Heat
Background Information & Activities

© 1999-2013 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

In this movie, children will learn about heat. Before beginning the topic, discuss why heat is important and how living things rely on this type of energy to live. Explain to children that they can see and feel examples of heat all around them. They can observe heat’s effects when they go outside in the sunshine and feel the warmth on their skin. At night, outdoor temperatures drop because their part of the Earth is not facing the Sun. The Sun is a source of light and heat for Earth, and nearly all living things rely on the Sun in order to survive. Cold-blooded animals, such as snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, and insects, cannot produce their own heat and rely on the Sun to warm their bodies..

We get heat from different sources. A fuel is something that can be burned for heat and energy. Wood, coal, charcoal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas are all examples of fuels. Children may be familiar with the term fossil fuel, which is oil, coal, or natural gas created from the geological remains of decomposing plants and animals.

Friction is the force that slows down moving objects. When two things rub together, they create friction. On a bike, there are two pieces of hard rubber that push against the tire when the brakes are engaged. The pieces of rubber rub against the tire, slowing it down to a halt. Explain that friction creates heat. Have children rub their hands together vigorously and feel the warmth between their palms. The friction caused by the rubbing creates heat. Encourage children to think of other examples of friction.

Heat can change matter in different ways. For example, by adding heat to an ice cube causes it to change from a solid to a liquid, or from a liquid to a gas. When water freezes, it loses heat and changes from a liquid to solid. You may want to watch the Changing States of Matter movie for further exploration of this topic. Heat can cause chemical changes, which is a change in the chemical composition of a substance to produce a new material with different properties. When we turn batter into a pancake, we are using heat to cook and chemically change the raw ingredients into something different.

Ask children to think about how we need and use heat. Children should be aware that heating our homes and fueling our cars take up a lot of natural resources, and the product of burning some fuels is air pollution. Less heat is necessary when homes are properly insulated or sealed with storm windows. Help children understand the concept of insulation by explaining that they insulate themselves from the cold by wearing sweaters, coats, or hats. Encourage them to think of ways to conserve heat and protect our resources.

After exploring this topic, you may want to share the Light movie to extend the unit.

See more lesson plans and resources: BrainPOP Educators.

Heat Teacher Activities

© 1999-2013 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Ice Race

Break up your class into small groups or partners and give each group a plastic resealable bag and one ice cube. Then have groups race each other to see who can melt the ice cube first. Encourage groups to be creative in the way they add heat to their ice cubes. Students may use friction to help speed the melting, blow hot air on them, or put the bags in a sunny spot in the classroom. The first group whose ice cubes melt should raise their hands. You may wish to use a stopwatch and take the opportunity to discuss elapsed time as a math extension.

Thermometer Time

Have your students practice using thermometers. You may want to review this topic by screening the Temperature movie. Have groups or partners use a thermometer to measure the temperature outside during different hours, such as the morning, afternoon, and late afternoon. How does the temperature change? Why do they think it changed? Then have small groups use thermometers to measure the temperature of a cup of water. Add ice cubes and measure the temperature again. How does the temperature change? Does it change again after an hour on a sunny windowsill?

As a math extension, have students make up word problems using their temperatures. Model an example for them: "Today the temperature is 67 degrees Fahrenheit. Yesterday the temperature was 5 degrees cooler. What was the temperature?" Have students share their word problems with each other and solve.

Wet Blanket

Have small groups wet two paper or cloth towels. Then have them put one towel in a sunny spot outside or inside and another in a cool, dark place. Ask students to predict how they think sunshine or lack of sunshine will affect the damp towels. Later have students observe which towel is dryer. How did heat affect the way the towel dried? Where did the water in the towel go? Remind students that heat can cause matter to change states; for example, heat can make water evaporate. This could be a good opportunity to screen or review the Changing States of Matter movie.

Heat Family Activities

© 1999-2013 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Heat in the Kitchen

Cook with your child so he or she can learn how heat causes changes to matter. For example, examine an egg together. Crack open the egg and have your child describe what he or she observes. Then scramble the egg in a pan. How does the egg change? What makes the egg change? Can the scrambled egg change back to its original appearance? Why or why not? Explain the difference between physical and chemical changes to your child.

Heat Source

Walk through your home together and find different sources of heat. Make sure your child is careful when identifying sources of heat such as the heater, radiator, fireplace, barbeque, toaster, or stove. Encourage your child to find heat in unsuspecting places, such as the television set. Is it warm after it has been on for a while? Why? Encourage your child to think about how we use and need heat.