Heat & Energy Incursion (Levels 3/4)

In this energetic 90-minute incursion, students investigate how heat is produced, measured and transferred. Students explore how different materials conduct and insulate heat. Students also observe the movement of heat via convection currents. Our passionate science educators carefully guide students through each step, prompting students to predict, observe and reflect on each activity.

• Students explore different ways to produce heat and investigate how heat can move from one object to another.
• Students are tasked with making predictions and using measurements to test the effects of heat.

• Discuss sources of heat.
• Use thermometers to measure heat.
• Explore how different materials conduct or insulate heat. 
• Investigate how heat can move from one object to another by conduction.
• Observe the nature of heat as moving energy (convection currents) using food colour in water and air.
• Explore how chemicals can be used to create heat.

• Heat can be produced in many ways and can move from one object to another; a change in the temperature of an object is related to the gain or loss of heat by the object (VCSSU063).
• A change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat (VCSSU059).
• With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge (VCSIS065).
• Use formal measurements in the collection and recording of observations (VCSIS068).