Heat Seekers Slides Heat Seekers
Investigating Surface Temperatures
Grade 2-3 Science
The Big Question
Why do some things feel hotter than others when they sit in the sun?
🏠
Sidewalks
🌳
Grass
🚗
Cars
Watch & Learn
Embedded media
Pay attention: How does Jessi use the thermometer?
1:40
Our Scientist Tool
🌡️
The Liquid
The red line goes UP when it gets hot and DOWN when it gets cold.
📏
The Scale
We read the number where the red line stops. We use °F (Fahrenheit).
100 80 60 40 20 0
The Mission
Outdoor Lab
1 Choose 4 surfaces (grass, asphalt, etc.)
2 Place your thermometer flat.
3 Wait 5 minutes (No touching!).
4 Record the temperature.
Your Hypothesis
"I think the _______ will be the hottest because it is _______."
Field Equipment
✅ Clipboard
✅ Tracker Sheet
✅ Pencil
✅ Thermometer
Why the Difference?
Dark Colors
🧽
Absorption
Like a sponge, dark colors soak up the sun's energy and turn it into HEAT.
Light Colors
🏀
Reflection
Like a ball bouncing off the floor, light colors bounce the sunlight away.
Nature Detectives
Where would a lizard want to sleep in the middle of the day?
🛣️
Hot Asphalt
🌿
Cool Grass
What about at night?
Temperature Tracker Worksheet Temperature Tracker
Field Investigation Journal
Scientist:
Date:
Hypothesis
I think the will have the hottest temperature because it is .
Data Collection
Surface Material Description (Color/Texture) Temperature (°F) 🛣️ Asphalt (Street/Lot)
| | |
|
🌱 Green Grass
| | |
|
🧱 Concrete (Sidewalk)
| | |
|
🪨 Dirt or Mulch
| | |
Analysis
1. Which surface was the hottest?
2. Why do you think that surface got so hot? (Hint: Think about its color!)
Reading Thermometers Reference Reading Heat
Scientist's Guide to Thermometers
FAHRENHEIT (°F)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
STOP!
Read the number where the red stops.
How it Works
Thermometers measure thermal energy (heat). When the liquid gets hot, it expands and moves UP the tube. When it gets cold, it shrinks and moves DOWN .
Science Pro-Tips
👀
Keep your eyes level with the top of the red line for the best reading.
🖐️
Don't hold the bulb at the bottom! Your hand heat will change the reading.
⏳
Wait a few minutes for the thermometer to adjust to a new place.
Benchmark Temps
Freezing Water 32°F
Human Body 98.6°F
Room Temp 70°F
Boiling Water 212°F
Heat Seekers Teacher Guide Heat Seekers
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grade
2-3
Time
50m
Learning Objective
Students will learn to read a thermometer in degrees Fahrenheit and compare the heat absorption of different outdoor surface materials (asphalt, grass, concrete, dirt).
Video Integration
"Save the Snowman! | Engineering for Kids"
Focus on the experiment at 1:40 where thermometers are used.
Absorption: Dark rocks soak up heat (like a sponge).Reflection: Light rocks bounce heat away (like a ball).
Materials
Thermometers
Clipboards
Tracking Worksheet
Reference Sheet
Stopwatches/Timer
Lesson Flow
5 MIN
Warm-up: The Snowman Problem
Watch the video. Ask: "How did Jessi know which rock was hotter?" Discuss how touch can be tricky, but thermometers give us an exact number.
10 MIN
Training: Scientist Tools
Hand out thermometers and the Reading Thermometers Reference . Practice reading the current room temperature. Safety Tip: Remind students thermometers are glass/delicate and NOT to touch the red bulb with their fingers.
20 MIN
Investigation: Outdoor Lab
Head outside. Have student pairs place thermometers on 4 different surfaces. Start the 5-minute timer. During wait time, students should fill out their Hypothesis and describe the surfaces on their Tracker .
15 MIN
Analysis & Extension
Return to class. Share data. Did the asphalt (dark) get hotter than the concrete (light)?
Extension Discussion:
"If you were a lizard in the desert, where would you sit at 12:00 PM when it's sunny? Where would you go at midnight to stay warm?"
Common Misconceptions
