In the classroom, your friend is always cold and you are always hot. When you took the temperature of the room near your friend’s desk, it was lower than the temperature near your desk. Which is the BEST question that you and your friend can ask to determine how a heat source influences this?

• Do either of you sit near an air vent?

• Whose hair is longer?

• Who is wearing a jacket?

• What is the weather like today?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A kid went to a friend’s house for a sleepover.  The friend’s mom gave each of them an ice cream cone to eat outside. The ice cream began to melt quicker than they could eat it. What is the best question they can ask to find the source of heat that caused the ice cream to melt?

• What was the temperature outside?

• What kind of ice cream cones were they?

• What was the temperature of the ice cream cones?

• What are the length and width of the ice cream cones?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A student climbed to the top of the rope in gym class. When he got back to the floor, his hands were very hot and he noticed there were some blisters on the palms of his hands.  What question does the school nurse need to ask to determine the heat source that caused the blisters?

• How long was the rope?

• Did you fall off of the rope?

• Did you slide down the rope?

• Was the rope hot when you climbed up?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

A group of kids were riding their bikes after school. They were going really fast and then approached a large downward hill. They realized that they were going too fast, so they tried to slow down all the way down the hill with their brakes. They got off their bikes and realized their bikes were very hot. What question do the kids need to ask to determine the heat source that caused this?

• How steep was the hill? 

• What was the temperature of the street?

• What was the speed the kids were going?

• Were the brakes of the bike on the entire way down the hill?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

A group of kids were playing on a playground. One kid was on the top of a plastic slide while talking to the other kids. The kid noticed the plastic slide where the kid was sitting was getting warm. What question does the kid need to ask to determine the heat source that caused the warm slide?

• What is the color of the slide?

• Was the kid sitting still on the slide?

• What is the temperature of the slide?

• Was the kid sliding back and forth on the slide?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Students at your school have been burning their hands on the monkey bars. Which would be the best investigation for determining the material that should be used to make the monkey bars safe for students’ hands?

• Measure the temperature of the material that the monkey bars are made of while the bars are in the shade and then in the sun. Compare the temperatures to see which is the lowest. 

• Measure the temperature of the material on the ground under the monkey bars and compare it to the temperature of the monkey bars during the hottest part of the day.

• Measure the temperature of different materials on other playground equipment after the materials have been in the sun for several minutes. Compare to see which has the lowest temperature. 

• Measure the temperature of different materials on other playground equipment when they are in the sun and in the shade. Compare to see which has the lowest temperature.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

You have 4 plastic cups filled with water. Each cup is a different color. What is the best way to investigate to see which color will increase the temperature of the water the most when placed outside? 

• Place all 4 cups on different surfaces in direct sunlight. After 20 minutes measure the temperature of the water in each cup. Compare the temperatures to see which is the highest.

• Place all 4 cups on the same surface in direct sunlight. After 20 minutes measure the temperature of the water in each cup. Compare the temperatures to see which is the highest. 

• Place 2 of the cups on the sidewalk in direct sunlight and 2 of the cups in the shade in the grass. After 20 minutes measure the temperature of the water in each cup. Compare the temperatures of the cups in the sun to the temperature of the cups in the shade.

• Place 2 of the cups on the sidewalk and 2 of the cups in the grass. After 20 minutes in direct sunlight, measure the temperature of the water in each of the cups. Compare all of the temperatures to find the highest.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A class was trying to decide what color shirt to order for field day.  Field Day was scheduled for May.  It is usually very hot during the month of May and the class would be outside for at least 2 hours.  What could the class do to help them make the best color choice for the shirt?

• Place the color choices on a table and use a thermometer to record the beginning temperature and the temperature after 2 hours.

• Place the color choices in the freezer and use a thermometer to record the beginning temperature and the temperature after 2 hours.

• Place the color choices under a heat lamp and use a thermometer to record the beginning temperature and the temperature after 2 hours.

• Place the color choices near the window on a cloudy day and use a thermometer to record the beginning temperature and the temperature after 2 hours.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

You put your water bottle down on the sidewalk while you were playing soccer with several of your classmates. When you came back to drink your water, you noticed it was really warm. This has been a problem for several of your friends in your class. What investigation could you perform to show your friends the best place to keep the water as cool as possible?

• Place the water bottles in the direct sunlight and record the beginning temperature and the temperature after recess.

• Place the water bottles in the shade and record the beginning temperature and the temperature after recess.

• Take the temperature of all the water bottles before practice and spread out the water bottles in different sunny areas. Compare the feel of the water bottles after practice.

• Take the temperature of all the water bottles before practice and spread out the water bottles in different sunny and shaded areas. . Take the temperature after practice and compare the temperatures.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

A  student has a candy bar in a coat pocket. The coat is hanging on the coat rack.  When the student went to eat the candy for a snack, it melted.  Which question would help determine the source of heat that caused the candy bar to melt?

• Is the coat very thick?

• What is the temperature of the room?

• What size is the coat?

• How many students are in the room?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4