Classroom Resources: Energy & Thermodynamics
1 – 25 of 29 Classroom Resources
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Chemical Change, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat of Combustion | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Chemical Volcanoes - A Tale of Two Reactions
In this lesson, students will use volcanoes as a vehicle to learn about the differences between endothermic and exothermic reactions by completing a hands-on activities and observing a teacher-led demonstration.
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Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Experimental Design | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Understanding Specific Heat
In this simulation, students will play the role of engineer in deciding which materials are the best candidates for a building project. They will calculate the specific heat capacity of various building materials to determine which ones meet the criteria for building an energy efficient home. Students will also do a cost analysis to determine which material to use in their building project. On the student activity sheet, they will answer additional conceptual and numerical questions related to specific heat capacity.
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Heat, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic | Middle School, High School
Lab: Energy Transfer Investigation
In this lab, students will experience several examples of energy transfer. They will analyze their observations and interpret their results in an attempt to explain why each transfer took place.
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Electricity, Polymers, Molecular Structure, Heat, Temperature, Molecular Geometry, Electronegativity | Middle School, High School
Activity: Future of Paint Video Questions
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer related questions about the fascinating and innovative scientific advancements of paint. During the video, Students will learn how the molecular components in paint are helping to evolve in the world around them.
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Interdisciplinary, Heat, Temperature, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Graphing, Radiation, Experimental Design | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: The Ozone Layer
In this lesson, students will develop an explanation for the consequences of ozone depletion on Earth by planning and carrying out an investigation. Students will use analysis and interpretation of data to develop a model to explain the cause and effect of Ozone depletion on the planet Earth.
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Physical Properties, History, Measurements, Temperature, SI Units, Accuracy | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: Temperature Guys Video Questions
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about how both the thermometer and the concept of temperature evolved over time
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Temperature, Kinetic Molecular Theory, Heat, Temperature | Middle School, High School
Lab: Mega Marshmallows
In this lab, students will investigate the Kinetic Molecular Theory and particle motion while experimenting with a marshmallow. Students will observe how an increase in kinetic energy will cause particles to increase in motion. This concept will be extended into a discussion about additional real world thermal expansion examples.
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Temperature, Heat, Temperature | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: An Uplifting Experience
In this demonstration, students will investigate what happens to air when it is heated.
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Electricity, Polymers, Molecular Structure, Heat, Temperature, Molecular Geometry, Electronegativity | Middle School, High School
Video: The Future of Paint Video
This video explores the fascinating and innovative scientific advancements of paint. Students will learn how the molecular components in paint are helping to evolve in the world around them. Futuristic paint is capable of replacing light switches, conducting electricity, and regulating temperature amongst other things!
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Classification of Reactions, Heat, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic | Middle School, High School
Lab: Determining Endothermic and Exothermic Reaction
In this lab, students will analyze evidence to determine if a chemical reaction releases energy and can be classified as an exothermic reaction or if it absorbs energy and can be classified as an endothermic reaction.
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Classification of Reactions, Chemical Change, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic, Activation Energy, Energy Diagrams, Bond Energy | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions
In this simulation, students will evaluate the energy changes in an endothermic and an exothermic chemical reaction. Through the use of this simulation students will have the opportunity to compare how energy is absorbed and released in each reaction. Additionally, students will make a connection between the standard energy diagrams associated with each reaction type.
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Physical Properties, History, Accuracy, Temperature | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: The Temperature Guys Video
This video tells the story of how temperature as we currently know it evolved. The first thermometers invented in the early 1600s are very different than ones we use today!
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Melting Point, Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Molecular Motion, Heat, Temperature, Heating Curve, Graphing | High School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Modeling the Melting of Ice
In this lesson, students will create a particulate model of matter that explains energy changes and transfer during a phase change.
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Melting Point, Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Molecular Motion, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Intermolecular Forces, Heating Curve, Boiling Point, Heat of Vaporization , Heat of Fusion | High School, Middle School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Heating Curve of Water
In this simulation, students will investigate qualitatively and quantitatively what happens as water changes states.
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Observations, Inferences, Molecular Motion, Temperature | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: What is Temperature?
In this demonstration, students will observe food dye mixing with water at different temperatures.
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Physical Properties, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Scientific Method, Experimental Design | High School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Designing & Engineering a Fast Defroster
In this activity students use their understanding of energy transfer to “design a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.” And “evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.” The real world problem is to help a cook who is trying to make a meal, but realizes some of the ingredients are frozen and must be thawed before he can begin.
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Observations, Molecular Motion, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature | High School, Middle School
Activity: What Makes Something Feel Warm
In this lesson students actively engage in thinking about energy issues in chemistry and the nature of energy (thermal) transfer. The idea that temperature is a measure of heat content will be challenged, and students will be given the opportunity to collect data that will allow them to clearly see that different materials transfer energy at different rates.
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Calorimetry, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature | High School, Middle School
Lab: Understanding Specific Heat
In this lab, students will get a general idea of specific heat by investigating the mixing of two liquids at different temperatures. In one case, the same liquids will be mixed, in another case different liquids will be mixed.
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Freezing Point, Physical Change, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic, Boiling Point | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: Energy
In this demonstration, students will observe the exothermic and endothermic properties of state changes of substances with different freezing and boiling points.
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Observations, Inferences, Calorimetry, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic, Enthalpy | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: Energy in Hot and Cold Packs
In this demonstration, students will observe temperature changes in chemical hot and cold packs and discuss processes of endothermic and exothermic changes. They will also see that common household products can be used to make a hot and cold pack.
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Observations, Physical Change, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Heat, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic, Saturated/Unsaturated/Supersaturated | High School, Middle School
Lesson Plan: Particle Modeling of Hand Warmers
In this lesson, students will create a particulate model of matter that explains energy changes and transfer during a physical process, such as the crystallization of a solid from a supersaturated solution.
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Observations, Chemical Change, Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Heat, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School, Middle School
Lab: Kitchen Reaction
In this lab students will observe an endothermic chemical reaction involving baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid). Students will investigate the signs a chemical reaction has occurred (gas production, change in temperature). Students will perform the lab in an open system so they can see the change of mass due to gas production. This lab is a lead into the topic of conservation of mass. After the lab is completed, the teacher should do a demonstration of the exothermic reaction Hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide.
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Concentration, Reaction Rate, Temperature, Graphing | High School, Middle School
Lab: Starch-Iodine Clock Reaction
In this lab, students perform an iodine clock reaction to determine how concentration and temperature effect the reaction rate.
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Observations, Physical Properties, Chemical Change, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic | High School, Middle School
Lab: Observing a Chemical Reaction
In this lab, students will practice making careful observations and measurements while witnessing a chemical change.
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Classification of Reactions, Chemical Change, Heat, Temperature, Exothermic & Endothermic | Middle School, High School
Lab: Designing Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions
In this lab, students will design and test an experiment for producing either an endothermic or an exothermic reaction. The goal of the lab is for students to successfully construct a reproducible procedure for a reaction that either releases or absorbs thermal energy, and that can be supported with data.