Lesson overview

In this lesson, students investigate the insulating properties of materials and consider how the adaptations of Arctic organisms help develop these. The context of the lesson is helping to develop new clothing for Tyler Fish, one of the Catlin Arctic Survey explorers.

Learning outcomes

• Describe the conditions in the Arctic
• Make a prediction
• Investigate the insulating properties of three different materials
• Demonstrate learning by producing a poster with a graph and conclusion

Lesson steps

1. Brief from Tyler Fish (10 mins)
   Use the slides to set the context and share the learning outcomes.
2. Keeping warm in the Arctic (10 mins)
   Use the slides to stimulate students’ ideas about how materials are used to keep explorers and animals warm in the Arctic.
3. Practical activities (25 mins)
   Students investigate the insulating abilities of three different materials.
4. Scientific poster (15 mins)
   Students present and use their findings to make a recommendation to Tyler.

England

Science Key Stage 1: Year 1 and 2

• Describe the simple physical properties and uses of a variety of everyday materials.
• Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited.

Science Key Stage 2: Year 5 and 6

• Give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials.
• Identify how animals are adapted to suit their environment in different ways.

Working Scientifically

• Enquiry by fair test.
• Presenting data and making conclusions.

USA

NGSS Grades 2-5

• Engineering Design
  K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
• Structure and Properties of Matter
  2-PS1-2. Analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.
• Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits
  3-LS4-2. Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.
• Science and Engineering Practices
  Planning and carrying out investigations.
  Analyzing and interpreting data.
  Using mathematics.