Looking for an engaging insulators and conductors activity for your middle school students? Want to get your students excited about thermal energy? Wondering how to help students understand the real-world applications of conductors and insulators?
If you are a teacher looking for the answers to any of these questions, read on!
Want to skip straight to the Insulators and Conductors Design Challenge?
Transform Your Science Class with a STEM Challenge
Traditionally, Science classes have included a lot of memorization of facts and information. In your old thermal energy unit, you may have asked students to give definitions of key terms like heat, insulators, and conductors. You probably had them identify examples of conductors and insulators and compare and contrast heat and thermal energy.
This knowledge of science concepts is important, but when you take your insulators and conductors activity a step further by asking your students to apply these ideas in a STEM challenge, you will see deeper learning, more engagement, and a greater understanding of what it means to “do science.”
Time for a Hot Cocoa Party!
Ready to push your students’ understanding of thermal energy to the next level?
Plan a hot cocoa party! But… due to poor planning on your part, you only have flimsy cups to serve the hot chocolate. Challenge your students to design cups that will keep the hot cocoa warm for at least 30 minutes.
With timers, thermometers, plastic or paper cups, and clean recyclable materials (or other random building supplies in your cupboards), your students will be ready to design and build their own insulated cups to ensure maximum cocoa enjoyment!
This thermal energy activity is perfect for helping your students solidify and apply their knowledge of heat transfer, conductors, and insulators. If you follow the Next Generation Science Standards, you’ll also be addressing MS-PS3-3 and MS-ETS1-1.
What’s Included in This Insulators and Conductors Activity?
- Printable, Google and Easel versions of the student project and worksheets that guide students through the engineering design process
- Embedded links to quality background research video clips and an article
- A detailed lesson plan and slideshow for easy lesson facilitation
- An easy-to-use grading rubric
- Flexible building materials, so you can use what you have on hand
- Printable certificates for student engineers
- Suggestions for building materials, distance learning, and differentiation
Before starting this conductors and insulators activity, students should have basic knowledge of using a thermometer. While perfect for middle school physical science, this thermal energy activity also makes an excellent winter STEM challenge for any middle school class!
Before beginning, you’ll also need:
- Student project packets (printed or digital)
- Background research materials
- Basic cups (paper or plastic)
- Household materials (fabric, cardboard, foil, bubble wrap, etc.)
- Testing supplies (hot water, thermometers, timer)
- Hot chocolate (optional, for celebration!)
Want More Engaging STEM Challenges?
Save money when you grab the STEM challenge bundle! You’ll have rigorous and engaging STEM projects ready to go all year long.
From bottle rockets to water filters, these challenges will keep your students learning and excited about science throughout the school year.
Grab this resource today so you can take a break from planning while knowing your students will be learning and having fun as they explore thermal energy and heat transfer!
