Cocoa Conductor Teacher Guide
Cocoa Conductor Guide
Instructional Support
💡 Lesson Objective
Students will identify that heat moves through metal (conductor) but is blocked by plastic (insulator) by observing temperature changes in spoon handles.
📦 Materials Checklist
- 2 Identical Mugs
- Hot Chocolate
- Cold Milk
- 2 Metal Spoons
- 2 Plastic Spoons
- Timer / Stopclock
📝 Facilitation Steps
1
The Sensory Hook
Start with the empty mugs. Then fill them. Ask students to feel the outside. "Which mug is hot? Which is cold?"
2
The Prediction
Hold up the metal spoon. Ask: "If I put this in the hot cocoa, will it get hot too?" Use the Lab Sheet for choices.
3
The Action
Place both spoons in the hot mug and both in the cold mug. Start the 1-minute timer. Watch the clock together.
4
The Big Discovery
Touch the handles. The metal spoon in hot cocoa should be warm. Explain that heat "walked" up the spoon.
Vocabulary Script
Conductor: "A material that lets heat travel fast. Like a highway for heat!"
Insulator: "A material that blocks heat. It's like a wall that stops heat."
Instructional Tip:
Encourage students to physically 'walk' their fingers up a metal spoon to visualize conduction.
Differentiation
- • For non-verbal students, use the 'Thumbs Up/Down' slides for responses.
- • If heat sensitivity is an issue, use warm water instead of hot cocoa.
- • Pair strong readers with non-readers to follow the icons together.
Cocoa Conductor Lab Sheet
Cocoa Conductor
Lab Procedure
Name: _______________
Date: _______________
✔️ Get these items:
☕
2 Mugs
🥄
Metal
🥄
Plastic
Cocoa
1
Touch the mugs. Are they hot or cold?
MUG A (Hot Cocoa)
HOT
COLD
MUG B (Cold Milk)
HOT
COLD
2
My Prediction:
Will the metal handle get hot in the cocoa?
YES
NO
3
Start the experiment.
• Put spoons in mugs.
• Set timer for 1 minute.
• DON'T TOUCH YET!
01:00
Next Page: Touching the handles!
