Structure Test

A thermometer graphic that goes up at a gradient from green to yellow to red. On the left are 3 corresponding colored checkmarks . On the right text descending from the top, VERY HOT & campfire graphic, HOT, WARM & a yellow steaming dish of food, COOL, and COLD & a blue ice cube.
Lesson Phenomena: The sun affects the temperature of the Earth’s surface

Reviewing the time-lapse video of an ice cube melting shows the effects of heat. Utilizing an infrared thermometer students will record heat readings inside their structures and outside their structures when they are placed in the sun.

Learning Goals:

  1. Students build shade structures that will optimize cooling the earth’s surface from sunlight.
  2. Students collect and analyze how cool the earth’s surface is inside their structure.
Materials List

Handouts

Classroom Supplies per group of 2 students

  • Student’s Structure
  • Thermo Infrared Thermometer (example)
  • Optional – Liquid Crystal paper for visualizing heat changes (example)

Important Links

Lesson 5 of 7 / Time: 30 Mins

Students will evaluate the effectiveness of the structures they built in Keeping it Cool with Solar: Build Time. Students are shown how thermo infrared thermometers work. Teacher uses infrared thermometer and has students record the ground temperature outside and inside their structure. Students record and analyze observations.

Keeping it Cool with Solar Unit

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