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  • Below are links to Science Learning Hub resources for primary teachers related to heat in the Physical World strand of the New Zealand Curriculum.

    Primary teachers often consider heat for a topic or concept when teaching science from the Physical World strand. Here are some resources that may help you teach this interesting phenomenon.

    Heat basics: temperature

    Temperature is a measure of the average energy of the particles that make up a substance. It relates to the idea of hotness and coldness. If an object feels hotter, generally it has the higher temperature.

    Temperature –the highs and lows – Article

    Heat and latent heat – Video

    Investigating temperature – Activity

    Water temperature – Activity

    Heat basics: energy

    Every time something gets warm, cools down, moves, grows, makes a sound or changes in any way, it uses energy.

    What is energy? – Article

    Heat energy – Article

    Using heat energy – Activity

    Topic: Fire

    Combustion is when fuel reacts with oxygen to release heat energy. Fire is the visible effect of combustion.

    Unit plan: Fire

    Fire behaviour – Article

    Drama in the microworld – Activity

    Light a candle – Activity

    Putting out the fire – Activity

    The flying tea bag – Activity

    The great candle experiment – Activity

    Alternative conceptions about fire – Article

    Conduction – Image

    Convection – Image

    How things ignite – Image

    Radiation – Image

    Flashover and backdraught – Video

    Topic: Renewable energy

    Renewable energy is fuel that comes from a source that can be replenished in a short amount of time. This includes solar, wind, water, geothermal power and bioenergy.

    Renewable energy sources – Article

    Geothermal power – Article

    New Zealand’s biomass resources – Article

    Solar power – Article

    Greenhouse simulation – Activity

    Energy sources through time – Timeline

    Fuels and greenhouse gases – Video

    Woody residue uses – Video

    Topic: staying warm with insulation

    Keeping warm involves stopping the transfer of heat from one object to another. This can be done by insulating the object. Trapping air in layers is a very effective way of insulating an object.

    Greenhouse effect – Article

    Greenhouse gases – Video

    Insulation – Article

    Kelvin – The ThermoKennel – Article

    Wool fibre properties – Article

    Getting dressed for the Antarctic – Video

    Staying warm in Antarctica – Video

    We will continue to use the Hub as it is teacher friendly and easy to navigate. The topics are relevant and the work has been done for us. The students find the site interesting and easy to use too.

    Dian Edmondson - teacher

    Topic: solar energy

    Scientists have learned to harness the Sun, transforming its energy to meet our energy needs.

    Unit plan: Harnessing the Sun

    Harnessing the Sun - an introductory article with links to media, articles and student activities

    Solar energy – Article

    Using solar energy – Article

    Making a solar oven – Activity

    Alternative conceptions about energy – Article

    The performance helped me remember the whole meaning of solar cooking

    Student

    Topic: Water (using heat to change states)

    Changes of state involve the addition or removal of heat energy.

    Unit plan: Observing Water

    Melting and freezing – Article

    Water molecules in drama – Activity

    Classroom examples

    Find out how teachers around New Zealand have used heat-related resources in their classrooms.

    Cross-curricular use of Fire context – Article

    Adapting learning outcomes and activities for young students – Article

    Making and using an artefact – Article

    Performing science – Article

    Students reflect on learning science – Article

    Making predictions – video

    Revisiting predictions – video

      Published 8 July 2015 Referencing Hub articles
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