sand).
• Review the list with the class and have them discuss the ways in which they might be able to measure these temperatures.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of heat and temperature and explain that they are related but different concepts.
• Distinguish between absolute temperature and relative temperature.
• Demonstrate how to use a thermometer to measure absolute temperature.
• Explain how relative temperature is based on how something feels or how it compares to something else.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in pairs and provide them with a variety of objects including a hot water bottle, a cold water bottle, a mug of hot coffee, a mug of cold coffee, a warm blanket, and a cold blanket.
• Have them use their thermometers to measure the absolute temperatures of each object and then use their thermometers to measure the relative temperature of each object compared to the others.
• Have them record their findings on the provided chart.

Independent Practice

• Provide each student with a different object, and have them use their thermometers to measure the absolute and relative temperatures of their object compared to others.
• Have them create a poster or presentation to share their findings with the class.

Closure

• Review the concept of heat and temperature and how to measure them with a thermometer.
• Ask students to share their posters or presentations with the class.

Assessment

• Observe students during the activity and take note of their understanding on the concept of heat and temperature.
• Collect and grade their posters or presentations as a form of assessment.