What Temperature Is It?

Designed by: Ashley Norton   School: Rosewood

Grade Level: 5     Subject: Math

Core Curriculum Objective:  Estimate, measure, record, and describe temperature and temperature change in Celsius and Fahrenheit units. (5ME3-1)

Overview: Students will work in pairs to estimate, measure, record, and describe temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius units. The students will use cups of hot chocolate to make observations and develop an estimation of its temperature. The students will use a thermometer to measure the actual temperature and will record this information on the culminating assessment (provided with the lesson). Then, the students will place 2 ice cubes into the cup and will make, record, and discuss their observations. They will use a thermometer to record the temperature. Next, the students will place 2 more ice cubes into the cup and will make, discuss, and record their observations. The students will then use the information gathered during this activity to respond to two questions at the end of the culminating assessment. This activity will be evaluated using a rubric provided with this lesson. Students celebrate this lesson with cups of hot chocolate at the end of the activity!

Focus Question: How can you estimate, measure, record, and describe temperature and temperature change in Celsius and Fahrenheit units?

Time Frame: One 60-minute class period

Resources: 
thermometers for each group 
overhead projector 
overhead thermometer 
clear plastic cups 
hot chocolate 
thermos
 ice cubes 
cooler 
paper towels 
copy of the culminating assessment for each student 
pencils

Culminating Assessment:

The following Grading Rubric and Student Activity Sheets will be used to guide students to the expectations and grading system for this assignment. Students will estimate and measure the temperature of hot chocolate using Fahrenheit and Celsius scales. Information will be recorded on the Student Activity Sheets. Each student will give their Student Activity Sheets to the teacher for evaluation.

Grading Rubric:

Name: ____________________________________________________________ 

Date: _____________________________________________________________ 

Total Points: _______________________________________________________

Student Activity Sheet:

Name:____________________________________________________________ 

Date: _____________________________________________________________

The teacher will pour some hot chocolate in your group's cup. Be careful! The hot chocolate could be very hot and could burn you. You need to estimate the temperature of the hot chocolate before measuring it in Fahrenheit and Celsius.

What are your observations? 

My estimate of the hot chocolate's temperature: 

________________°F    __________________°C 

First Measurement: Now, measure the temperature of the hot chocolate in both Fahrenheit and Celsius using your group's thermometer.

Actual temperature of the hot chocolate: 

________________°F __________________°C 

Second Measurement: Drop 2 ice cubes into your hot chocolate. Watch the ice cubes to see what happens. Then, measure the temperature of the hot chocolate in both Fahrenheit and Celsius using your group's thermometer.

What are your observations? 

Actual temperature of the hot chocolate: 

________________°F __________________°C 

Third Measurement: Drop 2 more ice cubes into your hot chocolate. Watch the ice cubes to see what happens. Then, measure the temperature of the hot chocolate in both Fahrenheit and Celsius using your group's thermometer.

What are your observations? 

Actual temperature of the hot chocolate: 

________________°F __________________°C 

Describe the temperature changes your group found between the first and second measurements. Why do you think these changes occurred?

Describe the temperature changes your group found between the second and third measurements. Why do you think these changes occurred?

Instructional Activities:

Note: The teacher should prepare the hot chocolate before teaching the lesson. It can be kept hot using a thermos. Also, the teacher should place ice in a cooler ahead of time for this lesson. The students can come to the cooler to get their ice or the teacher can place several pieces in a cup before the lesson begins and place it on their desks. This lesson assumes students have been taught how to use a thermometer to measure Fahrenheit and Celsius temperatures.

The teacher should give each student a copy of the culminating assessment and should explain it so the students know what is expected for the assignment. Students should choose a partner to work with during this activity and they should choose a thermometer. 

The teacher and students should review and practice how to measure temperature using a thermometer. The students should look at the thermometers on their desks to determine the temperature of the classroom. Students can collaborate with other groups to determine the temperature. 

The teacher should use the overhead projector and overhead thermometer to display the current temperature. The teacher should walk around to make sure the students know which side of the thermometer is Fahrenheit and Celsius and to make sure the students correctly identified the temperature of the classroom. The teacher should affirm correct responses.

Next, student pairs should receive their materials from the resource list at the beginning of this lesson. The teacher should carefully pour a small cupful of hot chocolate into each group's cup. The students should be told that the liquid is hot and they should not touch or drink it. 

Then, the students should observe the hot chocolate for a couple of minutes, discuss their observations with their partners and other groups if needed, and record their observations on their Student Activity Sheet. The teacher should ask them to make some observations aloud. The teacher should affirm the responses. 

Students may say that the liquid has steam rising from it or that the liquid feels warm when they touch the sides of the cup. The students should estimate the temperature of the hot chocolate and record the information on the Student Activity Sheet. Then, the students should use the thermometers to measure the actual temperature of the hot chocolate in Fahrenheit and Celsius. The teacher or other student groups may assist those having trouble with determining the temperature to allow opportunity for revision. The students should discuss the actual temperature(s) with the class. 

The information should be recorded on the Student Activity Sheet. The students should then place 2 ice cubes into the cup of hot chocolate. They should observe the changes occurring in their cups and should share their observations with the class. The observations should be recorded on their Student Activity Sheet. (The ice cubes are melting and they will find that the temperature has decreased when they measure it.) After the ice has melted completely, the students should measure the temperature of the liquid with their thermometers in Fahrenheit and Celsius. They should discuss their findings with their classmates and should record the measurements on the Student Activity Sheet. 

Then, the students should place 2 more ice cubes into the cup of hot chocolate. They should observe the changes in their cups, record their observations on their Student Activity Sheet, and share their observations with the class. After the ice has melted completely, the students should measure the temperature of the liquid with their thermometers in Fahrenheit and Celsius. 

They should discuss their findings with the class and should record the information on the culminating assessment. Next, the students should individually respond to the last two questions on the Student Activity Sheet. They should have answers that reflect the class discussions during this lessons and their own observations and conclusions about measurement. 

The teacher should give students the opportunity to revise their work if it is determined this is necessary. At the end of the lesson, each student should receive a cup of hot chocolate to celebrate the activity.