In this inquiry activity the students investigate:
how their family keeps their living-room warm
how they keep the heat inside their living room.
It is a suitable activity to undertake in early winter, or winter. While some students may be able to do this investigation alone, it is an ideal investigation for students to complete with an adult or older family member, as it could lead to the family taking action(s) to increase energy efficiency and keep their home warmer in winter.
Note: This inquiry activity leads on from the Teacher Led Activity How Can We Slow Down Heat Loss From Our Classroom? However, students can complete the activity without doing the Teacher Led Activity, but the teacher may wish to review current student knowledge using the provided introductory activity.
Intended Learning Outcomes
The students will be able to:
describe how to conduct a room survey that considers ways heat is lost from a room
describe how to reduce heat loss in a room in the house they live in
carry out actions, alone or with family members, to reduce heat loss in one room of the house.
Learning Areas, Strands, Achievement Objectives
1 - 2
Science
Physical World Physical inquiry and physics concepts
Students will explore and investigate the physical phenomena of heat and heat loss in the everyday situation of their home living-room
Nature of Science Investigating in science
Students will extend their experiences and personal explanations of the physical world through exploration and asking questions.
Participating and contributing
Students will explore the ways heat is lost from their living-room and possibly take action, as an individual or with their family, to reduce these heat losses.
2
English
Listening, Reading, and Viewing and Speaking, Writing, and Presenting Processes and strategies
Students will integrate sources of information, processes and strategies with growing confidence to identify, form and express ideas about heat loss in houses.
Introductory Activity
Review the students' understanding of how heat is lost from rooms by drawing a picture of the outside of a house on the whiteboard.
Draw the house with windows and doors partially open and show open curtains.
Explain that it is a winter day and you want to keep the inside of the house warm. Ask the students what they would do to stop the heat escaping.
Ask the students what a draught is and where the cold air from outside could get into the house.
Explain that when a house is built some insulation is usually included in the ceiling, walls or floor to help keep the heat in the house in winter. The insulation may also keep the house cool in summer. People can add extra insulation to houses that have already been built.
Ask the students to describe any types of insulation they know about. (If possible, bring some insulation materials, such as fibreglass, wool or polystyrene batts to show the students.)
Discuss the types of heating that are used to keep houses warm in winter. The discussion could extend to how efficient and how cost effective the heating is.
Discuss the idea that if we are warm and have reduced the amount of heat escaping from our body we do not need to have a room so warm. Discuss clothing that keeps us warm that we wear inside, and using blankets and covers.
Work through the questions on the Student Inquiry sheet to make sure students understand the questions and the inquiry.
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