Insulating ice is a good way to introduce the basic concepts of conduction and insulation to your students. Have students place an ice cube in each of two plastic cups. They should wrap several layers of newspaper around one cup, and place both cups in a sunny spot. Students should time how long it takes the ice in each cup to melt completely. Discuss with the students what influence the newspaper had on the ice, and whether they think the newspaper is an insulator.
Students can test different materials for their conductivity. Give each student a glass cup, some butter, a few dried beans and a variety of materials to test, such as a pencil, a metal spoon and a plastic ruler. Students should attach one bean to the end of each object using a dab of butter. The objects should all be placed into the glass. Pour hot water into the glass. As the heat rises up the object, it will melt the butter and the beans will fall off. The heat will rise faster in objects that are good conductors. Have the students time when each bean falls. Discuss which objects are the best conductors and which are the best insulators.
Third grade students can test different types of insulation with this activity. Students can work in groups or pairs. Give each group several clean, empty plastic water bottles. Students should cover each bottle with a different material. They can use materials such as paper, cloth, cotton wool or Styrofoam. Pour one cup of warm water into each bottle. Students measure the temperature in each bottle and write it down, then place the cap on the bottles. Students take the temperature in each bottle every 10 minutes for one hour, recording all the results. Students can make a chart of their data. Discuss with the students which material insulated the water best and which material they think would make the best thermos.
This conduction activity uses cold to demonstrate to third grade students the way that heat can leave some objects faster than others. Students should work in groups of three. Give each group a bowl of ice water, a thermometer and different materials to test, such as a metal spoon, a plastic ruler and a wooden craft stick. Students should measure the starting temperature of each object by placing the thermometer on the object. Place the first material in the ice water for five minutes, and record the temperature of the object every minute. Repeat this for the other materials. Students can make a graph or chart of their results. Discuss how conductors will get colder faster than insulators, as they conduct heat away from themselves.